#like this is romance dawn in a nutshell

[tekitothemagpie]

[bambi-lesbian-posts]

We've decided that we aren't moving so I've started unpacking all of my stuff again.

I just finished unpacking all of my books, so I'm gonna post about how I organized them and just list them all because I want to share the books I own and talk about them with people ^^

Anyways, shelf one:

Organization Left to right: Fairytales, classic stories, poetry, academic literature, singular stories I personally adored & often go back to reread.

Book list, from left to right:

The Complete Hans Christian Anderson FairyTales (published by Gramercy Books)

Great Illustrated Classics: Grimm's Fairy Tales (published by Baronet Books)

Blessed Are The Meek by Zofia Kossak (published by Roy Publishers... this copy is from 1944 I'm very proud of it)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Dover Thrift Edition)

The Awakening by Chopin (Dover Thrift Edition)

Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Dover Thrift Edition)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (published by Scribner)

The Collected Poems of Sylvia Plath

Hitch Your Wagon To A Star and other quotations from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Earth to Spirit: In Search of Natural Architecture by David Pearson

Ocean of Adventure by Eric I. Soyland (I knew this man personally.. incredible photographer and very very kind old man)

The illustrated A Brief History of Time: The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking

Mojave Desert Wildflowers Field Guide by Pam Mackay

Classic Latin Course in English by William Cleaver Wilkinson (this copy is from 1893, also incredibly proud of it)

Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway (pocket edition)

Webster's New World Thesaurus

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

DUNE by Frank Herbert

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

In The Forests of The Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet of Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland (read this in middleschool and became OBSESSED)

An Encyclopedia of Tolkien: The History and Mythology That Inspired Tolkien's World by David Day (self explanatory I think)

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull (a very old and very worn copy from elementary school that I love very much. Only kept the first volume tho)

Spirit Animals [book one] Wild Born by Brandon Mull (I remember getting this because I loved Fablehaven so much so I wanted to read his other works.)

Shelf two:

The whole shelf is it's own section in the organization. Fantasy/Romance stories that I've read. Predominantly YA because I bought most of these in highschool or thought the covers were interesting

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas (end of TOG series... Tower of Dawn is the only book I remember very well and the only book I absolutely, without question, adore about this series)

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas (this series is connected to TOG and I began reading it because of that. Though I think it has interesting characters, many parts are disappointing:/)

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig (haven't read yet, thought cover was interesting)

The Mermaid The Witch and The Sea by Tokuda Hall (haven't read, but was recommended to me by a friend)

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (haven't read but saw the author and became interested)

LORE by Alexandra Bracken (found on accident while looking for Greek mythology books.. cover was interesting. Havent read)

Saving Tara by L.S. Carr (saw the author and became interested, participated in the kickstarter. I enjoyed it)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (got this as a gift from a friend who loves Rowell. I don't like her very much tbh)

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal (haven't read but cover looked interesting.)

We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal (2nd in their series)

Creation Abomination by Alan W. Thompson (I met this guy!! This is more of a science fiction than anything else. I love this so much. The art is beautiful. Waiting on the third book.)

Abomination Desolation by Alan W. Thompson

Third & final shelf:

Organization: predominantly manga and comics, and a few books that didn't fit in previous shelves due to genre differences.

List:

Princess Jellyfish Vol.1 by Akiko Higashimura

Princess Jellyfish Vol.2 by Akiko Higashimura

Princess Jellyfish Vol.3 by Akiko Higashimura(I adore this series so much, there's at least 9 volumes but I couldn't buy them all. Will probably buy more in the future)

How Do We Relationship? Vol.1 by Tamifull (gay!!! And adorable!!)

How Do We Relationship? Vol.2 by Tamifull

How Do We Relationship? Vol.3 by Tamifull

Adachi and Shimamura Vol.1 by Hitoma Iruma(more of a novel than a manga, but it is illustrated in a manga style for each chapter head. Cute lesbians)

Adachi and Shimamura Vol.2 by Hitoma Iruma

Adachi and Shimamura Vol.3 by Hitoma Iruma

Adachi and Shimamura Vol.4 by Hitoma Iruma

Whisper Me a Love Song Vol.1 by Eku Takeshima (SO CUTE also I couldn't find volume 2 so I've only read the first volume so far)

Whisper Me a Love Song Vol.3 by Eku Takeshima

The Girl from the Other Side Vol.1 by Nagabe

The Girl from the Other Side Vol.2 by Nagabe

The Girl from the Other Side Vol.3 by Nagabe(This is so sad bro?????? But the art and characters are so lovely)

Chibi Vampire Vol.5 by Yuna Kagesaki

Chibi Vampire Vol.7 by Yuna Kagesaki (I adored this as a kid... only bought my two favorite volumes from a library excess sale)

Fruits Basket Vol.9 by Natsuki Takaya (bought from the same library excess sale as Chibi Vampire. Only got volume 9 because it has a special chapter on Hana.. and I adored her as a kid. Still adore her actually)

Vampire Knight Vol.1 by Matsuri Hino (a horrible relic. Truly evil. My sister got it for me as a gift in some form of a cruel joke)

Rave Master Vol.4 by Hiro Mashima (a childhood favorite.. bought at the same library excess sale)

Unofficial Hatsune Mix by Kei (saw it and thought it was cute. Almost completely colored as well. Everybody loves Miku)

Motor Crush Vol.1 by Babs Tar, Brenden Fletcher, and Cameron Stewart (YAY MOTORCRUSH everybody loves motorcrush)

Motor Crush Vol.2 by Babs Tar, Brenden Fletcher, and Cameron Stewart

Year of The Villain #4: The Batman Who Laughs by DC Comics (self explanatory I think)

Star Trek: The Q Conflict issue 1 (unopened, also self explanatory)

Star Trek: series(???) issue (41) By Weinstein, Whigham and Starr (unopened, also self explanatory)

The Littles Give A Party by John Peterson (grew up loving The Littles)

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (another childhood favorite)

Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur (a gift, haven't read)

The Borrowers by Mary Norton (illustrated by Beth and Joe Krush) (I love the Borrowers. I still go back to reread this. It just didn't fit on the first shelf:/)

Dark Water by Koji Suzuki (collection of short horror stories. I love it so far.)

& many unpictured stories such as The King In Yellow, one or two more nature field guides, kanji books, a Japanese/English dictionary, etc. That I bring with me to classes)

That's all for my books. Thanks for reading if you did and maybe give me recommendations? Idk I'm always looking for more to read

[meilleur-holidays]

Bali: Exploring Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations

Hey, are you one of those who loves and admires the wonders of natures, all in a nutshell?? Well, then Bali is the place for you.

Whether you are up here to enjoy solo travelling, or with friends to explore every nooks and corner or a honeymoon couple who wants to spend blissful romance and partying at the same time, this island will be all yours!

To start with Bali “The Land of the Gods” is a picturesque Indonesian island. Decked with forested volcanic mountains, green rice paddies, beaches and exotic coral reefs.

Bali is also home to religious sites such as cliffside Uluwatu and Tanah Lot Temple, also to the sandy bright sunny beaches Kuta, Nusa Dua, Seminiyak and Sanur.

Coming to the atmosphere blanket of the island, you will experience a tropical, warm and humid climate all year round with two main distinctive seasons: Dry Season and Rainy Season. To enjoy the beauty at its best in terms of comfort and weather with less crowd May-September will be the ideal time for you.

160 countries haveVisa on arrival provision to visit Bali. No pre applied Visa is required. Mandatory documents required are passport, return flight tickets, hotel booking vouchers and adequate funds (Bali currency). The cost of visa on arrival is is USD 35 approx. per person

Now coming to the in-depth details about Bali.

Bali’s airport is named Ngurah Rai International Airport. You can try currency exchange at the airport; however, airport do not offer great exchange rates. The local currency in Bali is Indonesian Rupiah.You must be careful regarding the denominations.

