#it's spooky it's fun to mess with the prose

[thedreamparadox]

i saw this ask someone got the other day that was like. a self rec thing. and i think you should do it. share your top five favorite fics that you wrote

Only 5? Heeeck. Uh

In no particular order, under the cut because it is LONG lmao:

Pull These Curtains Closed. Not as a standalone work (in terms of the like, actual everything in this fic I'd say it's overall middling), but as the culmination of the entire character arc plot I did not originally plan to write AT ALL when I went "oh, I have some lingering plot threads from my JoD rewrites! I should do something with that!" and then it spiraled massively out of control lmao. Reala finally tells their old man to go fuck himself and has enough backup to not get dragged back to their shitty former life and brainwashed through the power of family and using actual communication. As a finale to a series, I'm super proud of how it turned out.

A Crow Perches Atop A Skyscraper, or Perching Crow for short (not uploaded anywhere). It was definitely a pandemic stress project, and bits in the post Game chapters are a little bit [hand wiggle], but it was an excuse to use a pile of old TWEWY OCs in a fun project, so it nabs the top five with no question. For context, it's P.erson.a 5 and TWEWY crossover fic, focused almost exclusively on A.kechi and Hype-chan before we got her actual identity reveal in Neo since Neo wasn't out yet, focused on the Shinjuku district, which was one I built up with some other RPers back in the day but then we didn't really ever get around to using. Featuring my mildly gremlin OC Composer, Haku, and his eternal beef with the yakuza, me going "Hey what if Hype and G.oro were related, that'd be fun", and me throwing around all my TWEWY OCs including my gay as hell punk hedgehog guy, my colorblind live game Reaper who has so much trauma, and a few other folks. The amount of explanation needed for anything to make sense means this is never getting publicly uploaded. (Also one of those two fandoms are ones I do NOT want to poke with their reputation, like no thanks lol)

Mad Rat Twist. Another project that got massively out of control when it was just supposed to be a cute, relatively short reunion fic. Ended up spiraling into a massive project and is still my most read/hits/kudos'd work despite being from two fandoms with virtually no overlap. (Part of the reason it exists is because Perching Crow was so much fun to write and characters dying in Tokyo is free real estate as far as being a fic writer is concerned.) It's got a little of everything, plus even a little bit of Coco even if she's her gremlin Neo characterization instead of my RP blog genuinely nice genki girl take. Mad Rat Dead's canonical bittersweet ending is really good, but I am soft and want Mad Rat and Heart to be happy together, they're zucchinis your honor ;u;

I definitely gotta pick one out of the shared ficverse/rp shenaniganery that's not uploaded anywhere. Picking one is hard tho. So like, to pick a solo, probably either As a Result of Trusting or Bendy Hours 1. The first for being a fun spin on an AU but make it about breaking the cycle of abuse through the power of trust and friendship while leaning on game canon for scene ideas, the second because it's the first fic I wrote with the little gremlin demon that's been eating my braincells for over two years at this point. I cannot pick a favorite out of the collab fics in that verse, there are too many XD

And while it's still in the process of being uploaded, honestly? Ink is Thicker than Water. CHUNKS of this thing are wildly self indulgent (the amount of Sammy content, so much worldbuilding, Bendy being adorable, and the delightful amount of body horror I was able to work in as a treat) while once again doing my repeated "I see this source material, I think I can improve it" thing that just keeps popping up in my work XD (And putting another one in the repeated motif of my writing of found family/recovering family and kicking a shitty dad to the curb.) Audrey, once I figured out what the everloving HECK her deal was was honestly a delight to write. And I got to play around with horror tropes! This fic is a behemoth and I'm honestly proud of it XD

[vee-lociraptor]

@james-spooky had to get out my laptop for this one /pos. im so sorry if you notice the pattern where several of these are indeed written by my mutuals. my mutuals are really good writers i cannot help this. i will not be tagging any of them because im about to be so cringe on main about their work. under the cut because i accidentally rambled

SupposedToBeWriting on ao3 (organchordsandlightning on tumblr) is really good!! she has a very good characterization of both john and arthur (from what i know she usually portrays them platonically) and she describes things beautifully :) i hear really good things about her writing in general but in particular i have bookmarked - A Light in the Dark (set in s1, coma arthur) - alike and together (spoilers for part 29, very much love this one) - The Alleyway Monster (set vaguely part 6) - A Body Divided (crossover with the monstrous agonies podcast, which i do not know, but very silly and i enjoy it)

WordsINeedToGetOut on ao3 (gayghostrights on tumblr) also has great depictions of arthur and john and writes them more as like. not romantic not platonic not qpr but a secret fourth thing. very fun to read. they have some good sfw fic but if nsfw isnt your thing (and it very much is. not mine) mind their tags. - i specifically follow their "a family found and made" series it's. so nice. it's post canon but an au of sorts so there's not really spoilers - what does and does not fit (post-part 43 john doe poem im Very Normal about (i met him because i was being feral about it)) - again. please mind his tags.

dearcaspian on ao3 (lighthouseshepard on tumblr) is an absolutely phenomenal writer and i am not biased about this at all. please trust. in all seriousness his prose reads like poetry it's so nice to get to read it every time. i know waltz already recommended it but take it as peer review because no sweeter innocence is mind altering. i read all like 28,000 words of it at the time in one go at two in the morning kind of mind altering. (visibly shaking) it's. really good - other than that they write really good separate bodies jarthur fic that makes me feral - i dont even have specific recommendations all of it makes me sick. go forth. some of it is on his tumblr go get it. - i LIED a kind of quiet holy makes me more sick than a lot of the rest of it. call me touch starved if you want but i will say that on main

safe_ship_habored on ao3 (izel-scribbles on tumblr) only has a few works and mostly writes dollins at this point but they're really good! i think they've posted some exclusively on tumblr? can't think of anything specific right now but ik i've read the most toothaching john and arthur fluff /pos from them

i don't want to talk about this one. lea's going to see it. im going to do it anyway because it is my favorite malevolent fic and i feel you should know about it. there is a fic and it's on tumblr and it's called when the land was godless and free. it is by percymawce-arts and ananxiousgenz on tumblr. i am insane about it. it is a cowboy au and it is somewhat suggestive (moaning making out sort of thing) but the prose is so so good. the characterization and the way they translate malev characters into a western cowboy setting is phenomenal. it has catholic guilt in it. it has yearning. it's romantic jarthur and if it's not your thing i get it but percy and lea both really cooked on this one. i know i've posted about it on tumblr before. i am so aware that one of the authors is my mutual now lea don't look.

i am rambling so hard right now i have more. im not even done. im so sorry - styrofoamdoor (ao3 and tumblr) has a noel character study on their ao3 account and it's so good and i am thinking about it always. it's set post-episode 40. - ETA, never change by green_tea_and_honey SO silly and goofy and yet. also serious somehow. au where arthur has a phone and john messes around with it - come, wayward souls is also by green_tea_and_honey and i havent read it yet but it IS an over the garden wall crossover and i love that show so much - kiss me better is the only work i've read by SeerOfTime but i hear really good things about their malevolent fic so i will definitely be checking them out in the future

[a-strange-server]

Strange Tales Of Halloween 2023

Hi everyone! In honor of the spookiest, weirdest, and dare we say, strangest month, we have created a prompt list for Doctor Stephen Strange for every day in October! Last year saw a hord of spooky, ghostly works created for the occasion. We are hoping this year will be as much fun!

This list is open to all forms of creativity. Fill as few or as many prompts as you would like in October and tag it with #strangehalloween2023 so we can reblog! You can also submit your work in the Strange Tales Of Halloween 2023 ao3 collection.

Full written list and the FAQ under the cut.

Strange Tales of Halloween 2023 Prompt List

1. “What was that? Is somebody there?” | Scales

2. “Wait, kids can trick o'treat here?” | Trapped

3. “Sometimes the world tries to end.” | Spirit

4. “Dormammu, I've come to bargain—“ | Alone

5. “There aren't many of us left.” | Cauldron

6. “I thought you were dead!” | Witch

7. “So what do you do for Halloween?” | Cursed

8. “Is that supposed to be a costume, or what?” | Cat

9. “Well, that's strange...” | Moon

10. “They’re not the traitor. I am.” | Mythological creature

11. “No, don’t tell me that.” | Dimensional breach

12. “Something’s happened to you.” | Shroud

13. “Stay with me.” | Nightmare

14. “Huh… that’s new.” | Future

15. “You what?!” | Celebration

16. “Crap. Imps!” “Imps? Crap.” | Ancient

17. “I know everything. That’s my curse.” | Fire & Ice

18. “I have seen a horror movie before.” | Tradition

19. “I know you!” | Cave

20. “Is that a bloody butterfly?” | Fever dream

21. “Strange... what have you done?!” | Scars

22. “The Cauldron of Cosmos is not a bowl for Halloween treats!” | Supernatural entities

23. “You’re a bad demon.” | Candy

24. “Oh, a meeting with the devil? Just when I thought I have a free afternoon... Fine.” | Baking

25. “No. Tell them to get Ghostbusters, or something.” | Pumpkin carving

26. “There was no other way.” | Horror movies

27. “You messed up the ritual.” | Trick or treat

28. “Nightmare has him.” | Will-o’-the-wisp

29. “Don’t be so superstitious.” | Bog

30. “Are you really afraid of a little black cat?” | Crown of thorns

31. “Donna... Is that really you?” | Tam Lin

◇◇◇◇◇

FAQ:

What must be included in the content of a filled prompt? Stephen Strange (any version of him: film, TV, or comics) must be either the main or co-main character. Otherwise, anything goes!

What must be included in the tags of Tumblr and Twitter posts? Please use the hashtag #strangehalloween2023 and the # of the prompt you're filling (i.e. #no6 and/or #witch). On Tumblr, please include additional tags for NSFW and common triggers (see AO3 for examples).

When can I post my prompt fill? In the spirit of the theme, these should be posted in October! We'd prefer if you post prompts the day of or after the day has passed. For example, prompt 10 fills can be posted on or after Oct 10, and preferably not before.

What medium can I use? Anything! Written prose, poetry, gifsets, mood boards, artwork, all is acceptable as a prompt fill. It's all about Stephen Strange in any form he comes in.

Can I combine Strange Tales of Halloween prompts into one submission (i.e. #1 "What was that? Is somebody there?" and #6 witch)? Sure! If you post it on social media, you can use both prompt tags to help us identify it as such.

There are two prompts per day. Do I have to do both? You can use the sentence prompts, the words prompt, or do a mix of them!

Can I use this prompt list with other prompt lists/bingo cards? Absolutely! Combine it with any other event you'd like to use it with.

Are there any limits to how many prompts I can use/have to use? Nope! Participate with one piece or 31 pieces! Do as much as you'd like--we'll love to see it!

Any other questions? Send an ask to @a-strange-server and we'll get back to you soon. We can't wait to start seeing what you come up with come October!

[monsterfloofs]

For the ask thing, anything you are excited for lately? Can be anything at all!

(Recently I got excited for the new Zelda game and wondered if anything has got your brain buzzing with excitement as well.)

Thank you for reading and I hope you have the loveliest of lovely days! 💕🌷✨

Oh hi! That is so lovely to hear that you got a new game, I hope you enjoy playing it! ( ◜▿◝ ) That sounds like a fun time I wonder what the new mechanism is for this game! = O I know there is one game where people were building some insane looking stuff! XDDD

Oh gosh, for me aaaah hm! I can't really think of anything right now that I am excited for! o.o ) I do have a... number projects cooking on the mental griddle at the moment! (So many pancakes...) I have a secret project I have been apart of >:3c as well as, working on too many half baked story wips x-x ;; ) I start them and then I ramble off elsewhere aaaaaaa sjdjdjdsj there is one I want to finish because it was from my design a monster / story with emoji and I am really liking how it's turning out. I am trying to experiment and put more creativity into the prose itself, I also have a friend acting as a beta reader. (Which I have NEVER had before, but has been a fun experience!)

Putting a read more because I ramble!

Let's see... is there anything else I can think of...

I have books out from the library, but I have been reading other books instead. orz I relistened to an audio book that makes me laugh because of the how silly the characters are. I been laughing... AGAIN about this particular look in gothic fashion that I have deemed "Just rolled out of the coffin," where it's, as the name says, looks like a very groggy looking vampire who just woke up. So I am wrestling with myself to not throw more on my plate because gosh I really want to draw Lawrence in that. XD (I also wanna draw Lawrence in a t-shirt with the picture of Noseferatu flicking the lights from that one time in Spongebob but PPPPPFFF)

The same beta reader friend is trying to convince me to work on that story again and AAAAAA that story is... such a... double edged sword to me, personally. On one hand at the time of finishing it, it felt like it was the best story that I have ever written. On the other, HOW DO I CONTINUE THAT?!?! D: How do I keep making it that way? And then anxiety hit and I froze over and couldn't bring myself to continue it because the fear of... messing up. And not sure where to go forward and being afraid I would spoil the story if I did skdjdkdkekd

There's a lot of things I would like to work on. o-o ;; ) I really gotta find a way to organize myself better between art and writing and just, creating in general. That and trying to restablish my art on different art websites has been stressing me out lately. ;-; ) I deleted almost all of my art off of instagram... which was almost 550 pieces of art, drawings and doodles.And realizing that place held 5+ years of my art journey and I had just deleted it was... hard to take. Still kinda mourning that and trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces.

Ahah! Sorry! People chat to me and I chatter back... A lot =u= ;; ) Sorry for the paragraphs! I don't usually go on and on like this, I mean I do on tumbly, I don't really feel like I pop off like this much in person. It's kind of funny and amusing to me that once I am here I become such a chatterbox!