For example, INR 1 = 200IDR.

You will see plenty of shops outside the airport for local sim cards. Approximate cost is between INR 900-INR 1500 with data value from 9GB-15GB.

The first visit to this beautiful island usually starts with Uluwatu temple. It is very famous among the tourists. The entry ticket is usually between INR 250-300 per person. To abide by Balinese culture, it is mandatory to wear a sarong available at each temple sites. Sarong is basically a scarf which has to be wrapped around your waist prior stepping in the temple.

The most popular beach in Bali is the Kuta beach. Seminiyak is for blissful beach retreat and Nusa Dua for water sports and upscale resorts.

With the vast Indian Ocean at its backdrop along with the cool breeze sets the perfect ambience to enjoy. You can see the temple from the long stretches where you stand up to feel the beauty of the place. Evening can offer you a beautiful sunset with colored hues across the sky and the breathtaking reflections on the ocean. That will be a million-dollar picture for sure!!!

You can buy beautiful souvenirs outside the temple as a memory to your visit to Uluwatu.

The next popular spot is the beautiful Tanah Lot Temple in Pantai Batu Belig beach. Entry fee is approx. INR 350-400per person. During low tides till sunset, you are free to step onto the boulders at Tanah Lot and hear the roaring waves and enjoy the amazing views of the endless sea. The sunset at the beach will leave you spellbound!

For some pepped up evening to enjoy parties and some grooving music one must visit the Finns Beach Club. Dance, music and tasty food with some happening ambience is what you will get there. Visit to the club between 7pm-11pm is free of cost.

For free individualtravelers, trekking to Mount Batur can be one of the option. Trekking with the help of guide will be of INR 2000 per person. The trek usually starts at night to enjoy the beautiful sunriseat dawn. The cushion like clouds with a hint of  passing amidst the clouds will be a rare view. It feels like a cloud blanket around. To treat your eyes with such rare views, this place deserves a sure shot visit.

Another temple visit can be to Ulu Wanu with an approx. ticket price of INR 250-300 per person. It is a peaceful site with the mountain backdrop and the passing sea. There are options of some beautiful photography at Handara Gate and boat rides.

To bring a twist to the taste, you can visit the Banyumala waterfalls. One can enjoy bathing and click some beautiful photographs. The view of the waterfalls sliding along the green slopes looks amazing.

You must enhance your bargaining skills to shop around Kuta and Seminiyak areas. To buy local stuffs like water, chocolates or some munchies Alfa mart is a very popular store. The departmental store is available almost at every hotel location.

The next add on will be visit to Ubud approximately at a distance of 40km from Bali. The entry fees is INR 0. You can enjoy ziplining, Bali swing, taste local coffee and other adventurous sports. Coconut water is available in plenty in Bali.

The Kintamani at Ubud has some gorgeous views. You will surely love the mountain and sea combo there.

There is an option of buffet spread right beside the Kintamani spot. Nasi Goreng (fried rice) is the local dish in Bali and is very popular among tourists.

Monkey forest near to Ubud is an interesting place to visit. Entry fees is approximately INR 400 per person. You will get to see plenty of monkeys, might get a chance to exchange friendly handshakes with them as well.

An escape to another part of the beautiful island, will be visit to Nusa Penida. You must book a ferry for the journey to and fro. The ferry ticket and the cab transfers are included in the package of Nus Penida. The harbor to the island is Sanur. Manta Bay and crystal bay offers some amazing options for snorkeling.

The most popular sight at Nusa Penida is the broken island. You will have some beautiful options to click pictures there.

A short trip from 4nights to a week as per your time schedule will surely give you a hang over this beautiful island.

Must to Know and Carry:

Passports

Return flight tickets

Hotel vouchers

Local currency

Hats and sunglasses

Swim wears

Flipflops

Comfy clothes preferably of cotton material

Routine medicines if any

Delectable Dishes

Nasi Goreng – Fried Rice

Sate – Skewers

Pepes Ikan- Steamed Fish in Banana Leaf

Laklak- Balinese Cake

Bubur Sumsum- Black Rice Pudding

Pisang Goreng- Fried Banana

Mie Goreng – Stir fried noodles

Babi Guling Ibu Oka – suckling pig

Gado Gado – Indonesian salad

Bebek Bengil – Crispy duck

Seniman coffee

Shoppers Paradise

High end designer threads – Seminiyak and Petitenget

Coffee and Chocolate lovers – Kintamani Ubud

Vintage Handicrafts collections - Sukawati or Ubud market

Exclusive Jwelleries - John Hardy Workshop or Studio Perak in Ubud

Furniture items - Saya Gallery in Seminyak

Eco friendly bags - Ono Creations, Threads of Life, or Smile Clothing.

Perfumes - Utama Spice in Gianyar and Denpasar

Street shopping Sukawati market in Gianyar and Ibu Suzy

Quirky gift items - Ubud market, the Krisna Oleh Oleh Souvenir Store in Kuta

Organic Skincare - Bali Balance, Kou Bali, Ubud Bali shopping market

Bali Ceramics - Ubud Ceramics and Woodcraft, Kevala Home, Kim Soo Home

To make the most out of your Bali trip, it's essential to choose the right tour package service. Meilleur Holidays is a reputable travel agency that offers customized Bali tour packages to cater to individual preferences and budget. Their packages include accommodation, transportation, sightseeing tours, and other services. Meilleur Holidays ensures a hassle-free and enjoyable vacation experience for their clients by providing professional tour guides, 24/7 customer support, and flexible itinerary options. Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway or an adventure-filled vacation, Meilleur Holidays has a Bali tour package that suits your needs.

[husbandohunter]

Windblume Memories [Genshin Impact]

Synopsis: “The annual Windblume festival held in the name of romance and freedom! Why not celebrate it with your lover?”

Characters: Kaeya, Diluc

(A/N): A self-indulgent headcanon because Mihoyo has yet to give us more moments with our husbandos. Just imagining them having fun and enjoying, mah heart~~ And no Mihoyo, if you bother giving us their quotes why can’t you just give us a hangout already (cri cri)

------------------------------------------------------

{Diluc}

“I do know how to play music. Is it so strange?"

• As the most eligible (former)bachelor of Mondstadt, it wouldn't be a surprise if he actually knew the ways of an instrument. But here you were, comepletely awestruck while looking expectantly at your fiance.

• "Diluc you're so perfect I love you!" -you probably

• Back in the days when he took his etiquette lessons, Diluc also learned how to play the violin as well as the piano but the lyre was a traditional instrument of Mondstadt so he focused on that the most.

• His repitoire would lean more to the soft and solemn pieces. (Like his soundtracks HA)

• Diluc is quite shy when you ask him to give you a performance but the way you just plead, he can't say no

• If you don't know how to play an instrument, he'll be more than glad to help you. He's an excellent teacher due to the vast amount of patience he has (thought can't really say the same for other people) and could spend hours elaborating on the same place you've been stuck at.

"Why is this song so slooooow?"

"You're being too hasty, love."

• You're worried if he's bored but Diluc reassures that he isn't. Seldom does he have the opportunity to spend time with you like this so he makes sure to treasure every moment (Even when you're about to break the goddam lyre out of frustration).

• But when you do manage to make it to the end after several attempts, albeit still terrible, there would be the stupidest fat grin on your face while chanting, "I did it! I did it!"

• And he'd praise you as a soft expression graces his features, "You certainly did."

• Soft man I cri

"It takes a long period of training to become a battle-ready archer. These games are only enough to pass the time."

• "No Diluc, I brought you here to have fun not to have this as a training session."

• This man can do pretty much ANYTHING and literally win you any prize. You want that stuffed toy? Consider it taken.

• Perhaps the activities weren't challenging enough. Whether it'd be wind gliding or the peculiar wonderland house, he's got the reflexes for it all.

• Since Diluc is so battle oriented, he treats the games as such. You call him a worry wart after falling into the pit just because you steped on the wrong stone: "Diluc I’m fine. Its just a game." He’ll grab you out of pure instinct and apologize shortly after when you pout at him

• Eventually Diluc learns to loosen up while still keeping an eye at your stance. You figured it would probably be best if you two stuck with something more light and carefree. In a nutshell, anything but the peculiar wonderland house.

• At the end of the day, the two of you are exhausted from all that workout. While closing up Angel's Share after a long night, Diluc catches you falling asleep at the front bar and gently drapes his coat over your shoulders.

• His initial plan was to wake you up since the ideal place to sleep would be the Dawn Winery but Diluc didn't have the heart to wake you up. He simply sits on the stool beside you while leaning down to memorize your serene look, thankful to have been able to experience what it's like to live in a city of freedom again.

{Kaeya}

"Oh dear, is this what they call a height advantage? I suppose I can go a little easy on you all to make things a bit more exciting."

• You gave him that look where you weren't quite sure if he was lying or telling the truth. Could the Cavalry Captain be afraid of heights? You'll never know.

• So regardless, you guys decided to fly together which at first was meant to be a competition of who can collect the most flowers. You managed to land safely with the highest score while your boyfriend was still behind, trying to avoid the dusty balloons.

"Seems like I went a little too easy on you," he jests. You roll your eyes.

"Alright, let's go for another round then."

• This time you had a different idea. Just a few seconds before the game started, you took him by the hand and jumped straight off the platform. The whole time as the two of you were soaring through the air, you held him tight.

• "Now it shouldn't be so scary anymore!"

• The surprised expression he had lasted for a moment before melting into a smile, "How very cunning of you, darling."

• Your security gave him the chance to admire the scenery from the skies, it was a breathtaking view. How your hair whips beautifully against the wind and your pink-tainted cheeks from the cold, breathtaking.

• Though, holding the other meant you had to collect the flowers with one hand and one arm which proved to be very unproductive. Even once the both of you landed within the garland of windwheel asters, Kaeya was still holding your hand.

• Kaeya often treats fearful situations as thrilling experiences but the outcome in the end turned out to be more favourable than he had initially planned it to be. Though if you’re a novice windglider beware, this man will let you go at random times just so he can see your reactions. 

"What an interesting diversion. Since everyone's in high spirits, it would truly be a shame if I didn't pitch in a little!"

• You were extremely curious of Kaeya's musical skills since his nature tends to lean towards the frivolous side. Unexpectedly, his tunes and playing style sounded melancholic as well. Most likely due to the fact of growing up in the Ragnvindr household.

• Since he hangs out at the bars during late nights quite often, Kaeya would know how to play a few tunes he picked up along the way. He would love to give you a full on performance! Anything for his sweetheart~ Though keep staring and you might find him teasing you about it after.

• Honestly Kaeya also makes an excellent teacher. His way of wording makes everything so easy to understand which is helpful to avoid silly mistakes. He teaches you very simple lyre pieces, brushing his fingers over yours every once in a while to help you adjust the right position.

• You think he's doing this on purpose to get you bothered but Kaeya simply feigns ignorance.

• But if you do know how to play a lyre, it would be a session where both of you share your songs. Out of all of them, there was one song that stuck out the most:

You felt a sense of longing in the tune Kaeya played. Far too slow to match the upbeat atmosphere of Mondstadt during the day and not as romantic as it would be during the night. Instead, it seemed to reflect the emotion of sadness, like hands reaching to a far away land which turned out to be nothing but a mirage.

"Where did you learn that piece? I never heard it before," you comment shortly after he finished.

Kaeya hums playfully while shooting a grin to match, "I composed it myself."

"Is that so?" You learned to not take everything at face value when talking to your lover, "Then where did you draw your inspiration from. It doesn't seem like you'd create it on a whim when your expertise lies in swordsmanship."

"Aha just when did you become so keen sweetheart?"

"Since I started dating you."

"Touche."

There would be a momentary pause and during times like these, it was easy to tell that the subject was related to his homeland. Kaeya always found it hard to bring up the topic, even before he met Crepus, music was one of the very last traces that tied his life to the scarce warms days of Khaenriah.

"What's the song called?"

Thankful that you changed the subject, Kaeya answers, "Frozen Dreams. At least, that is what I can remember."

"Frozen Dreams?" You pondered quietly, "I wonder what that title means."

"Do you like it that much?"

"Of course, that piece must be very important to you right? I would like to learn it," You pump your fists determinedly, I would like to learn about you as much as I can.

He looks at you, lips slightly parted at your genuine declaration. Although you may be tenacious when it came to his secrets, Kaeya did not doubt that it was also one of the quirks he loved about you most. With a small chuckle, he complies your request, “It would be my pleasure.”

Sometimes its best to leave the words unspoken. Perhaps another day when Kaeya feels ready to tell you everything, for now he will revel in the present where the intagible feelings of music and emotion do the speaking.

[anazen333]

My Favorite Movies of my Favorite Genres / My Favorite TV Shows of my Favorite Genres

Because when I was trying to describe what level and types of entertainment I enjoy, I wasn’t able to make myself clear to my bestie’s boyfriend who has way more ‘sophisticated’ taste than me lol

But I think if I were to summarize what I like in a nutshell, it’d be: a fun romp (nothing heavy), with just enough angst/intrigue to make it meaty, and a visual treat to watch.

Part 1 - Films

Action:

Espionage - 007, Mission Impossible, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Adventure - The Mummy, Indiana Jones, The Princess Bride, National Treasure, Bumblebee, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Pirates of the Caribbean, Assassins’ Creed, The Legend of Tarzan, The Legend of Zorro, the Mask of Zorro, Sahara

Superhero - Wonder Woman, Captain America: The First Avenger, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, The Avengers, The Incredibles, Justice League: Gods and Monsters, Batman: Under the Red Hood, Guardians of the Galaxy, Big Hero 6, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Venom

Animation:

Action/Adventure - Princess Mononoke, Mulan, Aladdin, The Rescuers Down Under, Moana,, How to Train Your Dragon, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Tangled, Spies in Disguise

Comedy - Inside Out, The Emperor’s New Groove, The Mitchells vs the Machines, The Willoughbys, Kung Fu Panda, Meet the Robinsons, Sherk 2, Megamind

Drama - The Prince of Egypt, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Coco, The Lion King, Lilo and Stitch, Brave, Balto, Kiki’s Delivery Service

Fantasy - Castle in the Sky, Fantasia 2000, Kubo and the Two Strings, The Secret of Kells, Spirited Away, Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Sleeping Beauty, Rise of the Guardians, Wolfwalkers

Romance - Beauty and the Beast, Corpse Bride, Anastasia, Strange Magic, The Swan Princess

Science fiction - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Wall-E, Howl’s Moving Castle, Atlantas: The Lost Empire, Origin: Spirits of the Past, Treasure Planet,  Neppû Kairiku Bushi Road

Comedy:

Action-comedy - Charlie’s Angels, Arsenic and Old Lace, Knight and Day, Mr. and Mrs. Smith RED, Men in Black, George of the Jungle, 101 Dalmatians, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Jumamji: Welcome to the Jungle, Miss Congeniality

Romantic comedy - Much Ado About Nothing, Some Like it Hot, Austinland, Letters to Juliet, Not Another Happy Ending, The Taming of the Shrew, I.Q., Sweet Home Alabama, My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Crime:

Ocean’s 11,  Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Lupin III: The First, Entrapment

Fantasy:

Peter Pan (2003), Alice in Wonderland (2010), Pan’s Labyrinth, Labyrinth, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Dracula Untold, Casper, Hellboy Animated, Maleficent, Snow White and the Huntsman

Romance:

Romance drama - Sabrina, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Casablanca, Cinderella (2015), Shakespeare Re-Told, Penelope, This Beautiful Fantastic, Everything Everything, Chocolat, Meet Joe Black, Roman Holiday

Period romance - Pride and Prejudice, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Young Victoria, Miss Potter, Sense and Sensibility, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Ever After: a Cinderella Story

Thriller:

The Da Vinci Code, Red Eye, The Bourne Legacy, The One, Hitman: Agent 47, The Tourist, The Count of Monte Cristo (1975)

Science fiction:

Tech noir - I, Robot, Ready Player One, Minority Report, Tomorrow Land, Contact, Arrival, TRON: Legacy, The Last Mimzy

Steampunk - Sherlock Holmes (2009), A Series of Unfortunate Events, Metropolis, The Golden Compass

Space opera - Star Wars, Rogue One, Star Trek Into Darkness, Titan A. E.