I guess all my buzzing thoughts need to go somewhere sjskdjdjs

Ah yes, exciting things, I have things that I could be excited for once they get a better level of polish... I told you about the life things. Uhh, wracking my brain, the last thing I was kinda excited for was that I splurged and bought a pajama set from a small creator that I really love. They have a lot of cute spooky patterns and things. And this piece was from their Valloween collection which had ghosts, hearts and bats on it. 👉👈 (I also bought the cardigan with the same pattern when it first came out because it was love at first bite-- I mean sight! x//D This is the place I splurge on when I want to treat myself to cute spooky clothes. Gosh I wish the plague doctor button up came back in bigger sizes again. ;3; )

[ficklecat]

Personal History & Relationship: Phineas and Violet

LONG POST AHEAD

CW: divorce, alcoholism, abusive relationship

A true Pisces/Scorpio relationship 😌

(Vi & Finn watching a spooky movie together :3)

Violet met Finn when she took Dr. Nichols’s Introduction to Classic Literature course for Gen Ed fulfilment. At the time, Violet was dating Connor, a typical Prince Charming if there ever was one, minus the charm. He was a square-jawed frat jock with a lacklustre personality, but Nadine, Violet’s mother, approved of him when they were high school sweethearts, and Violet wanted to avoid any more trouble for her parents at this point in her life.

Her parents, Nadine and Robert, had a tumultuous relationship that ended in divorce when Violet was in elementary school. Rob is a functioning alcoholic with a mean streak, and had a tendency to portray himself as the “fun parent” while Nadine was left to be the villain picking up the messes, financial or otherwise. This left Violet to play tug-o-war between her parents, often either neglected or overwhelmed by both of them at times, even as the divorce settled. Living with her mom, a woman made bitter and alienated for a long time, Violet had a hard time reconciling the decision to remove her father from her life until much later, which led to a continued challenging relationship with her. Additionally, Nadine refused to allow Violet to fall into the same sort of rut she had, and pushed her to find friends and boyfriends who she deemed “acceptable” or “stable.” Violet - unconventional by nature and drawn to the “weirder” crowds - rubbed against this with resistance for a long time before Connor came along.

Connor was sweet at first, conventionally handsome, and said and did all the right things for both Violet and her mom, quickly gaining approval and easing the tension. Violet fell into infatuation with him quickly - he filled a role she had craved for a stereotypically masculine force of control, and eased the constant pressure from her mom to find someone to “take care of her.” Her self worth, tied heavily to gaining her mom’s approval and relinquishing the feeling of being a lost and estranged little girl from her dad, suddenly became twined with Connor’s visions and ideals of the “perfect relationship.” Violet learned quickly that meant muting herself and her interests, subduing who she was to fill those shoes. But if it meant less pressure and fights, less feeling neglected and unwanted, she would take it.

By college, Connor had shown his true colours and Violet was lost. He was mean, picky, controlling and volatile, dismissive of all her desires and demanding about his own. He’d made Violet give up dressing like she wanted, made her try all kinds of diets to slim down, even had a say in which college she went to. He wasn’t physically violent, which led Violet to feel that his abuse wasn’t “real,” and therefore made excuses for his behaviour in favour of keeping the peace in their relationship. Connor often put her down, calling her weird or stupid or sometimes even ugly, but always portrayed himself as the picture-perfect boyfriend outside.

When Violet took Finn’s course, she was on her way to following right behind her mother, beholden to a man who didn’t respect her and demanded the world, with no one none the wiser. But then Finn began to read. On the first day, he read an excerpt from Wuthering Heights, their summer reading assignment, and Violet was transfixed. Even through the haze of her own compromised sense of self, warped by the love she thought she felt for Connor, Violet felt a spark for Finn, who read the words like they were etched in his heart like he was Heathcliff himself, longing for Catherine’s adoration. This strange looking young man who read prose to them like it was coming from his very soul began to occupy Violet’s thoughts, and distract her in class, even with Connor sitting inches away. She would daydream about him, wondering what kind of person could captivate an entire room just by reading aloud, what kind of man who looked so fragile and soft have such strength behind his analyses and passion for the subject.

She signed up for Finn’s weekly office hours for ‘tutoring,’ just to listen to him talk about the material, explain it with vigour and delight, take her through the scenes like they were walking hand in hand through the moors.

Connor, predictably, began to feel jealous.

As the semester came to a close Finn and Violet had grown closer as friends - Finn being a TA, he kept his distance professionally and only met with her during designated times or on campus for coffee occasionally, but tried as they did, they couldn’t fight their chemistry. Eventually, Violet began to talk about Connor and his increasing distance and moodiness. She shared her fears about their relationship, disclosed the way he spoke to her or manipulated her, even cried in Finn’s office when Connor threatened to end their relationship. Finn tried to keep himself out of her affairs, attempting to be empowering to Violet while remaining neutral whenever possible, but there was no stopping what the two of them knew - they were rapidly approaching love.

When the semester ended, and winter break began, Violet and Finn began to text casually. At the same time, an increasingly jealous Connor - who was also beginning to notice Violet’s sudden interest in books and also reclaiming of her identity he’d attempted to scrub out - began to manipulate her, holding affection hostage in favour of gaslighting and making Violet feel like she was cheating on him, even going so far to threaten her that he’d sleep with other people to “give her a taste of her own medicine.” Even her mother sided with him, casting disappointment over Violet for squandering a “good future.”

Violet didn’t no where to turn. So she turned to Finn.

When the second semester began, Connor and Violet were “on a break,” one of the many Connor had implemented in lieu of talking about their relationship, a breakup on the horizon that eventually came to be. Violet was left to decide what she truly wanted, left with the pieces of her identity that were suddenly being nursed to health by Finn but somehow still suppressed by Connor’s shadow. She couldn’t continue to deny herself. She knew what she wanted. And by February, she and Finn had made their confessions: she wanted him, and he wanted her just the same.

Their first few nights spent together were magic for Violet - she had never been with a man who prioritised her before, who asked her what she wanted, who actually seemed to enjoy giving her pleasure like Finn did. And in turn, Finn positively doted over her, so deeply enamoured with everything she was, Violet almost felt embarrassed. She’d never had this attention, she’d never had anyone wish to know her as much as Finn did. Finn obsessed over the details, memorised her wants and preferences, surprised her with romantic gestures of unexpected flowers or favourite things, and eventually, he told her how he felt: he was in love with her, captivated and pulled into her magnetic orbit, helpless to it. Violet had never been so happy.

However, it wasn’t long before Finn’s lack of communication and anxious attachment came to light in the form of Violet’s discovery of his true relationship with Manny - up until this point, Finn had spoken of Manny and had introduced them, even spent time together briefly, but he had made no clear indication that he and Manny were partners. Finn would later admit this was due to his fear of losing Violet, Manny, or both of them, despite knowing he needed to be up front.

Violet felt understandably hurt and taken aback, shocked that the man she thought was saving her from misery suddenly became someone she wasn’t sure she could trust. They spent many nights texting and talking in tearful conversations and broken-hearted begging as they navigated what was the worst start of an eventually beautiful relationship. Violet was in shambles - she couldn’t bear the thought that Finn had effectively lied to her by omission, and despite everything in her wanting to stay, she broke things off. Finn was devastated.

It lasted one week.

They couldn’t fight how they felt, being apart felt empty and shallow. Finn had fallen hard for Violet, and Violet had begun to realise the love she felt for Finn was more than just a crush or a source of pressure release - it was real, it was what she wanted, and most importantly, it was what she deserved. Further communication followed, along with painstaking and careful boundaries that shifted and grew with them in time. Violet was uncertain at first, fearful that Finn’s heart couldn’t possibly belong to more than one person, but she rapidly learned that the love they shared was never made smaller, blazed just as bright, and eventually, she even began to feel that love extend to Manny, who welcomed her into his own heart with open arms.

Violet decided, eventually, finally, that the love she deserved, the life she wanted, was hers to choose and have as she wished. If that meant an unconventional relationship with unconventional people, so be it. Finn ignited her soul, Manny fanned the flame, and together she finally felt herself freed from the constraints of expectation, of doomed fates, of fear of what might be.

She could be who she was with them. She could let that person be loved, and loved deeply. And eventually, she began to love that person too.

[prokyon]

HERE COMES NANOWRIMO 2021

This year's goal is lower than last year's 20k because that was all outlining and dev, and this year is prose. I have a zero fucks policy about wordcounts and nanowrimo because this is supposed to be fun.

Here's the NaNoWriMo summary:

Set in a pseudo-medieval SE European fantasy setting, this story takes place in a world where magic and fate are chaotic and ruled by irony. The story follows a lot of themes of old mythologies and folklore where hubris is punishable by the gods and messing with magic can get you killed.

Our protagonist Kass lives in a pagan village on the edge of an ever-expanding Empire, whose culture is being erased over time as new norms and religions take hold of the region. This year, a plague has struck and, egged on by the Empire’s people, the locals become superstitious, turning on each other in their hunt for answers. When the mauled corpse of their ex-lover is found, Kass is executed and their body thrown into a pile to be burned with others stricken by plague.

Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, Kass survives, having transformed for the first time into a werewolf, and flees into the woods. They seek out the help of a witch to break their curse and things snowball from there. There’s some romance, some spooky forest shenanigans, and Kass has to embark on a quest through enemy territory to find answers in a journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and a burning need to kick imperialism in the teeth.

This is essentially a queer power fantasy, written with the idea of subverting traditional tropes about racial- and queer-coded monsters and how media has historically reserved villainy for people who are othered in society. Our monsters are the good guys, and their “monstrosity” is their strength in a hostile world.

More about this story in my tag the enby werewolf thing. As usual WIP updates, memes and chatting are featured in the telegram channel and the discord.

The Legend of MoonMoon as I've said before is a joke title and it stuck. Until I come up with something better for a genuine title, this is what the project's called.

HAVE FUN WITH NANOWRIMO2021 YALL

[sophielovesbooks]

Sophie’s Dark Academia Rec List

In honour of my favourite genre, have a very personal, very subjective recommendations list!

-        The Secret History (Donna Tartt)

The obvious choice, a classic. In my personal opinion, it’s not perfect and there are better dark academia books out there, but it has massively shaped the genre and therefore deserves recognition. Also, the aesthetic is on point! Read if you want to get a feel for the genre or if you’re simply curious.

-        If We Were Villains (M. L. Rio)

Basically a newer, better The Secret History?? Plenty of similarities, minus certain problematic bits that were present in TSH. Amazing prose, incredible characters, absolutely worth the read. A prime example of dark academia! Read if you love Shakespeare and college settings and compelling characters and drama and just beautiful writing!

-        Black Chalk (Christopher J. Yates)

Also a fairly good example of the genre, but tragically underhyped. Darker than, for example, If We Were Villains. Set at Oxford! Will mess with your head. The characters are not necessarily likeable, but interesting. The writing is fairly complex. Read for a dark academia thriller which takes the unreliable narrator to an impressive new extreme (in a good way!)

-        Truly Devious (Maureen Johnson)

A rare YA dark academia book! Read for murder and mystery and a beautiful boarding school setting as well as a really likeable main character! Due to its nature less dark and somewhat less mature than most of the other books on this list, but if you’re looking for more of a quick and fun dark academia read, this is the one for you!

In a similar vain: The Vanishing Stair (Maureen Johnson)

Cannot actually vouch for this as I haven’t read it yet, but it’s the sequel to Truly Devious and I have heard good things.

-        The Secret Place (Tana French)

MASSIVELY underappreciated dark academia with (gasp) supernatural elements?! The most beautiful prose and funniest dialogue you will ever see. Incredible characters. Again, amazing boarding school setting and close group of female friends! (They will break your heart). Also murder. Also half of the story being told from a detective’s PoV. Read if you value good literature. Just. Read it.

-        The Likeness (Tana French)

Actually, maybe I was kidding before, maybe this book is the most underappreciated dark academia book out there? Either way, it’s my favourite. Within dark academia and within ALL OF THE BOOKS. This is it. The perfect novel. Characters that own my hearts to this day. Writing so beautiful that it had me sobbing uncontrollably on several occasions. The university it is set in is Trinity College Dublin. (Cue me being bitter that I don’t go there every single day for the rest of my life.) Very intriguing mystery, too. Hilarious dialogue. All the emotions. All the heartbreak. Just… I love it so much, okay? <3

-        The Lying Game (Ruth Ware)

Good, very good. Set in a boarding school near the ocean, but unfortunately, only the past tense story line is and we don’t get to see too much of it. Very interesting characters. Much heavier on the dark than the academia. Read if you’re looking for more of a classic murder mystery/thriller and are not too focussed on the academia. Also read for an interesting group of female friends.

-        The Basic Eight (Daniel Handler)

Very promising, but wasn’t my cup of tea at all. The setting is an American High School on the West Coast. The murder isn’t that much of a mystery. I’m mentioning it here because I know that other people love this book, even though I really didn’t. I would say don’t read, but see for yourself, I suppose.

-        The Lessons (Naomi Alderman)

Yes, okay, an interesting one. Set at Oxford, which was amazing. Interesting characters with interesting dynamics. I read it quickly and was quite entertained. But there were certain problematic bits (regarding LGBTQ+ representation and mental illness), so you’ve been warned. Not my fave, but I mostly enjoyed it while reading it.

 There are a few more dark academia books on my shelves, which I unfortunately cannot include on this list, as I haven’t read them yet. One of them is “The Lake of Dead Languages” by Carol Goodman. Another is “Brideshead Revisited” by Evelyn Waugh. Might edit this post later to add these and more. xx

UPDATE!! (With slightly longer descriptions this time, because people are actually reading this? Reblogging even? Wow!) 