Musical:

Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Cats (1998), Cinderella (1997), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Into the Woods, Chicago

Part 2 - TV Shows

Action:

Adventure - Ducktales (2017), Carmen Sandiego (2019), Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012), Kim Possible, The Musketeers, Yona of the Dawn

Superhero - Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, Batman: the Animated Series, Teen Titans, Sailor Moon, WandaVision, Justice League, Static Shock, The Batman, Smallville, Lolirock, Green Lantern: the Animated Series, Justice League Action

Comedy:

My Roommate is a Cat, Gugure! Kokkuri-san, Wander over Yonder, The Goes Wrong Show, The Addams Family, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Wallflower

Crime:

NCIS, Castle, The Mentalist, Endgame, White Collar, Leverage, Sherlock (2010), Forever,  Moriarty the Patriot, Peaky Blinders, Num3ers, Gangsta, Body of Proof

Documentary:

Mythbusters, Anything on Ancient Egypt, The Crocodile Hunter, Dancing with the Birds

Fantasy:

Shadow and Bone, Once Upon a Time, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yuyu Hakusho, Inuyasha, Gargoyles, Jackie Chan Adventures, Princess Tutu, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Castlevania, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Good Omens, Arcane: League of Legends, Danny Phantom, Basilisk: the Kouga Ninja Scrolls, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Trollhunters, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Amphibia, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Romance:

Princess Jellyfish, The Ghosts & Mrs. Muir, Kamisama Hajimemashte, Blend S, Inu x Boku SS, Engaged to the Unidentified, Beauty and the Beast (1987), Ouran Host Club, My Love Story!!

Thriller:

Gravity Falls, Bonekickers

Science fiction:

Transformers Prime, Astro Boy (2003), Star Wars: the Clone Wars, Clone Wars, Samurai Jack, Unlimited Psychic Squad, Infinity Train, Star Wars: Visions, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, The Mandalorian, Star Wars: Rebels, Bee and Puppycat, My Life as a Teenage Robot, Steven Universe, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

[literaticat]

Hi Jennifer, what were your favourite books as a child? Was your taste similar then to now?

I had a lot of favorite books!

Picture books: Maurice Sendak’s NUTSHELL LIBRARIES and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE; LITTLE FUR FAMILY; Lobel’s FABLES, Mercer Mayer’s EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON; WHY MOSQUITOS BUZZ IN PEOPLE’S EARS; BREAD AND JAM FOR FRANCES; ARROW TO THE SUN;

Classics: I had a huge Grimm’s Fairy Tales that I was obsessed with, also I read a trillion classics - I had the entire Jr Illustrated Library, LITTLE PRINCESS, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES and HEIDI were my favs. I also was very into Kings and Queens of England (particularly Richard III and Henry VIII + wives), and had some Ladybird books on the subject, as well as a Ladybird book of Diana and Charles’s wedding that I looked at quite a lot!

Series: I liked 5 minute mysteries, Encyclopedia Brown, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, the Three Investigators - all Babysitters Club and all Sweet Valley High; I was also into a chapter book series from the UK called Marmalade Atkins by Andrew Davies, who went on to write things like the Pride and Prejudice Colin Firth adaptation, among many other fancy grownup film & TV properties.

MG: I loved FROM THE MIXED UP FILES; JENNIFER, HECATE; A PROUD TASTE FOR SCARLET AND MINIVER, and actually all Konigsburg books; BALLET SHOES and ALL the Noel Streatfeild books; WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND; ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY; HOUSE OF DIES DREAR; JANE-EMILY; IN THE YEAR OF THE BOAR AND JACKIE ROBINSON; the entire Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary oeuvre; anything Paula Danzinger or Paul Zindel, and this book nobody has read called THE GHOSTS by Antonia Barber. And I liked the Chronicles of Narnia, particularly LWW and VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER.

I also LOVED reference books - The dictionary (I had both Websters and a compact OED with a magnifying glass!), thesaurus, the Funk & Wagnall’s Encyclopedia, a lot of Time Life reference books about things like Ghosts, ESP, etc, and cultures around the world. I also greatly enjoyed reading cookbooks and was super into Atlases. And the Almanac! (Thanks, Carmen Sandiego!)

I also LOVED grownup romance novels and grownup books in general -- things like Judith Krantz and Danielle Steel were catnip for me when I was 10-12. I would steal my mom’s big books like The Godfather, Sophie’s Choice, Clan of the Cave Bear, Mists of Avalon, Valley of the Dolls. And one of my BFFs had a mom who read mass market romances about Highlanders and stuff by the bucketload from the Paperback Exchange, we read many of those! I also went through a big (unfortunate in retrospect) Xanth phase when I was 12.

The takeaways from this list: a) I would read anything that wasn’t nailed down, and my mom very much encouraged that, also I had a sister who was 10 years older than me and I clearly inherited a lot of her books, because most of these were already old by the time I was a kid! -- b) I was into ghosts, witches, spooky things, mysteries -- c) I liked history, folklore, and was something of a wee Anglophile -- d) I read all over the place -- I was reading grownup books, picture books and middle grade at the same time, and never “grew out” of any of them -- e) I was a nerd

I’d say all of those things are still pretty true! Except I am more of a scaredy-cat now.

[incomingalbatross]

Psmith Fic: Gift Giving

Second @foundfamilybingo fill! (I hope it fits, anyway... there is some romance here, but I tried to keep the focus on the friendships). This one is for @isfjmel-phleg, who requested Mike and Psmith, gift-giving. I hope you like it!

Psmith strolled along the London sidewalk. Although one would not have guessed it from his immaculate appearance, he was, to some slight extent, brooding. Beneath his apparently-unclouded brow lurked a moderately pensive spirit.

He had no companion to share his woes, however, and so what choice had he but to smile bravely? Indeed, that was the trouble in a nutshell. His confidential secretary and advisor had gone and gotten married practically a week ago, and was most inconsiderately still on his honeymoon.

However, he reminded himself, one must not repine. While the current inconvenience to himself was, of course, considerable, he had high hopes for the long-term benefits of this tying of the knot. Certainly, for instance, his friend’s wedded bliss would make him pleasanter to have about than the steadily worsening pining of the past few weeks had done; and as for the blushing bride herself, Psmith highly approved of the newly-minted Phyllis Jackson. While admittedly showing a certain tendency to ignore his finer (or at least, perhaps, longer) discourses, her generally sweet disposition and inexplicable regard for Psmith made her highly acceptable company. And, even more importantly, she adored Mike as much as he adored her.

Yes, Psmith reflected more complacently, encouraging the young lovebirds to elope had been far from a scaly move on his part. It brought its share of hardship for him, of course, but he would suffer through it. And now that all was once more sunshine in the Jackson household, he could look forward to many more enjoyable evenings under its roof.

However…some problems still remained. For instance, he reflected, ought he not to give the happy couple some sort of wedding gift?

It was true that Mike already had a fully-equipped household, in his capacity as the Smith agent. It was also true that, apparently, eloped couples were not strictly considered to be entitled to an array of fish-slices in the same way as those who held traditional receptions. On the other hand, Psmith considered himself in many ways a a sort of fairy godfather to the young couple. Surely he had certain duties…

And then he happened to glance, as he passed, through the shop window on his left hand.

He paused.

Slowly, a pleased smile stole over his face. “Well, hello,” he said confidentially through the glass.

---

Mike blinked. “You got us a wedding present?” (He was still, on some levels, trying to wrap his head around the fact that he was married.)

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that!” Phyllis said, beaming.

“Ah, but I did,” Psmith contradicted her politely, leaning back in his seat. The three of them were taking advantage of a pleasant day by sitting in the Jackson’s garden. “How else was I to show my endorsement of the match?”

“I think helping us with the elopement did that pretty well,” Mike pointed out.

Psmith waved this trifle aside with a negligent hand. “In an informal, neighborly sort of way, yes, I suppose so. But for one such as myself, who hopes to be retained as a valued friend of this little family through the years to come, a more solid mark of my congratulations seems in order.  Besides,” he added, “I saw it and thought of you.”

“Thank you, Smith,” Phyllis said, smiling up at him delightedly. “What is it, then?” Unlike Mike (who had been just as glad to escape the fuss, bother, and above all attention of your average wedding),  she loved receiving gifts, and was always so genuinely, wholeheartedly appreciative that many people found themselves going a little more out of their way for her than they otherwise would have.

Even Psmith was not immune. He found himself smiling as well, and produced--from its place of semi-concealment behind his chair--a covered basket, with a bow on it. This he handed, with a flourish, to Mike.

“Every home needs one,” he said. “And I believe Mrs. Jackson once expressed a wish for one…?”

Phyllis dimpled, and Mike flushed happily, at “Mrs. Jackson”; this done, however, they both turned their attention to the basket. Mike opened the lid, cautiously, with his bride hanging over his shoulder.

As the sunlight fell into the basket, a small, surprised “mew” was heard.

Phyllis gasped in delight as a little white paw poked out of the basket, soon followed by a second, and then by a gray-and-white kitten face. It had tabby markings, green eyes, and an exceedingly confused--some might even say vacant--expression, but it nosed Phyllis’s finger inquisitively enough.

While Phyllis cooed over it, lifting it out of the basket with gentle hands, Mike tried to make eye contact with the small creature. On closer inspection, however, it quickly became apparent that the unfocused look was not merely an expression, but a physiological feature--its eyes weren’t quite pointing the same way.

He looked up at Psmith. “You saw it and thought of us?”

“Of you, specifically, Comrade Jackson,” Psmith clarified.

Mike gave him the look of someone trying not to be offended.

“Dear me!” Psmith clicked his tongue reproachfully. “Is it possible such an eminent cat-fancier as yourself has forgotten? Cast your mind back, if you will, to the sage words of your kindred spirit, Comrade Jarvis…”

Mike’s brow remained furrowed in thought for a moment or two; and then light dawned.

“Cross-eyed cats,” he said in sudden comprehension. “They were…they were the luck ones, right?”

Psmith beamed. “Precisely, Comrade Jackson. When I saw this specimen in London the other day, I knew he could bring fortune to no one more suitable than yourselves. And, indeed, what would Comrade Jarvis think if he knew you had set up household without a single feline in attendance?”

“I don’t think I want to know,” Mike said dryly. He turned back to the kitten--now in Phyllis’s gentle hands--and stroked it gently. “Hullo, dizzy,” he said.

“We’re not calling him Dizzy,” Phyllis said firmly.

Mike laughed. “All right. What do you want to call him?”

“I don’t know yet…”

“Bat, perhaps?” Psmith suggested.

“You can’t have a cat named Bat, either,” Phyllis said. Then she looked up with just a trace of a smile. “What about Rupert?”

“Mrs. Jackson!” Psmith swayed, clutching at his chest. “I am wounded--deeply wounded. I come to welcome you home, I bring you a gift, and this is how you repay my trust? Is this the treatment I may expect, in years to come, as a friend of this nascent family?”

“Don’t be an ass, Smith,” Mike said, still focused on the kitten. It was tilting its head now, to let him scratch behind its ears more comfortably. “You’re not going to be a ‘friend of the family.’ You are family.”

There was half an instant of silence.

Psmith reached out to stroke the kitten himself. (It was thoroughly enjoying the attention, thankfully.) “Ah,” he said, eyes on the bundle of fur. “If you say so… That is also a satisfactory arrangement.”

Phyllis smiled to herself.

“However,” he added, “if you inflict the name ‘Rupert’ on this defenseless creature, I shall have to take strong measures. I may even leave you off my Christmas card list.”

[caitsbooks]

SPIN THE DAWN (THE BLOOD OF STARS #1) BY ELIZABETH LIM – A FANTASTIC FAIRYTALE (REVIEW)

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Quick Stats: Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Spin The Dawn is a fun, fast-paced fantasy. It was pitched to me as Mulan, Project Runway, and a hint of Aladdin, and honestly, that is the best way to describe it.

“Artisans such as you are soldiers in times of war.”

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// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Alcoholism, Animal Death, War Themes, Murder //

Premise:

Spin the Dawn follows Maia, the only daughter of a skilled tailor. When her father is summoned to compete in a competition to become to Imperial Tailor, she disguises herself as a boy and takes his place. However, winning the title of Imperial Tailor is harder than she could imagine, as she must balance her secret, sabotaging competitors, and the impossible task granted to her.

“‘I, too, once journeyed beyond the stars’ ‘What did you find?’ His voice turned lethally soft. ‘That it’s just the beginning.'”

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Read more for my thoughts on Spin the Dawn!

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- WRITING & SETTING -

I absolutely adore the writing in this book. Elizabeth Lim has a gorgeous writing style that adds to the fairytale feeling of this book. Her prose is beautiful, but not too flowery. She describes the setting well and builds the characters and their relationships beautifully. The world itself is well built with fascinating mythology and plenty of history interwoven into the fantasy aspects. It’s the perfect mix of grounded to reality yet completely magical and fascinating.

“Ask me to spin the finest yarn or thread, and I can do it faster than any man–even with my eyes closed. Yet ask me to tell a lie, and I will stumble and falter to think of one. I have never had a talent for spinning tales.”

- PLOT -

Spin the Dawn is a fast-paced book. There is constant action to the point where I literally could not put it down. I tried and failed (and lost a couple of hours of sleep because of it). It’s split into parts, focusing on the competition and an epic journey. Typically, traveling in novels bores me, but despite the journey taking up a large part of the book, there was always something interesting going on, or a trial to undergo, which made the pages fly by.

“‘What keeps you up at night?’ I asked. ‘You’re never in your tent.’ A cloud passed over his face. ‘Demons and ghosts.’ With a faint smile, he added, ‘And not having enough books to read.'”

- CHARACTERS -

The main character, Maia, is great. She loves her job, which isn’t something often emphasized in YA, and her passion is something I really admired about her. She’s also a very strong character, who is determination, loyal, and kind. I just really liked her.

There was also a great emphasis on her relationship with her family. After the war ended, her family was left in pieces and I love that Elizabeth Lim didn’t shy away from the tragedy and the pain it brings. The romance aspect was really well done, and absolutely adorable while still feeling realistic and earned (definitely not a case of insta-love here, thank god).

Edan, the court magician, is fascinating. He’s mysterious, powerful, and always has the best banter with Maia. I can’t wait to learn more about him!

I also found myself really interested in Lady Sarnai even though I probably shouldn’t. I’m really curious about her story, and that of the Emperor, and where it will lead in the sequel. Did I mention that I’m dying for this sequel?? Because I need it.