-        The Lake of Dead Languages (Carol Goodman)

THE ALL-FEMALE DARK ACADEMIA NOVEL WE ALL NEED AND DESERVE…?? The setting is A++. An all-female boarding school in the Adirondack Mountains in New York! There is a lake that features so heavily in the story, it basically counts as a main character. Told from the PoV of a teacher who used to go to the school. There are two close groups of female friends, one in the present timeline, one in the past. Both have dark, dark secrets and both fit the dark academia genre so well! Also, heavy focus on Latin rather than Ancient Greek, which I have all the love for. This one is a gem, so give it a chance!

-        Brideshead Revisited (Evelyn Waugh)

An actual classic, as in… first published in 1945. And it reads like it. The beginning came with beautiful vibes! Our young boy Charles starting his time at Oxford, meeting a lot of pretentious people, including one Lord Sebastian Flyte, who Charles is suspiciously fascinated by. Sebastian is the biggest dork to ever dork, carries around with him an actual teddy bear named Aloysius, the absolute madmen?? But it’s all downhill from there, with alcoholism and war and depressing times… And Oxford only really features in the first half or less.

-        People Like Us (Dana Mele)

Another rare YA dark academia!! Features a group of Mean Girls who one day, when out at night to go swimming, find one of their classmates floating dead in the lake. Which is an excellent dark academia set-up, let’s be honest. Also, sapphic girls, incredible sapphic girls with really complex relationships! Bi main character! A fun and quick read, much like “Truly Devious”. More descriptions of the beautiful boarding school buildings would have been welcome, but at least we got a few! Anyway, go forth and enjoy this little beauty.

-        Party Girls Die in Pearls (Plum Sykes)

Umm… I barely even comprehend this book’s existence? Has a prime dark academia set-up with a murdered girl in Oxford, but I still somehow DNF’d it after about 20 pages?! The main character’s name is Ursula Flowerbutton, and if you think that’s quirky and funny… good for you, you might actually enjoy this book. But you’ll also have to endure descriptions of clothes, oh, so many descriptions of clothes! And for anything unique to Oxford that might make the book fun because only those who know will know… you’ll get a footnote. So actually, everyone will know, with zero effort. Definitely not for me, but if you want to read a glossy magazine style dark academia, knock yourself out, friend!

-        The Night Climbers (Ivo Stourton)

Breath-taking! A piece of beauty! Set at Cambridge (and the campus features heavily!), a main character reminiscent of Richard Papen, an intriguing group of new friends that he would do anything to belong with. Including… climbing the buildings of Cambridge at night? Without proper equipment, just with his hands and feet?? Honestly, out of the books on this list, this one is the closest in style and maturity and characterisation to The Secret History! The writing is absolutely gorgeous, the plot fascinating. And it’s dark academia that features a non-violent crime, which works surprisingly well. All in all: A STUNNER THAT FANS OF THE SECRET HISTORY SHOULD CHECK OUT!!

-        As I Descended (Robyn Talley)

A queer, sapphic Macbeth retelling?? Also a rare YA dark academia with strong supernatural elements?! The representation is on point, with two hispanic main characters, wlw, mlm and one of the girls in the main couple being disabled! The boarding school setting is also on point (and uniquely different as the school building is actually a former plantation in Virginia). This book is so different and so spooky! It wasn’t perfect and some say the retelling didn’t work 100% (I, personally, felt that the plot slowed down a bit), but the atmosphere is amazing and the characters are pretty cool, too!

Not to worry, my quest to find and read as many DA books as possible isn’t over. So this list might be updates again some time in the future! :)

[limerental]

I've not read the books but I'd like to, but I'm wondering how obviously Written By A Man the women are in the Witcher? bc to an extent I can overlook it but I don't want to get invested if the women are unnecessarily sexualised and the like, I hope that makes sense? I'm genuinely just curious as to ur opinion :) ~ @rercho (but it's my sideblog)

It is probably highly subjective!! Disclaimer that I haven't read most of the short stories and have two books left but i think the main books have a lot of complex and interesting female characters. "Written by a man" to me just means that a lot of the initial descriptions tend to be sexualized or at least written as a male fantasy and motivations/internal thought processes are a bit odd sometimes. There are times things feel clunky or a little weird. I dont know if translation issues contribute to that?

In-canon reasons are given for a lot of it and some of the more "that's messed up lol" things like all the sorceresses being magically beautified to serve at court while the male mages are not are framed in the narrative as messed up and unfair.

So for example, (somewhat spoilers) there's a scene with Ciri (who is 14ish) where she does some spooky powerful terrible magic and kinda suffers an episode and its heavily implied and described like a magic orgasm to the extent that her crotch hurts riding a horse shortly after. It's not explicitly sexual and overall a nasty experience and described very viscerally but still its... why you gotta talk about her nipples, Sapko.

But Ciri as a character herself? Complex and morally grey and stubborn and sharp and wonderful. It's a coming of age story so some of the gritty, weird sexual bits combined with magic make enough sense... and shes very much framed as the protagonist motivated by complex struggles trying to figure shit out. Not helpless or limited by her relationships with the men in her life and not just a kind of bland plot device that she could have easily been.

Are there a lot of sheer tops that barely conceal nipples? Yeah. Are most of the characters wearing those tops distinct personality-wise and motivated by their own unique issues and desires, with fears and ambitions and opinions that are not often fixated around men? Yeah. Which is more than a lottttt of fantasy and science fiction can say lol and honestly a lot more than most fanfiction.

BUT there are also a fair bit of content warnings that you may want to look into before you read. I think i saw a while back that someone had done a post about them? There's some heavy stuff frankly and while nothing is excessively gruesome and the nastiest stuff almost entirely happens off-screen, there are recurring themes of rape (including child rape), assault, general misogyny in dialogue, unwanted pregnancy/abortion/miscarriage, ambiguous/dubious consent, and of course war-related violence and a lot of murder, death and other such injuries.

I think the books are worth reading because I find them laugh out loud funny and they are mostly cheek poking fun at our society and fantasy universes but some people might not like the prose or the bits that do lean more male gaze-y.

[eddycurrents]

For the week of 5 May 2019

Quick Bits:

Age of Conan: Bêlit #3 throws a few road bumps in the way of Bêlit’s plans as the Kushites renege of their deal and her drunken “Captain” continues being a jerk. I’m really liking this exploration of Bêlit’s early days from Tini Howard, Kate Niemczyk, Scott Hanna, Jason Keith, and Travis Lanham.

| Published by Marvel

Archie #704 throws some roadblocks in the way of Archie and Sabrina’s relationship through the form of a “Bachelor”-like charity programme set up by Cheryl. I love the even more stylized pastel colour palette from Matt Herms.

| Published by Archie Comics

Batman & The Outsiders #1 is an entertaining debut from Bryan Hill, Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini, Clayton Cowles. I’ve not read the arc in Detective Comics that feeds into this, but this first issue provides enough information for new readers now to be lost and gives good incentive to check out what’s come before. Great art from Soy and Gandini, with an interesting look inside a team and a compelling start to a mystery about the last survivor from a metahuman generating factory.

| Published by DC Comics

Bettie Page #4 concludes the QE2 aliens caper. Love the art from Julius Ohta, Ellie Wright, and Sheelagh D.

| Published by Dynamite

Bronze Age Boogie #2 continues the strangest Doom Patrol story as the Martian invasion angle has taken hold in the future and a motley crew of heroes bands together to try to stop them. Stuart Moore, Alberto Ponticelli, Giulia Brusco, and Rob Steen are playing with some interesting cross-media influences to tell a highly entertaining tale. It’s rounded out with the usual goodies in the form of prose, letters, and what’s probably my favourite of the back-up strips so far, Major Ursa, from Tyrone Finch, Mauricet, Lee Loughridge, and Rob Steen.

| Published by Ahoy

Conan the Barbarian #6 sees Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar, Matthew Wilson, and Travis Lanham tell a story of Conan’s frustrations as a mercenary in the skirmishes between Turan and Stygia. People constantly underestimating Conan is always a fun story.

| Published by Marvel

Deadly Class #38 sees Marcus and Maria return to King’s Dominion. It’s kind of messed up seeing the new status quo, but at the same time the tension that Rick Remender, Wes Craig, Jordan Boyd, and Rus Wooton build here between to old Legacy kids and Marcus & Maria feels like it’s going to explode, suggesting something even worse for the characters is coming soon. It’s very captivating.

| Published by Image / Giant Generator

Detective Comics #1003 reveals the identity of the Arkham Knight. It’s not really anyone you could have possibly guessed, but an interesting addition to Batman’s rogues gallery. Also the cult surrounding the Arkham Knight is certifiably insane. Gorgeous artwork again from Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, and Nathan Fairbairn.

| Published by Marvel

The Empty Man #7 goes full Clive Barker as we get an explanation for what the Empty Man really is and how he continues to manifest himself upon reality. I know I keep saying it, but the body horror brought about in the art from Jesús Hervás and Niko Guardia just can’t be stressed enough. Every issue they seem to outdo themselves with creepy and intriguing designs.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Eve Stranger #1 looks to be another winner for Black Crown. This first issue sets up the titular character as a secret agent who seems to need to reboot her memory every week. Why, exactly, is left unknown, but that’s part of the fun. David Barnett, Philip Bond, Eva de la Cruz, and Jane Heir do a wonderful job here with the action and intrigue. Also it’s great to see Bond doing more espionage tinged action, his art always looks so great telling these kinds of stories.

| Published by IDW / Black Crown

Excellence #1 is a thoroughly excellent debut from Brandon Thomas, Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez, and Deron Bennett. The world and character building in this first issue is impeccable and the art from Randolph and Lopez will just blow you away. Incredible development of a magic-based society and the class structure therein.

| Published by Image / Skybound

The Flash #70 begins “Year One” promising new insight and occurrences during Barry’s origin story. Given that the last time this happened his mother was murdered, changing the timeline and resulting down the line in Barry trying to fix it with Flashpoint, anything’s possible. The real draw, though, is the stunning artwork from Howard Porter and Hi-Fi. Porter is really giving this his all and it shines through wonderfully.

| Published by DC Comics

Hawkman #12 brings Bryan Hitch’s tenure on the series to an end with the conclusion to “Cataclysm”. This is an excellent, action-packed final confrontation between the legion of Hawkmen and the Deathbringers, setting up a whole Hawkman for possibly the first time and hints as to worse things waiting on the horizon.

| Published by DC Comics

Infinite Dark #6 amplifies the terror and chaos as the dead-ish things exposed to the void start spreading fear and panic throughout the station. Ryan Cady, Andrea Mutti, K. Michael Russell, and Troy Peteri ratchet up the horror here.

| Published by Image / Top Cow

Invaders #5 raises more questions after we thought some things were coming into focus in the previous issue, as Chip Zdarsky, Carlos Magno, Butch Guice, Alex Guimarães, and Travis Lanham continue “War Ghosts”. The tension here on the brink of all out war between the US and Atlantis is incredible, and there are more interesting twists that suggest something far more sinister occurring.

| Published by Marvel

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Sirens #2 features a gorgeous adaptation of the story of Chinese mother goddess, Nuwa, by Chan Chau with letters by Jim Campbell. The artwork is amazingly beautiful supporting a very sweet tale.

| Published by Boom Entertainment / Archaia

Justice League Odyssey #9 opens up an interesting thread that Starfire, Cyborg, and Azrael may be unduly under the influence of Darkseid. Dan Abnett is setting up some simmering conflict between Jessica Cruz and the rest of the team here, along with quite a few occult catchphrases thrown in to help amplify the mood.

| Published by DC Comics

Lodger #5 is the end to this excellent crime drama from the Laphams and it is all kinds of messed up. We learn what really happened to Ricky’s family and...yeah. This has been a strange, at times disturbing, ride and they stuck the landing.

| Published by IDW / Black Crown

Murder Falcon #8 is the epic conclusion to this series as Jake and Murf take on Magnum Khaos. Between this series and Extremity, Daniel Warren Johnson has proven himself time and again as a master storyteller and it shines through with the heartrending end to this story. This one goes up to eleven.

| Published by Image / Skybound

Red Sonja & Vampirella Meet Betty & Veronica #1 is an interesting mash-up of the three properties from Amy Chu, Maria Sanapo, Vinicius Andrade, and Taylor Esposito. Some nice fish out of water humour as Sonja and Vampirella acclimate to Riverdale.

| Published by Dynamite

Savage Sword of Conan #5 concludes “The Cult of Koga Thun” from Gerry Duggan, Ron Garney, Richard Isanove, and Travis Lanham. Some interesting twists in this finale of what has been a highly entertaining adventure.

| Published by Marvel

She Could Fly: The Lost Pilot #2 sees Martín Morazzo cut loose again with some of the designs and presentation for Luna’s dreams and schizophrenic episodes.

| Published by Dark Horse / Berger Books

Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Boba Fett #1 features some incredibly rich artwork from Marc Laming and Neeraj Menon. Great detail throughout this story spotlighting Boba Fett’s cold, silent amorality.

| Published by Marvel

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #32 begins “Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon” as Aphra and her young protege steal the titular MacGuffin. There’s some interesting flashbacks to Aphra’s youth and it’s great to see Caspar Wijngaard doing more Star Wars art, even if just the flashbacks.

| Published by Marvel

These Savage Shores #4 is a sumptuous feast. Ram V, Sumit Kumar, Vittorio Astone, and Aditya Bidikar are elevating the artform of comics which each subsequent issue. The epistolary narrative, the horror and mythological themes, the plays upon the nine-panel grid, the shadowy character designs, the lush and spooky colours, the overlap with historical events, the unique approach and detail in each character’s missive...just one of these elements would result in an entertaining tale, this comic mixes all of them into a superlative package. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not reading this series.

| Published by Vault

The Unstoppable Wasp #7 throws Nadia a birthday party, wherein she learns of her relations to what seems like half of the Marvel universe. Also, issues a death threat to Tony Stark. It’s cute, from Jeremy Whitley, Alti Firmansyah, Espen Grundetjern, and Joe Caramagna.

| Published by Marvel

War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1 sets up the conflict in the Pacific with Sindr while introducing a swath of new international characters to the Marvel universe. Also, Amadeus Cho continues to be a massive idiot, even at his shrunken size. Great art from Gang Hyuk Lim and Federico Blee.

| Published by Marvel

Wonder Twins #4 sets up the twins with a pair of dates, allowing for some hilarious misadventures. Also, Polly seems to have a weird obsession with testicular cancer. Mark Russell, Stephen Byrne, and Dave Sharpe continue the fun, even though this one kind of takes us away from all ages material.

| Published by DC Comics / Wonder Comics

Wyrd #3 opens up the messy can of worms of Wyrd’s past further as a figure out of the past he can’t remember emerges for a “meet”. Great tone and atmosphere for this story from Curt Pires, Antonio Fuso, Stefano Simeone, and Micah Myers.

| Published by Dark Horse

X-Force #7 begins “The Counterfeit King” from Ed Brisson, Dylan Burnett, Damian Couceiro, Jesus Aburtov, and Joe Caramagna as past and present threaten to collide. Some nice character development for the team as they wait for Deathlok to do his thing.

| Published by Marvel

Other Highlights: Accell #20, Age of X-Man: Apocalypse & The X-Tracts #3, Battlestar Galactica: Twilight Command #3, Betty & Veronica #5, Black Hammer: Age of Doom #10, By Night #11, Captain America #10, Captain Marvel #5, Catwoman #11, Curse Words #21, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6, Gunning for Hits #5, Hack/Slash vs. Chaos #5, Hit Girl: Season Two #4, House of Whispers #9, Ice Cream Man #12, James Bond: Origin #9, The Last Space Race #4, The Long Con #9, Marvels Annotated #3, Oberon #4, Ronin Island #3, Section Zero #2, Shadow Roads #7, Six Days, Spider-Man/Deadpool #50, Star Wars Adventures #21, Supergirl #30, Symbiote Spider-Man #2, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #44, Unnatural #9, Vindication #4, War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #2, Wasted Space #9, Waves, Wonder Woman #70

Recommended Collections: Accell - Volume 4: Slipstream Dream, Beyonders - Volume 1, Blackbird - Volume 1, Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor - Volume 1, The Freeze - Volume 1, Justice League - Volume 2: Graveyard of the Gods, Pearl - Volume 1, Quantum & Woody! - Volume 2: Separation Anxiety, Red Sonja/Tarzan, Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider - Volume 1: Spider-Geddon, Star Wars: Age of Republic - Villains, Thor by Jason Aaron: Complete Collection - Volume 1, The Woods: Yearbook Edition - Volume 1

d. emerson eddy feels like a frappuccino.

[mediaeval-muse]

Book Review... Jennifer Giesbrecht, “The Monster of Elendhaven”

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Genre: horror, fantasy, novella

Part of a Series? No

Summary: The city of Elendhaven sulks on the edge of the ocean. Wracked by plague, abandoned by the South, stripped of industry and left to die. But not everything dies so easily. A thing without a name stalks the city, a thing shaped like a man, with a dark heart and long pale fingers yearning to wrap around throats. A monster who cannot die. His frail master sends him out on errands, twisting him with magic, crafting a plan too cruel to name, while the monster’s heart grows fonder and colder and more cunning. These monsters of Elendhaven will have their revenge on everyone who wronged the city, even if they have to burn the world to do it.

***Full review under the cut.***

Trigger Warnings: blood and gore, violence, dubious consent

Overview: I saw this book at a local bookstore while I was home for the holidays, and I was enthralled with the premise and the cover art, so I took a chance on it. Overall, I didn’t dislike this book - it had a lot of things going for it, including a spooky atmosphere, an interesting premise, and some lyrical writing that really brought the mood. I was ultimately dissatisfied with this book, however, because its story and worldbuilding were too big for a genre that was so short. Ultimately, I think the same story could have been told as more of a horror/magical realism tale, which would have given the plot and characters more room to shine.

Writing: Giesbrecht initially writes with metaphor-heavy prose that alternates between hauntingly beautiful and somewhat confusing. Towards the beginning of the book, especially, I found myself having a hard time getting situated in the story and the setting because the prose was so concerned with eliciting eerie feelings over clarity. Over time, it evened out, and I let myself enjoy the writing.

Characters: The two main characters in this book are Johann (the titular “Monster of Elendhaven”) and Florian, a somewhat impoverished sorcerer who hails from an old-money family. Johann is a “monster” not just because he’s a murderous criminal, but he also, for unknown reasons, can’t die. Florian, who is well-versed in magic, is interested in discovering why and employing Johann as his bodyguard/errand boy/agent, primarily to enact revenge on the town that his family helped build. Johann kept referring to himself as “monstrous,” a “thing,” or other negative words, which honestly got repetitive. I don’t like self-loathing characters who keep calling themselves monsters, nor do I like characters who revel in the title because it feels like readers are being bashed over the head with how “monstrous” characters are - like we’re being told more than shown. I also had a hard time connecting with Johann because he was so void of empathy; I just didn’t see why I should care about him, especially since he wasn’t a particularly charismatic murderer. Florian himself was quite charming, with his fop-like dress and frail body that made him instantly likable. I connected with him a bit more easily, since his backstory made his motivations more compelling, but Florian, too, exhibits little charisma. His motivations were intriguing, but I still had a hard time rooting for his success.

Plot: In my opinion, the plot of this book suffers from a lack of suspense and shape. The idea of two messed up characters teaming up to unleash havoc on a corrupt, dirty, neglected town seemed fun, and the threat of a mage hunter putting a stop to everything is plenty of rationale for a book of this length. But rather than seeing them go on criminal adventures together, or seeing Florian put pieces of his plan in motion in a very deliberate way, a lot of the book consisted of things happening seemingly out of nowhere. I had a hard time seeing how each scene was related to the next, or how they built on one another towards the climax. As a result, the overall flow felt somewhat staggered. I did end up liking the explanation for Johann and Florian’s connection at the end, though I wish pieces were laid out more strongly for the reader throughout the book. A lot of the lore that we need to understand characters and plot is revealed through conversations or flashbacks, and I do wish we were shown more rather than told.

Other Worldbuilding: I don’t think all fantasy books need to have lots of time devoted to worldbuilding, but I do think that if you’re going to create a fictional world, you need to recognize when details and context are important. Authors also need to understand the genre they’re writing in; “novella” doesn’t mean you can just skip over worldbuilding and have a book that makes sense to a reader. Giesbrecht’s novella is clearly set in a fictional world, but there is no room for the deep dive into the worldbuilding that the story needed. Because the history of the town and the town’s folklore were somewhat important for explaining character motivations, I felt like the story needed that extra time to explore the worldbuilding. But because this book is a novella, there was no room. Romance: One of the big draws of this novella for me was the promise of an LGBT+ romance. With the characters being who they were, I was expecting some kind of dysfunctional, dark relationship. We kind of get that, but ultimately, the relationship wasn’t developed enough to be believable. Johann is pretty devoid of empathy, so I’m not sure what attracts him to Florian. Even if we read it as driven by lust or the desire for power over another person, I still didn’t think it was developed enough to make that clear to the reader. Johann also pursues Florian even though the latter says “no” and resorts to using magic to get Johann to stop touching him. I get that Johann isn’t supposed to be a “good guy,” but if you’re triggered by scenes of dubious consent, you may want to steer clear of this book.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in horror novellas, serial killer-type characters, magic, and gloomy, seaside towns.

[dillydedalus]

august reading

minus my women in translation month reads, because i’m still working on the last one but want to include it... that wrap-up will come in a few days once i’m done with the last book. 

not all dead white men: classics and misogyny in the digital age, donna zuckerberg classicist donna zuckerberg (facebook dude’s sister!) talks about how the alt-right, pick-up artists, incels etc. use the classics to assert & justify their misogyny and racism & portray themselves as the inheritors/saviours of western civilisation etc. the main examples she looks at are stoicism, ovid’s ars amatoria, and ancient narratives about sexual violence, which were all really interesting, but i feel like this could have been expanded a lot. 3.5/5

magic for liars, sarah gailey fun & cool crime story about a murder at a secret magical school (school nurse cut in half in magical library!), answering the burning question of what would happen if petunia dursley became a somewhat dysfunctional PI & had to solve a magical murder at hogwarts, where lily is a teacher. 3/5

the lie tree, frances hardinge frances hardinge writes the kind of middle grade/YA books i wish i could have read between like 10-14, where the world is spooky and the girls are angry spiteful stubborn resourceful sneaky things. i loved a skinful of shadows and i loved the lie tree, where curious snake girl (not literally it’s not that kind of a book) has to investigate her scandal-hounded natural scientist father’s death by spreading lies on the miserable island he died on and literally feeding them to spooky science-defying tree - and faith is very good at lying, and very angry, and very much willing to drag the whole island down with her. read for spooky trees, fake ghosts, and victorian male natural scientists being dumb and sexist & victorian female (& thus secret) natural scientist being smart & awesome. 4.5/5

the dead ladies project: exiles, expats & ex-countries, jessa crispin i have been at turns in love & really annoyed with crispin’s 2012 essay on william james, berlin & her own mental breakdown (x) since uh..... 2012 - it says some really interesting things about berlin’s capital-i Image as the city for self-destructive broke & weird messes, it’s very quotable, while also being some of the most irritating Anglophone Expat in Berlin Bullshit ever concocted (’we have surprisingly affordable rents’ sure didn’t age well.....) and saying almost nothing about the actual city outside of the Expat Bubble (apparently every single person in berlin is here because they feel like a failure.... YALL SOME PEOPLE JUST LIVE HERE). this book, structured around crispin’s soul-searching trip around europe, with each city being discussed in connection with an artist/writer/artist’s wife/etc who lived there, opens with that essay and i’m still torn. the thing is, crispin is smart & well-read & occasionally capable of some interesting insight & good writing..... she is also at times utterly insufferable, ranting at length about how she despises women who perform learned helplessness & prioritise men over everything else only to turn around & do the same fucking thing over & over, incl. going on endlessly about her torturous affair with a married writer, performing her ‘broke but independent woman traveller’ while uh.... staying at a friend’s luxurious farmhouse in switzerland for free... at one point she says she never felt at home in kansas bc based on her looks people don’t believe she’s really from kansas & constantly ask her where she’s REALLY from because.... y’all.... while she’s a good-looking white woman she has an ANGULAR FACE. sure jan. there is so much cool stuff in here, and i wish crispin had kept some most of the personal stuff out of it. 2/5 

mansfield park, jane austen hmmmm... austen is always good but this feels like it’s maybe the one novel of hers that is most negatively affected by values dissonance in that its morality feels like it’s from an alien culture which considers a private theatre performance to be the very height of impropriety (aka regency england apparently); as a result, fanny, a passive, timid, neglected girl of strong convictions often comes across as a moralistic prig (i will make no excuses for edmund, who’s just a patronising sanctimonious prig outright). there’s a quiet sort of triumph in fanny’s integrity & conviction in the face of a literal campaign of harrassment from everyone in her life including the dude she’s in love with to marry a reforming (maybe) rake & i love her for that, but her triumph in returning to mansfield park elevated in the esteem of everyone there (except aunt norris who is delightfully vile) feels empty considering that these are the same people who previously neglected her. also edmund sucks. 3/5 #justice4marycrawford #mary/fannyOTP #alsoarewegonnatalkabouttheslavery #guessnot

fool’s quest (fitz & the fool #2), robin hobb the first one in this trilogy was pretty much slow-paced set-up and character development... this one is much better: there’s a lot going on & the character development feels much more organic & complex - fitz seems to have come down from Peak Dumbass a bit & i really liked how it developed shun (shine!!!) and lant, who felt really one-dimensionally awful last book. also there are so many moments when the farseer family really comes thru for fitz & i cried literally every single time. so yeah. this one’s great, can’t wait for the next one but i also really don’t want it to be over :/ 4/5

what matters in jane austen, john mullan fun little collection of essays looking at specific details and minutae and their meaning/importance in austen’s work - like, how old are the characters (incl. age differences), how do characters address each other, what do games do they play, what about the servants, etc. don’t expect deep litcrit but it’s fun. 2.5/5

dead mountain: the untold true story of the dyatlov pass incident, donnie eichar hello i’m fred & i am obsessed with mountaineering disasters. the dyatlov pass incident refers to a night in 1959 where 9 russian hikers died in the ural mountains after they left their tent half-dressed without shoes for ~mysterious reasons. it’s pretty creepy & theories about it run from ‘avalanche’ to ‘animal [yeti] attack’ to ‘aliens and/or soviet conspiracy theory’. eichar too is super obsessed w/ this mystery and even went to the ural mountains & the dyatlov pass to investigate, which sadly makes for the least interesting (and possibly the longest) part of this book (the other timelines are the dyatlov group hike & the investigations after their deaths). the ‘59 timelines are both interesting tho & provide a good look into how weird the whole thing is. i enjoyed this, but i wish he had cut the endless chapters of him investigating, which is mostly russians being like ‘idk man aliens/radioactivity/secret govt agents?’ and him hiking around in a lot of snow, neither of which really added to his theory or my enjoyment. 2/5

if beale street could talk, james baldwin baldwin’s prose is staggeringly brilliant as always. this is a story about a young black couple (tish, who is the narrator, and fonny) in the 70s who are planning to move together and marry when fonny is wrongly arrested for rape by a racist cop with a grudge; tish and her family try to get him out, especially once tish realises that she’s pregnant. tish is a great narrator, at the same time kind of naive and soft, and full of world-weary cynicism about white institutions and racism, and her narrative voice at times drifts in and out of other characters’ minds, which i found an interesting effect. as many baldwin’s novels this is full of rage & violence & tenderness & tiny sparks of hope. 4/5

lady susan, jane austen epistolary novella about a 35-year-old lady susan, a scheming, ruthless, not-so-grieving widow, who is trying to get her timid daughter frederica married to a buffoon. while staying with her sweetly clueless brother-in-law vernon and trying to win over his much more suspicious wife, she makes the wife’s brother reginald (lol) fall in love with her. a very different protag and story for austen & while the end can’t quite commit to either punishing susan very much or letting her triumph, it is a lot of fun. 3/5

on a sunbeam, tillie walden this is an absolutely beautiful (the colours!) graphic novel about a spaceship crew (the spaceship is a fish) who fly around & restore old space buildings. it’s also a story about a romance between two young girls at a boarding school (in space) and about found families and deep space and there’s not a single man in this, just women and elliot, who’s nonbinary. lovely, dreamy and completely gorgeous. want me a fish spaceship. 4/5

between birthday books and birthday giftcards i also acquired uh.... 12 new books??? which is INSANE. i’m not committing to a book buying ban but i should probably chill a lil in the next few months. 