“I want you to know that some journeys have ends, but not this one. This one will change you. Irrevocably.”

- CONCLUSION - 

Pros- Fast paced, cute romance, fascinating world Cons- sequel please?? I really, really need it Overall- 5/5 stars. Spin the Dawn is an utterly addictive read that will captivate you and give you dreams of dresses painted with the blood of the stars.

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*All quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change*

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So, are you excited for Spin the Dawn’s release?

Also, be sure to follow my blog. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview Elizabeth Lim, the author of Spin the Dawn, and I’ll be sharing it on my blog on Sunday, July 9th!

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[chloe-gayzer]

all of them for mitali (and adora, if you're feeling ambitious owo)

okay this was a lot but i am NOT weak and answered them all for BOTH

Mitali:

1. Age, Birthday, Star Sign

She’s almost 33, born April 20th, 2005. She’s a Taurus.

2. Gender Identity

Cis woman!

3. Orientation and Relationship status (single, taken (by who?), crush (on who?))

Lesbian, eventually taken by another OC, Savannah Wright

4. Race and Ethnicity

Mixed; Scottish and Indian.

5. Height and Body type

5’7, fit af

6. Headcanon VA

Haven’t terribly considered anyone but…… Claudia Black, with like, a scottish accent, would be Good

7. Occupation

Captain of Security

8. Weapon of Choice(?)

Bow and shotgun, for more “distance”. But fuck she loves her knifes.

9. Hometown and current residence

Bo’ness, Scotland. Prosperity.

10. Do they have any markings, piercings or scars?

Probably has her fair share of scars (newest one being from that gd crocodile). No piercings to speak of. A tattoo on her back that’s a dahlia and a transvaal daisy. They were each of her mother’s favourites.

11. Do they have any notable features, like horns, tails, or so on?

Not really, ha. Maybe her hair? It’s really long.

12. Own any pets?

A dog and a pig! She loves both Timber and Horatio.

13. Have any kids?

She wants to.

14. Can they cook? Can they bake?

She can cook pretty well but she usually doesn’t have the time. Baking, she hasn’t really been able to try. Not in a long time, at least.

15. Can they sing? Can they dance?

She can sing! Pretty well too! One of her moms was heavy into music and taught her a couple instruments. During their time in the bunker, she was taught a whole lot of songs on guitar. Might know a few dances.

16. Can they drive?

Yup! Best driver in the business ha

17 Can they fight?

That’s her main talent ngl

18. Have any special keepsakes?

She’s got her mother’s wedding rings tucked away. She never lets them away from her.

19. Hobbies

Nothing actually firm. She likes to read and there are times she likes to play music, but it can be sort of bittersweet for her. Hunting maybe, but that’s another survival thing.

20. Clothing/Aesthetic

She likes button-ups and to layer a bit. Enjoys soft blues and deep reds.

21. Fave food(s) and drink(s)

She misses salt and vinegar chips so much. Pretty partial to cider-- not the alcoholic kind-- but it’s harder to get.

22. Fave Color

Purple

23. Fave Genre

Romance lol

24. Fave Season

Fall!

25. City or Country?

Country

26. Guilty Pleasure

Tbh??? Finding someone to fight just to get some anger out.

27. What’s their family like? Who’s in it? What’s their relationship with them?

She had two mothers until she was around 16. After they passed, family wise she was alone for a very long time. Now, the Ryes treat her as family and, at some point, Savannah would be her wife. She’s close with Kim and she’d never let anything happen to Carmina. She’s fast friends with Nick when they get him back-- she’s always glad to see a good man who has no issue being soft or saying “i love you”

28. Are they literate? Did they go to school? How long? What level?

She went to school up until shortly before the bombs fell, and her mothers did their best to teach what they could in the bunker.

29. What was childhood like?

The first 12 or so years were in Scotland. She was pretty healthy and well balanced. She enjoyed music, knew some instruments and got voice lessons. She was pretty athletic too, planning to do something military-centric when she was old enough. She and her mothers moved to the west coast of the states when she was twelve. It was maybe a year before the bombs fell.

30. What was adolescence like?

The first couple years were in the “bunker”, which was barely more than a multi-roomed basement shared between her and her mothers-- their neighbor, who’d offered them the shelter, didn’t make it in. He hadn’t been home when the bombs fell. The food ran out maybe two years in and she got to spend a year with her parents above ground before they were killed. The rest of her adolescence was spent mostly alone, living in a small shelter in the woods. She rarely had contact with people, only ever to trade. Once or twice she’d lead people out of the woods. It wasn’t until she was nineteen or so that she joined Rush.

31. What’s their current main conflict?

Loooooooooooots of self-hatred. Sure, there’s the whole highwaymen deal, but her hatred of herself makes it hard for her to make friends because she honestly doesn’t believe she deserves to have them.

32. What steps have they taken to overcome this conflict?

She doesn’t, really, until after that whole deal with Joseph and the apple and the bear. She of the mind it was just a drug trip, but it did make her think about who she is. Made her afraid she really had become something monstrous. After a breakdown and some help from Savannah, she actively tries to be a better, warmer person.

33. How have they changed over time?

Her trying to change helps her a lot. She goes from being pretty quiet, pretty grumpy, and antisocial, to being a happier, more open, but still pretty quiet woman. She teaches Carmina some songs on the guitar and plays more often for the people in Prosperity.

34. What’s their room look like right now?

I mean idk how the rooming situation is in Prosperity, but if she’s able to have a room that’s more private, she probably shares it with Savannah, after a point. Might have some plants and her guitar leaning in the corner. If it’s a shared room situation, she probably sticks to the bare minimum as to not take up too much space. Maybe a trunk under the bed with her clothes and a couple trinkets.

35. What are they like as a friend?

Literally if anything hurts you she will hunt it down. If she considers you a friend, she’ll make sure you know it.

36. What are they like as a partner?

Romantic partner, I’m assuming, she’s loving and protective, but often restrained. She doesn’t like to overstep boundaries.

37. Do they have any phobias?

Water. She can swim but fuck does she hate the feeling of something about to get her. Selene’s quest did not help that.

38. Did/do they go anywhere special for vacations?

Her parents took her to Disney once, but otherwise no.

39. Your character walks into a cafe. What do they order?

Raspberry hot chocolate.

40. What time do they go to bed, usually?

Whenever she’s done with the work for the day and has the chance to crash.

41. What’s their morning routine like?

Wake up → unbraid and brush hair → get dressed → find out what needs to be done for the day. Food if she remembers.

42. What’s the dumbest thing your character’s done?

Go after Selene’s weed bag and get attacked by a crocodile, what the fuck, we can find you more weed, we can’t casually find Mitali a new arm.

43. What pokemon would your character be?

OOOOOOhhhhhh this is my kind question, I need to go look at pokemon lists. Oh fuck I’m back, she’s a midnight form lycanroc for SURE. Looks sorta scary, is cuddly, has the ability to maim.

44. What’s their pokemon team? Try to pick all 6.

I love these questions holy crap. Midnight form lycanroc because DUH. Houndoom. Pignite. Gengar. Yamask. Zangoose.

45. Theme song (and a playlist if you’ve got it!)

Wolf by First Aid Kit.It’s not a whole playlist but also: She Said Maybe by Steam Powered Giraffe. Lion’s Roar, by First Aid Kit. Ghost by Mystery Skulls. Thistles by Mumford and Sons. For Those Below, also Mumford and Sons.

46. If this character was in a musical, what would their motif be (what kind of instruments do you hear, what’s the tempo, ect).

Oh this is pretty hard.... Violin-centric, maybe. And the tempo would be different depending on which point of her life. A lively one for early life, a mournful one for like…. 16-32. Happier again after that.