[incorrectsmashbrosquotes]

Our 1,000th Post!

Hey guys! This is our one-thousandth post on this blog! So, I wanted to make it something special. And, since it is the month of spookiness, I figured this would be perfect for it!

Enjoy!

This is Smash Bros 

(Parody of “This is Halloween” from the Nightmare Before Christmas)

Luigi: 

Gamers and neets of every age,

wouldn’t you like to see something strange?

Peach:

Come with us and ‘scape all your woes,

in our home of Super Smash Bros!

Chorus:

This is Smash Bros!

This is Smash Bros!

Goombas scream in the dead of night!

Link:

This is Smash Bros, everybody write a prose,

Smash and Clash till your competitors die of fright.

Zelda:

It’s our game, everybody knows,

In this game of Super Smash Bros.

Ganondorf:

I am the one taking oe’r your land,

emerging like a beast from the realm of sand.

Bowser:

I am the one causing all the mess,

coming in, and taking your Princess.

Chorus:

This is Smash Bros!

This is Smash Bros!

Smash Bros! Smash Bros!

Smash Bros! Smash bros!

Mewtwo:

In this game, where we roam,

everyone hail to the smasher song.

Wolf:

In this game, don’t we love it now,

Everyone’s waiting for the next SURPRISE!

Fox:

‘Round that corner man, hiding in the trophy,

something’s waiting to pounce and how you’ll

SCREAM!

Falco:

This is Smash Bros,

Red and Blue and Teams of Green!

Sonic:

Having fun?!

Little Mac:

Well that’s just fine!

Captain Falcon:

Say it once, say it twice,

Take a chance and roll the dice,

Play with your friends any day or night?!

Chorus:

Fight your foes! Fight your Foes!

In our game of Super Smash bros!

Villager:

I am the mayor with the very sharp axe,

Going after my foes with whips and cracks!

Isabelle:

I am the friend when you need one there,

get you through work so you can Smash down there!

Bayonetta:

I am the witch with the epic combos,

giving the fuc bois tears and a runny nose,

Chorus:

This is Smash Bros! This is Smash Bros!

Smash Bros! Smash bros!

Smash Bros! Smash bros!

SMASH BROS! SMASH BROS!

King Dedede:

Swords and Poke Balls make our day,

Life’s no fun without some good play!

Donkey Kong:

That’s our job and yet we’re sane,

In our super fun Super Smash game!

Dr. Mario:

In this game, don’t we love it now,

everybody’s waiting for the next surprise!

Marth:

Sheik and Snake might catch you in the back,

scream like a noob and make you jump out of your-

Fire Emblem Characters:

SKIN!

Chorus:

This is Smash Bros, everybody knows!

Won’t ya please make way for a very special guy!

Our man Mario, King of the Smash Bros!

Everybody hail to the Smash King NOW!

This is Smash Bros! This is Smash Bros!

Smash Bros! Smash Bros!

Smash Bros! Smash Bros!

Mario:

In this game, where we roam,

Everyone hail to the Smash Bros Song!

Chorus:

LA! LA! LA-LA LA! LA! LA-LA LA! LA!

LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[irrfahrer]

Cozy Aesthetic

wind or rain // closed curtains or open window // bumblebees or butterflies // banana bread or cheesecake* // tulips or roses** // lemon & honey or apple & cinnamon // hillside cottage or city apartment // warm or cold // book or video game // organized bullet journal or cluttered sketchbook // smoothie or milkshake // sunshine or moonlight // relaxing or productivity // holding hands or back hugs // sunset at the beach or stargazing in a field // poetry or prose*** // candle or diffuser // longing for the past or longing for the future // vocals or instrumentals // snowy mountain or rolling green hills *As a mammal past infantage, Ziv is not able to disgest lactose. Accordingly giving her cheesecake to eat or let alone blue milk is the best way to chain her to a bed for the next two to three days. ** Zivs favorite flowers are Roses.Not that she would say that out loud considering her Reeksa AyyAyy is a very jealouse puppy and the Orchid would probably offended, but she respects roses for the fact that the mold growing on rosepetals can be used perfectly as a antibiotica, the petals can be eaten and the roseranks are a perfect replacement for leather.

***The Tynnan usually reads only scientific texts, but she has the very indulging hobby to read horribly slushy and hopefully very steamy jedi-romance-novellas, when insomnia hits her with full force. She laughs a lot about the wrong interpretations of the Jedi and has the fun of her life.

Tastes ancient or modern // bitter or sweet // chocolate or vanilla // coffee or tea // create or destroy // day or night // early bird or night owl // freckles or dimples // gold or silver // greek mythology or egyptian mythology // macarons or eclairs // hot or cold // thunder or lightning // typewritten or handwritten // secret garden or secret library // spicy or mild // dark magic or light magic**** // virtue or vice // ocean or desert // mermaids or sirens // known or unknown // rough or smooth // moon or stars // rain or snow ****The Tynnan is a very pragmatic and downtoearth person, and she most definitive would not mess with Sith alchemy or anythign else that could be considered magical. And with “she would not mess with”, it is meant that ZIv is studying Sith Alchemy sinc she had been seventeen and is very aware what can and will go wrong if idiots are messing with things that they do not understand. She is very much a “Know your enemy”-person and when the “enemy” is a science that can bring back the Dead as flesheating Zombies, she studys keenly.

Halloween/Fall tea or hot chocolate // cozy books or halloween movies // plaid or corduroy neither // foggy mornings or twinkly nights // orange or black // pumpkin or apple pie // wool or velvet neither // picking fruit or carving pumpkins // libraries or coffee shops // cinnamon or peanut butter // spooky or cozy halloween // candles or fairy lights

[lunagalemaster]

Danny Phantom Pairing Names

- FrDP has weird pairing names. I’ve seen a few lists floating about but they’ve either been incomplete or not up to date. One night, we were talking on the slack and one of said lists were brought up... and I may or may not have got annoyed at the organization of said list, made my own list, and then updated it. 

This was the result of said mess. Enjoy, phandom!

(Updated as of April 17, 2018)

Organized Alphabetically Based On the First Ship Name in Each Section

Sections: 

(M/F) Human Pairings [25 different combos]

(M/F) Human and Ghost Pairings [24]

(M/F) Ghost Pairings [14]

(M/M) Human Pairings [15]

(M/M) Human and Ghost Pairings [35]

(M/M) Ghost Pairings [14]

(F/F) All Pairings [23]

Poly Parings [21]

Misc Pairings [34]

All Pairings With Danny [77]*

All Pairings [204]

*I may have missed one or two of the Danny pairings. Excuse me if I did. 

(Note: The first name is usually the more well known name for the pairing, and for the purposes of organization, halfas are being counted as humans. Original chart and names came from here (x). Many pairings names taken from this (x) fic. Other name changes/additions are from phandom conversations, private decisions for a new pairing name, and/or new, recent trends for pairing names).

WARNING: This is just a list of pairing names and whether I condone said pairings is irrelevant. That being said, some pairings listed may not make you comfortable. I am including all pairings for information purposes. 

If you want to add any names or if there are some alternate names I’m missing, submit them to me, or message me directly. I will not be taking names in the tags anymore. 

With that, I hope you guys enjoy!

(M/F) Human Pairings

Amethyst Ocean, Violet Haze, Fakeout-Makeout- Danny/Sam

Brains Over Brawn- Jazz/Dash

Carbon Copy Quarterback- Dani/Dash

Cloned Romantic– Dani/Tucker

Cream Cheese- Vlad/Dani

Dumb Founded- Dash/Sam

Gothic Vampire- Sam/Vlad

Gray Ghost- Valerie/Danny

Hunter Silly- Tucker/Valerie

Jock Goth- Kwan/Sam

Makeup Honor- Dash/Paulina

Misplaced Faith, Secret Disaster- Valerie/Vlad

Moronic Genius, Brain Cookies- Maddie/Jack

Phantom Satellite- Danny/Star

Psycho Cereal, Obsessive Meddler- Vlad/Jazz

Restrained Romance - Danny/Pamela

Pink Astronaut- Paulina/Danny

Sibling Secrets- Jazz/Danny

Sports Satellite- Kwan/Star

Spurned Affection- Vlad/Maddie

Sue Killer- Dani/Danny

Teacher's Pet- Lancer/Jazz

Techno Smarts-Tucker/Jazz

Twinkle Techno- Star/Tucker

Veggie Burger, Ghost's Absence- Tucker/Sam

(M/F) Human and Ghost Pairings

Circus Freaks- Freakshow/Lydia

Classic Cliche- Jazz/Ghostwriter

Dark Gray- Dan/Valerie

Evil Goth- Dan/Sam

Ghost Envy- Jazz/Freakshow

Ghostly Menu- Danny/Lunch Lady

Haunting Desire- Danny/Desiree

Mama’s Boy- (Romantic) Danny/Maddie

Maternal Instincts- (Paternal) Danny/Maddie

Misery Motivated- Vlad/Spectra

Oedipus Complex - Maddie/Dan

Pandora’s Ghost- Danny/Pandora

Phantom Dragon- Dorothea/Danny

Phantom Feline- Kitty/Danny

Phantom Rocker- Danny/Ember

Pitiful Delusion- Dark Danny/Paulina

Purple Prose- Ghostwriter/Sam

Phantom Psychology - Danny/Spectra

School Spirit- Spectra/Lancer

Techno Babble- Jazz/Technus

The Freak Behind Blue Eyes, Dark Fire- Ember/Freakshow

Timely Intelligence- Jazz/Clockwork

Young Bloodthirst – Dan/Dani

Young Love- Dani/Youngblood

(M/F) Ghost Pairings

Black Cat- Johnny 13/Kitty

Girl in the Tower, Timeless Love- Dora/Aragon

Guard Granter- Walker/Desiree

Hunter's Flame- Ember/Skulker

Insane Asylum- Walker/Spectra

Melancholy Assistance- Spectra/Bertrand

Night Sky, Destroyed Satellite- Dan/Star

Packaged Food- Box Ghost/Lunch Lady

Pirate Food- Youngblood/Box Lunch

Punk Poet- Ember/Ghostwriter

Punk Rock- Youngblood/Ember

Retro Movie Do- Poindexter/Dora

Talkative Treacherous– Technus/Desiree

Traps Desired- Desiree/Skulker

(M/M) Human Pairings

Badger Cereal- (Paternal) Vlad/Danny

Go Packers- Dash/Vlad

Lance Lancer- Lancer Thunder/Mr. Lancer

Literature Lovers- Danny/Lancer

Not So Useful Distraction- Kwan/Vlad

Nu Goth- Elliot(Gregor)/Danny

Pac Man- Jack/Vlad

Phantom Fumble- Danny/Kwan

Pitched Tent, Publicity Stunt- Danny/Freakshow

Pompous Pep, Endangered Species- (Romantic) Vlad/Danny

Quacker- Tucker/Kwan

Savant Par, CyberSpace- Danny / Tucker

Swagger Bishie, Locker Bruise, Teddy Ghost- Danny/Dash

The Wrong Sick- Danny/Jack

Tight End- Dash/Kwan

(M/M) Human and Ghost Pairings

Anonymity Park- Danny/Amorpho

Boxed Phantom- Danny/Box Ghost

Callous Query- Danny/Skulker

Cosmic Cyborg- Technus/Danny

Dark Side, Control- Dan / Freakshow

Dark Times- Freakshow/Clockwork

Doubly Evil, Bitterly Broken- Vlad/Dan

Halloween Phantom- Fright Knight/Danny

Haunted Past, Enslaved Exemplar- Dan/Danny

Heroic Amusement, Great Divide- Super!Danny/Fun!Danny

Iambic Prose- Danny/Ghostwriter

Jail Bait, Ghostly Prisoner- Danny/Walker

Lactose Intolerant- Vlad/Dairy King

Locker Buddies- (Platonic) Poindexter/Danny

Lost Time- (Platonic) Danny/Clockwork

Lucky Accident- Johnny 13/Danny

Mad Scientist- Dark Danny/Kwan

New Master - Vlad/Fright Knight

Noodle Nerds- (Romantic) Poindexter/Danny

Oreo Cookie, Phriendship, Pitch Pals - (Platonic) Fenton/Phantom

Phantom PDA- Phantom/Tucker

Phantom Shadows- Shadow/Danny

Pitch Pearl, Photonegative Narcissus- (Romantic) Fenton/Phantom

Red Pearl- (Romantic) Fenton/HypnotizedorEvil!Phantom

Rich History- Vlad/Clockwork

Royal Pain- Danny/Aragon

Spaghetti and Meatballs, Hypnotic Shadows- Freakshow/Johnny 13

Striking Fear- Masters/Plasmius

Techno Geeks, PDA, Technological Advancement- Technus/Tucker

Teenage Dream- Nocturne/Danny

Temporal Trust- (Romantic) Danny/Clockwork

Tireless Dedication- Ghostwriter/Vlad

Tyrannious Hope- Danny/Pariah Dark [I don’t know if the typo is intentional or not]