47. What was this character’s biggest turning point in their life, something that changed them almost completely?

Her mothers dying for sure! She went from being a hopeful young woman to almost spiteful. Killing the men who killed her parents was what sealed the deal.

48. What was their lowest point? What was their highest point?

Yup parent death is still gonna be lowest point. It was sudden and painful and no one involved deserved it. Highest point is when she finally breaks free of that depression and realizes she doesn’t have to hate herself anymore.

49. What are some themes tied to your character’s story?

Forgiveness, redemption, hope.

50. What are some motifs associated with your character?

Wild animals (mostly wolves), death and rebirth.

51. What were some inspirations for your character (people, movies, games)?

Big surprise but….. Mitali was definitely inspired in equal parts by Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross (so Lost Legacy, in a nutshell). Also some great wolf related aesthetic pictures.

52. How are you and your character the same? How are you different?

Well this is an unexpectedly deep question that I’m going to avoid due to my own self-worth lol

53. Expectations vs Reality: what did you expect and what did you get with this character?

I expected to have her be very heavily military, but I ended up with a woman who only really wants to be a wife and just love the woman she marries with all of her heart and she wants to raise a kid and just have a good and happy family.

54. What does your character want, and what do they need?

She doesn’t know what she wants but she needs love. Any kind. Platonic, romantic, whichever.

55. What’s your character’s core trait? What’s their best trait? What’s their worst trait? What happens when these all interact with each other?

Protective to a fault. It can be both their best and worst trait, but their real worst trait is her self-hate. The two things interacting usually lead her to cutting herself off from friends so they’re “better off without her”.

56. What’s your overall goal with this character? Will they get a happy ending or will they succumb to their faults?

FUCK I want her to have a happy ending so badly. I’ll have to see how New Dawn ends first, but end goal is her marrying Savannah and eventually having a kid or two. Maybe twins???

Adora!!!

1. Age, Birthday, Star Sign

23, October 22nd 1994, Libra

2. Gender Identity

Cis woman

3. Orientation and Relationship status (single, taken (by who?), crush (on who?))

Lesbian and taken by Jess as soon as she possibly can be

4. Race and Ethnicity

Mixed, Brazilian and South African

5. Height and Body type

Lil bit on the shorter end maybe 5’4, and she's got a swimmer bod for SURE

6. Headcanon VA

Don't have one yet

7. Occupation

Deputy to Sheriff Whitehorse

8. Answered previously!

9. Hometown and current residence

Cascade Valley, Hope County

10. Previously answered!

11. Do they have any notable features, like horns, tails, or so on?

Her hair is big and curly, lovely afro. Other than that, maybe her newly given WRATH scar

12. Own any pets?

She left her pet cat with her dads when she moved, but now she's got a cougar, a dog, and a bear. Peaches is her favourite.

13. Have any kids?

in the future, she has a daughter named Masha!

14. Can they cook? Can they bake?

She's not the best cook, but she can bake pretty well.

15. Can they sing? Can they dance?

She's not a great singer but she dances well!

16. Can they drive?

Yup!

17. Can they fight?

She's really scrappy, and a pretty big threat tbh

18. Have any special keepsakes?

Her dads gave her a star of david necklace before she left. she never takes it off.

19. Hobbies

She loves to fish!

20. Previously answered!

21. Fave food(s) and drink(s)

She's 100% here for pumpkin pie and loves pink lemonade

22. Fave Color

Gold!

23. Fave Genre

Rom coms

24. Fave Season

Fall!

25. City or Country?

Depends on the day, leans towards country.

26. Guilty Pleasure

Taking a break to fish when she should be doing something else. Also taking her hearing aids out when she doesn't want to listen to someone.

27. What’s their family like? Who’s in it? What’s their relationship with them?

She's got two dads! They're an older couple who are very loving. One is deaf. Recently I gave her a brother named Adam! He’s a cool dude. Bi and lovable.

28. Are they literate? Did they go to school? How long? What level?

She finished school up to get her degree! Finished at 22

29. Previously answered!

30. What was adolescence like?

She went through a lot of emotional issues during her teens, but her dads got her in therapy and were supportive and loving. A lot of who she is today comes from the love she got then.

31. What’s their current main conflict?

Joseph fucking Seed decided to mess around in lives he should've left alone and now she's gotta clean up after him and try to protect her new friends.

32. What steps have they taken to overcome this conflict?

In the words of the lego movie: “shoot shoot shoot bullet bullet gun”

33. How have they changed over time?

Probably the biggest change was early teens to late. She was angry and spiteful and pretty depressed.

34. What’s their room look like right now?

Her room at home is covered in posters. But her room during 5 is… a bunker she found and claimed. She keeps it stocked, managed to put up a lesbian flag, and brought in the comfiest pillows and blankets she could.

35. Previously answered!

36. What are they like as a partner?

Over affectionate to the max, both with romantic partners and her work partner Hudson. A bit protective. Jealous when it comes to romantic partners.

37. Do they have any phobias?

Most boil down to the death of loved ones

38. Did/do they go anywhere special for vacations?

She used to get to pick a vacation spot once a summer when she grew up. Had to be reasonable, but she got to go to some great campgrounds, a couple good concerts, and Mammoth caves

39. Your character walks into a cafe. What do they order?

A white tea and cookies

40. What time do they go to bed, usually?

Depends on the day.

41. What’s their morning routine like?

Wake up → try to sleep longer → eventually be convinced out of bed (either by herself or by Jess) → try to manage her hair if she didn't braid it → give up on that and wash face → get dressed → eat → start day

42. What’s the dumbest thing your character’s done?

“I won't get hurt jumping from that height”

43. What pokemon would your character be?

Whisicott! But shiny

44. What’s their pokemon team? Try to pick all 6.

I seriously love these questions. Whimsicott! Of course! And a sylveon. Gardevoir. Shinx. Rapidash. And Cinccino!! She’s fairy-centric.

45. Theme song (and a playlist if you’ve got it!)

Dance Apocolyptic by Janelle Monae.

46. If this character was in a musical, what would their motif be (what kind of instruments do you hear, what’s the tempo, ect).

Hmmm… Piano. Something upbeat, most of the time.

47. What was this character’s biggest turning point in their life, something that changed them almost completely?

Therapy in her early teens. It helped her cope with the fact she suffered under her birth parents and realize she’s worth so much more than they tries to make her feel

48. What was their lowest point? What was their highest point?

It’s still gonna be centered in her abuse, but it could also be the grudge she holds on the Seed family (minus Faith). Highest point is probably something to do with Jess.

49. What are some themes tied to your character’s story?

Healing, unconditional love, leadership.

50. What are some motifs associated with your character?

Water, guilt, death, freedom

51. What were some inspirations for your character (people, movies, games)?

Adora is named after She-ra! Her brother too. Physically, I’m not sure. Mmmmaybe a little Nadine Ross, but even then, their hair is really the main similarity, and even then Adora’s is more afro than Nadine’s

52. How are you and your character the same? How are you different?

We’re about the same age? We both love Jess Black. That might be where the similarities end.

53. Expectations vs Reality: what did you expect and what did you get with this character?

I expected to have a gal who was nursing a crush on her partner in the force but instead i have a gal who’s a hundred percent in love with an archer she found locked in a cage by religious zealots.

54. What does your character want, and what do they need?

She wants some goddamn rest and the ability to go on a proper date with her girlfriend. She wants to see her dads again. She wants to be certain she won’t wake up and find herself kidnapped again.

55. What’s your character’s core trait? What’s their best trait? What’s their worst trait? What happens when these all interact with each other?

Is “sunshine” a trait? She’s a happy sort of person and likes to show it. Smiles a whole lot. Best trait is her willingness to trust. Worst trait… she can hold a grudge. For a LONG time. Holding a grudge can keep her from mending bridges, so it doesn’t act terribly well with happy & trusting. And when it does, she’s happy to hold a grudge lol.