White Fang- Wulf/Danny

(M/M) Ghost Pairings

All the King’s Men - Pariah Dark/Fright Knight

Blood Red Ink- Dan/Ghostwriter 

Dark Dark- Pariah Dark/Dan 

Delusions of Grandeur- Pariah Dark/Nocture

Dream Time- Clockwork/Nocturne

Electric Hunter, Sparks, Generator- Technus/Skulker

Esperanto Code of Conduct- Wulf/Walker

Goodnight Moon- Nocturn/Ghostwriter

Gun Magazine- Skulker/Ghostwriter

History Books- Ghostwriter/Clockwork

Meddling Minutes- Dan/Clockwork

Penslammeter- Walker/Ghostwriter

Science Fiction- Technus/Ghostwriter

Tricky Pseudonym- Amorpho/Ghostwriter

Unlucky Author– Johnny/Ghostwriter

(F/F) All Pairings

Butch-ers, Steak Sit-Ups- Lunch Lady/Tetslaff 

Burning Buds- (Platonic) Dani/Ember

Dora^2, Panned Doras- Dora/Pandora

Dragon Tattoo- Dora/Lydia 

Famous Satelite, Shallow Orbit– Star/Paulina

Feline Grace- Jazz/Kitty

Goth Princess- Sam/Paulina

Gothic Dragon, Medieval Gothic- Sam/Dora

Hide n' Seek- Sam/Valerie

Hot December- Desiree/Ember

Hunter's Facade– Paulina/Valerie

Hypno Therapy- Ember/Jazz

Kith Kin- Sam/Jazz

Mythical Wishes- Desiree/Pandora

Painful Desires- Spectra/Desiree

Perfect Pitch, Pitch Perfect- Paulina/Ember

Platinum Punk- Dani/Ember

Posh Scientist- Maddie/Pamela

Psycho Analysis- Spectra/Jazz

Pussycat Dolls- Kitty/Ember

Royal Wishes- Dora/Desiree

Somber Sear- Ember/Sam

Vengeful Babes- Valerie/Dani

Poly Pairings

3D- Dan/Danny/Dani

Bittersweet Redemption- Dan/Danny/Vlad

Blacks and Blues- Ember/Jazz/Sam

Enchanted Circus- Desiree/Dora/Lydia

Everlasting Trio, Eternal Trio- Danny/Sam/Tucker

Family Breakfast- Jack/Maddie/Vlad

Ghostly Time Machine- Danny/Clockwork/Ghostwriter

Halfas Just Want to Have Fun - Masters/Plasmius/Fenton/Phantom

Hourglass Chess, Chaotic Chess- Clockwork/Dan/Freakshow

Just the Right Amount of Crazy- Clockwork/Dan/Danny/Vlad

Misery Punk Rock- Kitty/Spectra/Ember

Personalized Gift Baskets- Vlad/Maddie/Danny

Phantastic Four- Danny/Tucker/Sam/Valerie

Pitch PDA- Phantom/Fenton/Tucker

Pompous Pearl- Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom/Vlad

Rebel Riders- Danny/Johnny/Valerie

Rocker's Boys- Dash/Ember/Kwan

Striking Pep - Masters/Plasmius/Danny

Technical Star Player- Star/Tucker/Kwan

Triple Blossom- Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom/Sam

Misc Pairings (Mostly Not Organized Alphabetically)

Clone Conspiracy- Dani/Wes Weston

Cryptid Hunting- Valerie/Wes Weston

Overbearing Redheads- Jazz/Wes Weston

Spy Satellite- Star/Wes Weston

Unidentified Flying Ship- Danny/Wes Weston

Employee of the Month- Vlad/Walter Weston

(Daniel Masters in whatever context whether he be from another timeline or a clone son or your choice. As long as the original Danny Fenton and him coexist in some way or at one point had separate identities.)

Bad End- Dan/Daniel Masters

Clone Wars-Daniel Masters/Dani 

Perfect Clone-  (Romantic) Vlad/Daniel Masters 

Perfect Son- (Paternal) Vlad/Daniel Masters

The D- Danny/Dani/Dan/Daniel Masters

Paranormal Facade- Wes/Daniel Masters

Ectodragon- Danny/Draco Malfoy [Harry Potter]

Ectoham- Danny/Randy Cummingham [Randy Cummingham: Ninth Grade Ninja]

Going Dragon- Danny/Jake Long [American Dragon: Jake Long]

Halfworld Royalties- Danny/Raven [Teen Titans]

Invisobilly- Danny/Billy Joe Cobra [Dude That’s My Ghost!]

Ocean Spirit- Danny/Moana [Disney’s Moana]

Spooky Nerds- Danny/Jimmy [Jimmy Neutron]

Spongeboo- Danny/Spongebob[Spongebob]

Ghost in the Shell- Danny/Jenny [My Life as a Teenage Robot]

Robot Techie, XJ-PDA- Tucker/Jenny[My Life as a Teenage Robot]

Green Ecto Splat- Danny/Lee Ping [Detentionaire]

Cold Hands, Ice Ice Baby, Phantom Frost - Danny/Jack Frost [Rise of the Guardians]

Pastel Corpses- Danny/Lars [Steven Universe]

World Wide Web- Tucker/Peter Parker [Spider-man]

Spider Phantom, Radioactive, Friendly Neighborhood Phantom- Danny/Peter Parker [Spider-man]

Delsa, Frozen Core- Danny/Elsa [Frozen]

Fourth Wall Portal- (Platonic) Danny/OC

Ghostly Touch, Phantom Kiss- (Romantic) Danny/OC

Cream Soup-Danny/Fenton Thermos

Love Sucks- Ghost Weasel/Fenton Thermos

Pink Pearl- Danny/His Pink Pants

Technical Difficulties- Tucker/His PDA

All Pairings With Danny

3D- Dan/Danny/Dani

Amethyst Ocean, Violet Haze- Danny/Sam

Anonymity Park- Danny/Amorpho

Badger Cereal- (Platonic and/or Paternal) Vlad/Danny

Bittersweet Redemption - Dan/Danny/Vlad

Boxed Phantom-Danny/Box Ghost

Callous Query- Danny/Skulker

Cold Hands, Ice Ice Baby, Phantom Frost- Danny/Jack Frost [Rise of the Guardians]

Cosmic Cyborg- Technus/Danny

Cream Soup- Danny/Fenton Thermos

Delsa, Frozen Core- Danny/Elsa [Frozen]

Ectodragon- Danny/Draco Malfoy [Harry Potter]

Ectoham- Danny/Randy Cummingham [Randy Cummingham: Ninth Grade Ninja]

Everlasting Trio, Eternal Trio - Danny/Sam/Tucker

Fourth Wall Portal- (platonic) Danny/OC

Ghost in the Shell- Danny/Jenny [My Life as a Teenage Robot]

Ghostly Menu- Danny/Lunch Lady

Ghostly Time Machine- Danny/Clockwork/Ghostwriter

Ghostly Touch, Phantom Kiss- (Romantic) Danny/OC

Going Dragon- Danny/Jake Long [American Dragon: Jake Long]

Goodnight Moon- Nocturn/Ghostwriter

Gray Ghost- Valerie/Danny

Green Ecto Splat- Danny/Lee Ping [Detentionaire]

Halfas Just Want to Have Fun - Masters/Plasmius/Fenton/Phantom

Halfworld Royalties- Danny/Raven [Teen Titans]

Halloween Phantom- Fright Knight/Danny

Haunted Past, Enslaved Exemplar- Dan/Danny

Haunting Desire- Danny/Desiree

Heroic Amusement, Great Divide- Super!Danny/Fun!Danny

Iambic Prose-Danny/Ghostwriter

Invisobilly- Danny/Billy Joe Cobra [Dude That’s My Ghost!]

Jail Bait, Ghostly Prisoner- Danny/Walker

Just the Right Amount of Crazy- Clockwork/Dan/Danny/Vlad

Literature Lovers- Danny/Lancer

Locker Buddies- (Platonic) Poindexter/Danny

Lost Time- (Platonic) Danny/Clockwork

Lucky Accident- Johnny 13/Danny

Mama’s Boy- (Romantic) Danny/Maddie

Maternal Instincts- (Paternal) Danny/Maddie

Noodle Nerds- (Romantic) Poindexter/Danny

Nu Goth- Elliot(Gregor)/Danny

Ocean Spirit- Danny/Moana [Disney’s Moana]

Pandora’s Ghost- Danny/Pandora

Pastel Corpses- Danny/Lars [Steven Universe]

Personalized Gift Baskets- Vlad/Maddie/Danny

Phantastic Four- Danny/Tucker/Sam/Valerie

Phantom Dragon- Dorothea/Danny

Phantom Feline- Kitty/Danny

Phantom Fumble- Danny/Kwan

Phantom Rocker- Danny/Ember

Phantom Satellite- Danny/Star

Phantom Shadows- Shadow/Danny

Pitiful Delusion- Dark Danny/Paulina

Pink Pearl- Danny/His Pink Pants

Phantom Psychology - Danny/Spectra

Pitched Tent, Publicity Stunt- Danny/Freakshow

Pompous Pearl- Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom/Vlad

Pompous Pep, Endangered Species- (Romantic) Vlad/Danny

Rebel Riders- Danny/Johnny/Valerie

Red Pearl- (Romantic) Fenton/ [Hypnotized/Evil] Phantom

Restrained Romance - Danny/Pamela

Royal Pain- Danny/Aragon

Savant Par, CyberSpace- Danny / Tucker

Pink Astronaut- Paulina/Danny

Sibling Secrets- Jazz/Danny

Spider Phantom, Radioactive, Friendly Neighborhood Phantom- Danny/Peter Parker [Spider-man]

Spongeboo- Danny/Spongebob[Spongebob]

Spooky Nerds- Danny/Jimmy [Jimmy Neutron]

Striking Pep - Masters/Plasmius/Danny

Sue Killer- Dani/Danny

Swagger Bishie, Locker Bruise, Teddy Ghost- Danny/Dash

Teenage Dream- Nocturne/Danny

Temporal Trust- (Romantic) Danny/Clockwork

The D- Danny/Dani/Dan/Daniel Masters

The Wrong Sick- Danny/Jack

Triple Blossom- Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom/Sam

Tyrannious Hope- Danny/Pariah Dark

Unidentified Flying Ship- Danny/Wes

White Fang - Wulf/Danny

All Pairings 

3D-  Dan/Danny/Dani

All the King’s Men - Pariah Dark/Fright Knight

Amethyst Ocean, Violet Haze, Fakeout-Makeout- Danny/Sam

Anonymity Park- Danny/Amorpho

Bad End- Dan/Daniel

Badger Cereal- (Platonic and/or Paternal) Vlad/Danny

Bittersweet Redemption- Dan/Danny/Vlad

Black Cat- Johnny 13/Kitty

Blacks and Blues- Ember/Jazz/Sam

Blood Red Ink - Dan/Ghostwriter

Boxed Phantom- Danny/Box Ghost

Brains Over Brawn- Jazz/Dash

Butch-ers, Steak Sit-Ups- Lunch Lady/Tetslaff

Burning Buds- (Platonic) Dani/Ember

Callous Query- Danny/Skulker

Carbon Copy Quarterback- Dani/Dash

Circus Freaks- Freakshow/Lydia

Classic Cliche- Jazz/Ghostwriter

Clone Conspiracy- Dani/Wes Weston

Clone Wars-Daniel Masters/Dani

Cloned Romantic– Dani/Tucker

Cold Hands, Ice Ice Baby, Phantom Frost- Danny/Jack Frost [Rise of the Guardians]

Cosmic Cyborg- Technus/Danny

Cream Cheese- Vlad/Dani

Cream Soup-Danny/Fenton Thermos

Cryptid Hunting- Valerie/Wes Weston

Dark Dark- Pariah Dark/Dan

Dark Gray- Dan/Valerie

Dark Side, Control- Dan / Freakshow

Dark Times- Freakshow/Clockwork

Delsa, Frozen Core- Danny/Elsa [Frozen]

Delusions of Grandeur- Pariah/Nocture

Dora^2- Dora/Pandora

Doubly Evil, Bitterly Broken- Vlad/Dan

Dragon Tattoo- Dora/Lydia

Dream Time- Clockwork/Nocturne

Dumb Founded- Dash/Sam

Ectodragon- Danny/Draco Malfoy [Harry Potter]

Ectoham- Danny/Randy Cummingham [Randy Cummingham: Ninth Grade Ninja]

Electric Hunter, Sparks, Generator- Technus/Skulker

Employee of the Month- Vlad/Walter Weston

Enchanted Circus- Desiree/Dora/Lydia

Esperanto Code of Conduct- Wulf/Walker

Everlasting Trio, Eternal Trio- Danny/Sam/Tucker

Evil Goth- Dan/Sam

Family Breakfast- Jack/Maddie/Vlad

Famous Satelite, Shallow Orbit– Star/Paulina

Feline Grace- Jazz/Kitty

Fourth Wall Portal- (Platonic) Danny/OC

Ghost Envy- Jazz/Freakshow

Ghost in the Shell- Danny/Jenny [My Life as a Teenage Robot]

Ghostly Menu- Danny/Lunch Lady

Ghostly Time Machine- Danny/Clockwork/Ghostwriter

Ghostly Touch, Phantom Kiss- (Romantic) Danny/OC

Girl in the Tower, Timeless Love- Dora/Aragon

Go Packers- Dash/Vlad

Going Dragon- Danny/Jake Long [American Dragon: Jake Long]

Goth Princess- Sam/Paulina

Gothic Dragon, Medieval Gothic- Sam/Dora

Gothic Vampire- Sam/Vlad

Gray Ghost- Valerie/Danny

Green Ecto Splat- Danny/Lee Ping [Detentionaire]

Guard Granter- Walker/Desiree

Gun Magazine- Skulker/Ghostwriter

Halfas Just Want to Have Fun - Masters/Plasmius/Fenton/Phantom

Halfworld Royalties- Danny/Raven [Teen Titans]

Halloween Phantom- Fright Knight/Danny

Haunted Past, Enslaved Exemplar- Dan/Danny

Haunting Desire- Danny/Desiree

Heroic Amusement, Great Divide- Super!Danny/Fun!Danny

Hide n' Seek- Sam/Valerie

History Books- Ghostwriter/Clockwork

Hot December- Desiree/Ember

Hourglass Chess, Chaotic Chess- Clockwork/Dan/Freakshow

Hunter Silly- Tucker/Valerie

Hunter's Facade– Paulina/Valerie

Hunter's Flame- Ember/Skulker

Hypno Therapy- Ember/Jazz

Iambic Prose- Danny/Ghostwriter

Insane Asylum- Walker/Spectra

Invisobilly- Danny/Billy Joe Cobra [Dude That’s My Ghost!]

Jail Bait, Ghostly Prisoner- Danny/Walker

Jock Goth- Kwan/Sam

Just the Right Amount of Crazy- Clockwork/Dan/Danny/Vlad

Kith Kin- Sam/Jazz

Lactose Intolerant- Vlad/Dairy King

Lance Lancer- Lance Thunder/Mr. Lancer

Literature Lovers- Danny/Lancer

Locker Buddies- (Platonic) Poindexter/Danny

Lost Time- (Platonic) Danny/Clockwork

Love Sucks- Ghost Weasel/Fenton Thermos

Lucky Accident- Johnny 13/Danny

Mad Scientist- Dark Danny/Kwan

Makeup Honor- Dash/Paulina

Mama’s Boy- (Romantic) Danny/Maddie

Maternal Instincts- (Paternal) Danny/Maddie

Meddling Minutes- Dan/Clockwork

Melancholy Assistance- Spectra/Bertrand

Misery Motivated- Vlad/Spectra

Misery Punk Rock- Kitty/Spectra/Ember

Misplaced Faith, Secret Disaster- Valerie/Vlad

Moronic Genius, Brain Cookies- Maddie/Jack

Mythical Wishes- Desiree/Pandora

New Master - Vlad/Fright Knight

Night Sky, Destroyed Satellite- Dan/Star

Noodle Nerds- (Romantic) Poindexter/Danny

Not So Useful Distraction- Kwan/Vlad

Nu Goth- Elliot(Gregor)/Danny

Ocean Spirit- Danny/Moana [Disney’s Moana]

Oedipus Complex - Maddie/Dan

Oreo Cookie, Phriendship, Pitch Pals- (Platonic) Fenton/Phantom

Overbearing Redheads- Jazz/Wes Weston

Pac Man- Jack/Vlad

Packaged Food- Box Ghost/Lunch Lady

Painful Desires- Spectra/Desiree

Pastel Corpses- Danny/Lars [Steven Universe]

Pandora’s Ghost- Danny/Pandora

Paranormal Facade- Wes/Daniel Masters

Penslammeter- Walker/Ghostwriter

Perfect Pitch, Pitch Perfect- Paulina/Ember

Perfect Clone-  (Romantic) Vlad/Daniel Masters

Perfect Son- (Paternal) Vlad/Daniel Masters

Personalized Gift Baskets- Vlad/Maddie/Danny

Phantastic Four- Danny/Tucker/Sam/Valerie

Phantom Dragon- Dorothea/Danny

Phantom Feline- Kitty/Danny

Phantom Fumble- Danny/Kwan

Phantom PDA- Phantom/Tucker

Phantom Psychology - Danny/Spectra

Platinum Punk- Dani/Ember

Phantom Rocker- Danny/Ember

Phantom Satellite- Danny/Star

Phantom Shadows- Shadow/Danny

Pink Pearl- Danny/His Pink Pants

Pirate Food- Youngblood/Box Lunch

Pitch PDA- Phantom/Fenton/Tucker

Pitch Pearl, Photonegative Narcissus- (Romantic) Fenton/Phantom

Pitched Tent, Publicity Stunt- Danny/Freakshow

Pompous Pearl- Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom/Vlad

Pompous Pep, Endangered Species- (Romantic) Vlad/Danny

Posh Scientist- Maddie/Pamela

Psycho Analysis- Spectra/Jazz

Psycho Cereal, Obsessive Meddler- Vlad/Jazz

Psychotic Sues- Danny/OC

Punk Poet- Ember/Ghostwriter

Punk Rock- Youngblood/Ember

Purple Prose- Ghostwriter/Sam

Pussycat Dolls- Kitty/Ember

Quacker- Tucker/Kwan

Rebel Riders- Danny/Johnny/Valerie

Red Pearl- (Romantic) Fenton/ [Hypnotized/Evil] Phantom

Restrained Romance - Danny/Pamela

Retro Movie Do- Poindexter / Dora

Rich History- Vlad/Clockwork

Robot Techie, XJ-PDA- Tucker/Jenny [My Life as a Teenage Robot]

Rocker's Boys- Dash/Ember/Kwan

Royal Pain- Danny/Aragon

Royal Wishes- Dora/Desiree

Savant Par, CyberSpace- Danny / Tucker

School Spirit- Spectra/Lancer

Science Fiction- Technus/Ghostwriter

Pink Astronaut- Paulina/Danny

Sibling Secrets- Jazz/Danny

Somber Sear- Ember/Sam

Spaghetti and Meatballs, Hypnotic Shadows- Freakshow/Johnny 13

Spider Phantom, Radioactive, Friendly Neighborhood Phantom- Danny/Peter Parker [Spider-man]

Spooky Nerds- Danny/Jimmy [Jimmy Neutron]

Spongeboo- Danny/Spongebob[Spongebob]

Sports Satellite- Kwan/Star

Spurned Affection- Vlad/Maddie

Spy Satellite- Star/Wes Weston

Striking Fear- Masters/Plasmius

Striking Pep - Masters/Plasmius/Danny

Sue Killer- Dani/Danny

Swagger Bishie, Locker Bruise, Teddy Ghost- Danny/Dash

Talkative Treacherous– Technus/Desiree

Teacher's Pet- Lancer/Jazz

Technical Difficulties- Tucker/His PDA

Technical Star Player- Star/Tucker/Kwan

Techno Babble- Jazz/Technus

Techno Geeks, PDA, Technological Advancement- Technus/Tucker

Techno Smarts-Tucker/Jazz

Teenage Dream- Nocturne/Danny

Temporal Trust- (Romantic) Danny/Clockwork

Tricky Pseudonym- Amorpho/Ghostwriter

The D- Danny/Dani/Dan/Daniel Masters

The Freak Behind Blue Eyes, Dark Fire- Ember/Freakshow

The Wrong Sick- Danny/Jack

Tight End- Dash/Kwan

Timely Intelligence- Jazz/Clockwork

Tireless Dedication- Ghostwriter/Vlad

Traps Desired- Desiree/Skulker

Triple Blossom- Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom/Sam

Twinkle Techno- Star/Tucker

Tyrannious Hope- Danny/Pariah Dark

Unidentified Flying Ship- Danny/Wes Weston

Unlucky Author– Johnny/Ghostwriter

Veggie Burger, Ghost's Absence- Tucker/Sam

Vengeful Babes- Valerie/Dani

White Fang- Wulf/Danny

Young Bloodthirst – Dan/Dani

Young Love- Dani/Youngblood

(Again, if you want to add any names or if there are some alternate names I’m missing, submit them to me, or message me directly. I will not be taking names in the tags anymore. Thanks for going to the bottom of this long list! See ya next time, dudes!)

[izastar]

Mental Health Month

Hello there bright beautiful stars! I hope you’re having a very good day and remember to take good care of yourself. If not, take a deep breath for 4, hold it for 4 and exhale for 4. Unclench your fists and jaw, drop your shoulders, and lay back!

It’s the month for Mental Health and my stars do I have a master list for you. I am currently a second, onto my third year, college student.  Before college my self care was pretty much everyday because of the low intensity of high school. Now.. I admit I do some pretty down spiraling things and have had my share of breakdowns. BUT NOW I’m not saying it’s gone, I still have my days. I just wanted to share a couple of things that have given me a more healthy way of dealing with the stress, homesickness, sadness, etc. I am a very passionate person on advocating for self-care, mental health and well-being. So here’s a couple of things that have definitely lifted my spirits and how many little things can make a difference.  

Apps: As a generation based on technology, figured it could be useful!

Aloe Bud

Aloe Bud is an all-in-one, self-care pocket companion. It gently brings awareness to self-care activities, using encouraging push notifications, rather than guilt or shame. Helpful reminders from yourself, to yourself; saved within Aloe Bud so you can keep doing you. I kid you not, I am so busy and forget that I never to remember to eat on time but this app helps me track that along with taking my birth control on time too!

Eternal Sunshine

Daily inspiration, meditation exercise and inspiration podcast. This app is the cutest, most wonderful app I have current. The quotes I post from time to time are from this app. Every quote, mantra, affirmation is beautiful. It brightens up my day every day. ALSO! Some of these quotes, and stuff have actually inspired some of my work and I hope it can too for you poets, writers, artists, etc.

Flo

This is for my lovely stars that have to deal with periods!! This is a period tracker and ovulation calendar. It’s has pregnancy and post pregnancy mode where you can track your baby’s development and learn the essentials of being a parent with special visuals and articles!! They also have daily insights, timely reminders and a community. I just love this because I never track her & I actually like to read the articles they have and the insights they do based on my symptoms etc.

Oak

Oak helps you decompress by transforming meditation practices from experiments into habits. They support you from your first session to your 500th, with mindful, loving-kindness, and sleep meditations as well as unguided sessions and breathing exercises. Individualize your meditations by duration, and customize with silence or calming background sounds. Oak tracks your progress and encourages you to continue building a healthy meditation practice. They include meditation, breathing, sleep, meditation timer, and progress tracking. Truth be told I have a hard time sleeping so I use this app for breathing exercise before going to bed and it helps a tremendous amount.

Simple Habit 

Another meditation app!! Simple Habit is the best meditation app for busy people. Meditate for just 5 minutes/day to reduce stress, improve focus, sleep better, relax faster, breathe easier, and more. I use this app for when I really don’t have anything BUT 5 mins and I actually really enjoy the meditation.

#SelfCare

This app is just where you can interact with things within the room, e.g. plants, the cat, clothes on the floor, anything in the room. If for those who are staying home for the day, your space, our shelter. It’s really cute I saw. I love the colors and the art and the activities.

Books: They can always be useful, whether for coloring, writing in a journal, or reading!

Creative Haven Spring Scenes Coloring Book 

An effective and fun-filled way to relax and reduce stress. This version specifically is beautiful. I love Spring and I love flower and anything and everything nature and green so this is a LOVELY purchase! 

The have other themes too;  Summer Scenes, Celtic Mandalas, Sea Life, etc.

How to Be a Wildflower: A Field Guide

A fresh perspective, an outdoor exploration, a new adventure about to begin—How to Be a Wildflower is the book to celebrate these and other wide-open occasions. Encouraging self-discovery through encounters with nature, beloved artist Katie Daisy brings her beautiful paintings and lettering to this collection of things to do and make, quotes, meditations, natural history, and more. OKAY SO I JUST BOUGHT THIS BUT IT’S SO CUTE :(

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

Milk and Honey is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. About the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity. Okay listen I’m sure many are tired of these books but I truly love this book. I love the collection of poems. I love how some make you cry, some give you hope and other inspire you. For me seeing how others grow, glow, sometimes fall, but come up is beautiful.

The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur

This is Rupi Kaur’s second collection of poetry book. This one is vibrant, transcendent journey about growth and healing. Again I know most are tired of these or feel as if they are overrated but I just love the little pictures/doodles and how some are long and short yet so meaningful.

The Wildflower's Workbook: A Journal for Self-Discovery in Nature

Brimming with gorgeous artwork from New York Times bestselling author and artist Katie Daisy, this fresh-as-a-daisy guided journal features thoughtful prompts to encourage engagement with the natural world. From bird-spotting advice to camping checklists, each exercise is executed in the artist's lovely signature style. AGAIN this is so pretty and I just bought it but I KNOW I’m gonna love it so much.

Hobbies To Pick Up: Here mare some that I picked up or am in the process, it’s fun to learn something new and you never know how good you could be at something!

Baking/Cooking

I’m not the best baker but I always feel so warm and fuzzy when other people bake for me. Don’t you love that happiness you give to others? Doesn’t that make you happy? This might be a little hard to start off with if you’re scared of burning something down or ruining food. But don’t fret my little stars, failure is only a part of success and who knows even a funny story to tell!!

Creative writing

Short stories, prompts, even just a sentence or two could really make a difference! I do a lot of creative writing, give yourself even ten minutes just to write whatever you’d like, it’s a nice feeling

Drawing/doodling/sketching

Listen I’m not one who strays from stick figures but every ONCE in a while I like to sketch something that I just can’t find online for my stories or prompts, etc. Practice makes perfect and give yourself patience.

Dancing 

Who says people with 2 left feet can’t dance?? I don’t have 2 left feet and not to toot my horn but I have good rhythm.. but STILL don’t let comments like those discourage you. Dancing can be something fun.

Exercising/hiking/biking  

Believe it or not exercising can be a hobby and it can be fun! Spice it up and sign up for a class! Enjoy the great outdoors! Nature to me is the best stress relief!

Gardening

I currently own 18 plants in my dorm room... it’s a LITTLE bad. I breath so much better with them in my room and they are so cute to look at and take care of! Start off with something small like succulents or bamboo!

Journaling

I promise it will make you feel better if you’re someone who likes to do things like this. You can make so many lists like for gratitude, places you want to travel, people who are currently crushing on etc!!! You can make it as you go and this is something you can truly personalize for you!

Painting

Watercolor is the prettiest thing I have ever seen in my life. Of course you can use other types of paint and paint on what whatever you liked like some pants you want to spice up or a canvas or even your wall!     

Poetry

It doesn’t have to an acrostic poem or one that rhymes, just whatever comes to you! you’ll be surprised at how good you could be!

Photography 

Even if it’s just with your iPhone camera on portrait mode along with VSCO, trust me you might find it interesting messing with filters and how you can make it look more sunny or more spooky to fit what you’d like!

Pick up an instrument 

I brought a UKULELE! It’s fun and cute and it makes me very happy! I also own a violin but that’s a little harder.. but it’s lovely. Learning to play a new instrument takes patience but in the end it’s worth it when you’re able to produce a sound so beautiful and lovely.

Reading 

Even if it’s a fic from ao3 or wattpad, reading something is better than nothing! I read a lot and have many books and series I need to finish. If you’d like a recommendation don’t hesitate to reach out!

Singing

You ever had a song come on shuffle and you just HAVE to sing? Doesn’t it feel good? Why not make it a regular thing? My shower is my STAGE!

Video games

I love animal crossing it’s so cute and it’s my life. I also have nintendogs & a bunch of Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, & Mario games. It’s a nice break away from reality and some of the plots are cute!

Volunteering  

Giving back is the best type of stress relief and it makes me so happy to see I can help others. Make it a hobby/habit of yours, maybe you’ll find something you’re really passionate about. I try to volunteering once a week and even if I’m exhausted it still makes me feel better doing something so small yet meaningful.

Daily Reminders: just daily activities good for your mental health and well-being

Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Of course with snacks included!

Drink water, juice, lemonade, a venti strawberry acai from starbucks

anything drink that’s your favorite!

Sleep at a reasonable time

Listen as a college student.. I don’t follow this but I TRY to the best of my ability and that’s what matters!

Skin care routine!

Listen a face mask feels so good, yes it may burn here and there but your skin looks soft and cute and is thanking you for giving the time in your day to do something nice.

Some of my favorites are Shea Moisture Raw Butter Hydrating Mud Mask, ANY of the Freeman Mask, Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask

Thoughts to Remember: just things I think you should know and remember and at my worst days and bad breakdowns I tell myself

Remember that: things out of your control are NOT your fault. 

I know we are so quick to place blame on ourselves and get so upset when what we planned out doesn’t follow the script. But listen to me when I say this, if it is out of your control it is NOT your fault and you had NO part in that. 

The aim of life is not perfection, but happiness 

Try not to dwell on the bad for long, instead use that time to do something else that makes you happy

The little things matter

Even if you skipped all your classes or decided to cancel plans and not leave your bed, I’m happy that you woke up

Try not to be so harsh on yourself 

It’s hard I know it is. When someone goes bad in my day I spend time blaming myself and telling myself I deserve it but truth be told it was totally out of my control.

Uncertainty is an aspect of life we must accept

It’s okay not to know. This gives us an opportunity to dream & write our own stories

You are important!

Your hard work and effort does NOT go unnoticed and I am so proud of you.

Your feelings are valid

In any situation, context, etc. YOUR FEELINGS ARE VALID. Don’t be harsh on yourself and say you’re overreacting, or you’re being dramatic. Be genuine in how you feel because you’re feelings are valid.

Your mental health is important

Don’t let others comments tell you otherwise, if you need to remove yourself from a situation for your mental health, DO IT!

I hope this post helps you on your journey of either self-discovery, healing, adventure, etc. I hope you all remember to take care of yourselves and how much you matter. Life gets hard, and I understand that not everyone has the same background and culture growing up but I do hope regardless of that you are able to take care of your mental health and your overall well-being.

If you need anything from me, I’m always open for a chat. If that makes you nervous then you can also send me an ask!

with lots of love and stars,

stargirl

[its-just-like-the-movies]

April Viewing List

So I decided to just keep a little diary of all the films that I see every month which seems like a great way to sort of talk about what I’ve seen even as I’m still hiding viewing indexes for almost every year ever. It’ll basically just be a chronological index with a grade and whatever I tweeted off about the movie when I saw it. And without further ado, here is what I saw in April!

The Love Witch (16, C+): Gorgeous outfits, but often teeters into the kind of film you discover on MST3K. It’s own ideas often inchoate - April 1, 2017

Jane Eyre (11, B): Tough, cold. Rich and economical in its storytelling. Aesthetically inhabits Jane’s headspace so fully, as does Mia. - April 2, 2017

Zero Dark Thirty (12, B): Uneven realization of livewire narrative culminates in a powerful last act. Fine ensemble, Chastain the weak link - April 2, 2017

Pan’s Labyrinth (06, C): Visually stunning, especially the ghouls. Affecting, not as much as it desires. Blunt politics, cipherish actors. - April 2, 2017

T2: Judgement Day (91, A-): Approaches an Aliens precipice while improving and expanding upon the original in every way. Phenomenal. - April 3, 2017 (Rewatch)

Queen of Katwe (16, B): Delights in and cares all of its characters while following Phiona to glory. Great look, costumes. Such fun! - April 5, 2017

Raw (17, B): Affecting. Casual scenes, revulsions play better than the ostentatious ones. Isn’t college self-discovery fun? Rumpf! - April 5, 2017 (review)

Donnie Darko (01, A-): No tweet this time. (Rewatch)

The Club (US 16, B+): Such strange, horrific textures in realizing this tale of abuse as an infection on attackers, victims, the complicit. - April 6, 2017

Safe (95, A): Whopper of an ending caps an already potent, rich horror story. How can we ever be free? Moore, Haynes and inimitable pair - April 7, 2017 (Rewatch)

The Martian (15, B-): Never feared for Damon’s life. Still compelling, but feels limited. Comic tone, teamwork, space smarts keep it fresh. - April 7, 2017

The Whisperers (67, B): I wish Forbes’ neglected, spooky tone his a richer narrative within its odd tones. That said, Evans is unstoppable. - April 8, 2017

Tyrannosaur (11. B-): Colman breathes life into this potent, nasty work, limited as it is by generic notes, Marsan’s work. Mullan’s fine. - April 8, 2017

Machete (10, D): Surely the worst thing Rodriguez has made. Horrendous look. Political narrative weirdly ineffective. Only gets worse - April 9, 2017

This was bad so I’m gonna watch the Mickey Rourke segment of Sin City to make myself feel better.

Bridges of Spies (15, C+): I think I get nostalgia as a term now. Compelling moments, especially in Berlin. Hanks an asset, Kaminski is not. - April 9, 2017

I truly don’t get the Mark Rylance thing, or how Hanks got no momentum in such a weak field. Bryan Cranston over him? What the fuck

I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore (17, B): Violent parable that remains funny as shit gets even more disastrous. Lynskey, Blair emerge triumphant. - April 10, 2017

Frances Ha (13, B): Triumph of mood, script, characterization in depicting millennial purgatory. Generous to its characters. Always fun(ny). - April 10, 2017

Philomena (13, C+): Tonal variance mostly works, parallels either underplayed or under explored. Economical yet padded. I liked Dench - April 11, 2017

Farewell, My Queen (12, B+): Unsettling tensions only accrue. What laws are worth keeping in the face of imminent death? Three great perfs. - April 11, 2017

Cameraperson (16, B+/A-): History of the world in B-roll vignettes. Of your life in other people’s. So intimate. But who’s Kirsten? - April 13, 2017

There’s a point in the 20th Century Women Film Experience podcast where Nick praises the canon of fiction films that show women fostering ->

and writing and burdened with carrying the history of the world in their lifetimes. This is equally deserving among that esteemed group.

It almost feels like Greta Gerwig’s art project in 20th Century Women realized. A self portrait via her most treasured moments on the job.

Blue Jay (16, B+): Unpacks 20 years of baggage as leads revert to old selves, rhythms, wonder where it all went. Paulson, Duplass revelatory. - April 13, 2017

Little Sister (16, C+): Poor audio, good makeup. Actors help. Gets better at being itself after the death metal baby dance, if never great. - April 14, 2017

Fish Tank (10, A-): An Education, but grottier, with more authentic emotions and characters. Imagination abound in images, direction. - April 14, 2017

Personal Shopper (17, C): More ideas that Clouds but so few sparks. Best in spirit realm. Often tedious. Assayas, Stewart too comfortable. - April 15, 2017 (review)

The Devils (71, A-): Perverse and horrific in every way possible, but stunningly realized without getting marred by its own madness - April 15, 2017

The Tree of Life (11, A): No tweet - April 15, 2017

Your Name (16, A): Body-swap comedy grows more poignant as obstacles separating our heroes seem insurmountable. Beautifully drawn and plotted. - April 17, 2017

In the Valley of Elah (07, C-): Unstoppable thesis meets unsubtle direction. Lame reveal. Weird color. Jones forges a path to quiet glory. - April 18, 2017

Planet Terror (07, B): Such pure, unfettered delight and Rodriguez-y looseness that never makes its aesthetic a hinderance. Fantastic look. - April 18, 2007

Set it Off (96, B): Lead quartet revitalizes a script that struggles to see even them. Keith, soundtrack often embarrass. Latifah indelible - April 19, 2017

Margaret (11, A-/A): Accrues such wide sympathies, thorns, and heartbreaks in its sprawl. Fullness of character, city, and chaos in its mess. - April 19, 2017

Elena (12, A): Suspense within certainty, human passion inside cinematic restraint. We are what we want, and what we’ll do to get it - April 20, 2017

Long Day’s Journey Into Night (62, A): Heroic long shots enable even more heroic performances. Beautiful realization of O’Neil’s prose - April 20, 2017 (review)

Pariah (11, B): Smart, earnest, gorgeously framed and colored drama that works even at its most obvious moments. Applause for all its women. - April 20, 2017

The Midnight Meat Train (08, D): Lurid convictions, some neat images. But ultimately a tasteless, racist, even grosser object as it continues. - April 22, 2017

The Faces of Love (13, C+): Bening, Harris spark. Lonely. Script better than expected. Shoulda been Hansen-Løve’s or Sirk’s. - April 23, 2017

A Bigger Splash (16, B-): Lots of effort to look effortless. Functions without ever settling into itself. Interesting influences. Fiennes!! - April 26, 2017

Free Fire (17, B-): I get the Tarantino comparisons, but when was the last time he made something this taut and energetic? Fun cast - April 26, 2017

The Lost City of Z (17, A-): No tweet - April 26, 2017

What Have I Done to Deserve This? (84, A-): Wonderfully eccentric and warm with all its characters. Almodovar, cast (Maura!) make magic. - April 27, 2017

The Big Short (15, C+): Frenzied and raggedy, kinda smug. Works pretty well within those limits. Good thing that’ll never happen again. - April 27, 2017

Death Proof (07, B): Did you know Tarantino watched 70′s movies? Gripping car chases. Talks like something’s happening when nothing is. - April 28, 2017 (rewatch)

Talk to Her (02, A): No tweet. - April 28, 2017

My Blueberry Nights (07, C): Marries the nothing talky-talk of Death Proof with glossier lensing, unearned ostentation. Cast helps - April 29, 2017

Southside With You (16, B+): So politically and personably principled, with plenty of charm. Great couple that just happens to be the Obamas. - April 29, 2017

My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea (17, B+): As morbidly hilarious, petty, and sweet as any high schooler I was friends with. What great visuals - April 29, 2017

Colossal (17, B): Dizzying ambition, at its best once all its conceits get off the ground. Real awareness of its own stakes. Sudeikis! - April 29, 2017

Fuck me, that’s a lot of movies, and fuck me again for not thinking of ways to articulate some 140 character praise for three pictures I really loved. Please feel free to talk about any of these to gush or ask what the fuck one of these tweets was talking about, I know I articulated some thoughts poorly. Soon all of these will be in perfectly articulated haikus. Or, if you want, recommend a personal fave as I trawl through every movie ever made. Have a good May, and have a good fucking summer vacation!