56. What’s your overall goal with this character? Will they get a happy ending or will they succumb to their faults?

My goal is her to eventually have a happy life. She gets her “happy ending” in the shape of being with Jess until the day she dies, and even taking in a little girl to raise. She passes away in her sleep a long way down the line.

[dweemeister]

2017 Movie Odyssey

So ends the 2017 Movie Odyssey. Last year, I wrote that I did not foresee ever surpassing the 200+ movie mark for a long, long time. But look what happened here (outside of May because that was a hectic time in the Master’s program for sure). The 2017 Movie Odyssey consisted of 232 films - 180 feature-length films and fifty-two shorts. A century of filmmaking was covered this year, from 1917 to 2017. If I do have one regret this year... it’s that African films were not featured this year (due to availability issues and me not having enough money; I tend to watch things legally if possible). I hope to assuage that next year for a more representative Movie Odyssey.

For all of you out there who supported the Movie Odyssey in your own ways – whether reading, liking, commenting, or reblogging a write-up or sitting down with me to a new movie or talking to me about any movie... my thanks to all of you. None of this possible without you, and I hope you find that, through this blog, classic movies seem more approachable and welcoming and you are inspired to see some and learn about them yourself. A Happy New Year to all, and I’ll see you for the 2018 leg of the Movie Odyssey very soon (oh boy the Winter Olympics and World Cup are gonna chip away at the final count next year)!

As many know, all ratings are based on my imdb rating and half-points are always rounded down. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here. A 6/10 is considered the borderline between “passing” and “failing”. Feature-length narrative films, short films, and documentaries are rated within their respective spectrums.

JANUARY

1. Marnie (1964) – 6/10 2. The Moon Is Down (1943) – 7/10 3. Sense and Sensibility (1995) – 8.5/10 4. The Big House (1930) – 7.5/10 5. Manchester by the Sea (2016) – 7/10 6. The Far Country (1954) – 7/10 7. Kung Fu Hustle (2004, Hong Kong/China) – 7/10 8. Road to Singapore (1940) – 6/10 9. A Clever Dummy (1917 short) – 5/10 10. Hidden Figures (2016) – 7.5/10 11. Teddy at the Throttle (1917 short) – 7.5/10 12. The Last of the Mohicans (1920) – 7/10 13. Sweet Smell of Success (1957) – 10/10 14. The Red Turtle (2016, France/Belgium/Japan) – 9/10 15. Life, Animated (2016) – 7.5/10 16. In the Mood for Love (2000, Hong Kong) – 10/10

FEBRUARY

17. Lion (2016) – 7/10 18. It’s Always Fair Weather (1955) – 7.5/10 19. Fences (2016) – 8.5/10 20. Shenandoah (1965) – 7/10 21. Caged (1950) – 8/10 22. Pearl (2016 short) – 7.5/10 23. Blind Vaysha (2016 short) – 8/10 24. Asteria (2016 short) – 6/10 25. The Head Vanishes (2016 short) – 6/10 26. Once Upon a Line (2016 short) – 7/10 27. Pear Cider and Cigarettes (2016 short) – 8/10 28. Sing (2016 short, Hungary) – 7.5/10 29. Silent Nights (2016 short, Denmark) – 6/10 30. Timecode (2016 short, Spain) – 7/10 31. Ennemis intérieurs (2016 short, France) – 8.5/10 32. La femme et le TGV (2016 short, Switzerland) – 8/10 33. Joe’s Violin (2016 short) – 7/10 34. Extremis (2016 short) – 8/10 35. 4.1 Miles (2016 short, Greece) – 9/10 36. Nashville (1975) – 7.5/10 37. The Romance of Transportation in Canada (1952 short) – 7/10

MARCH

38. My Life as a Zucchini (2016, Switzerland) – 8/10 39. Lili (1953) – 7/10 40. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) – 6/10 41. Captain Blood (1935) – 9.5/10 42. Logan (2017) – 7/10 43. Friendly Persuasion (1956) – 9/10 44. Ducks and Drakes (1921) – 7/10 45. What Dreams May Come (1998) – 6/10 46. Bright Road (1953) – 6/10 47. Snow Gets in Your Eyes (1938 short) – 5/10 48. Jungle Cat (1959) – 6.5/10 49. The Salesman (2016, Iran) – 8.5/10 50. Good Scouts (1938 short) – 7.5/10 51. All in a Nutshell (1949 short) – 8/10 52. The Hound That Thought He Was a Raccoon (1960) – 7/10 53. Winter Storage (1949 short) – 7/10 54. Out of Scale (1951 short) – 8/10 55. The Incredible Journey (1963) – 7/10 56. Follow Me, Boys! (1966) – 7/10 57. Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar (1967) – 5.5/10 58. Belladonna of Sadness (1973, Japan) – 6/10 59. Ponyo (2008, Japan) – 7/10 60. My Cousin Rachel (1952) – 7.5/10 61. Road to Perdition (2002) – 9/10

APRIL

62. The X from Outer Space (1967, Japan) – 3/10 63. The Blue Gardenia (1953) – 6.5/10 64. Get Out (2017) – 7.5/10 65. Fantastic Planet (1973, France/Czechoslovakia) – 8/10 66. 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007, Japan) – 6/10 67. Your Name (2016, Japan) – 7.5/10 68. The Outlaw and His Wife (1918, Sweden) – 7/10 69. Mail Early (1941 short) – experimental film, score withheld 70. Boogie-Doodle (1948 short) – experimental film, score withheld 71. A Chairy Tale (1957 short) – 9/10 72. Very Nice, Very Nice (1961 short) – experimental film, score withheld 73. Fine Feathers (1968) – 7/10 74. What on Earth! (1967 short) – 8/10 75. Walking (1968 short) – 7/10 76. Notes on a Triangle (1966 short) – experimental film, score withheld 77. The Three Faces of Eve (1957) – 7.5/10 78. Peeping Tom (1960) – 7.5/10 79. Porco Rosso (1992, Japan) – 8/10 80. MacArthur (1977) – 6/10

MAY

81. Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) – 4/10 82. Scarlet Street (1945) – 8.5/10 83. Tremors (1990) – 7/10 84. The Crucified Lovers (1954, Japan) – 7.5/10 85. Akeelah and the Bee (2006) – 8/10

JUNE

86. Wonder Woman (2017) – 7/10 87. Pollyanna (1960) – 7.5/10 88. Mickey’s Polo Team (1936 short) – 8/10 89. Tales of Manhattan (1942) – 7/10 90. The Horse with the Flying Tale (1960) – 7/10 91. Sound of the Mountain (1954, Japan) – 9/10 92. Return of the Fly (1959) – 4/10 93. Friday the 13th (1980) – 4/10 94. The Tattooed Police Horse (1964) – 6/10 95. Dr. Jack (1922) – 7/10 96. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973) – 7/10 97. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) – 5/10 98. The Great Man (1956) – 8/10 99. Sparrows (1926) – 7.5/10 100. Seven Days to Noon (1950) – 9/10 101. My Neighbor Totoro (1988, Japan) – 8.5/10 102. The Pocket Man (2016 short, France) – 7/10 103. Snack Attack (2012 short) – 7/10 104. You Were Never Lovelier (1942) – 7/10 105. San Francisco (1936) – 7.5/10 106. Eraserhead (1977) – 6.5/10

JULY

107. The Beguiled (2017) – 7/10 108. Summer Magic (1963) – 6/10 109. The Southerner (1945) – 9/10 110. The Statue of Liberty (1985) – 6/10 111. They Live by Night (1948) – 8/10 112. A Little Romance (1979) – 6/10 113. Conflagration (1958, Japan) – 6.5/10 114. The Naughty Twenties (1951 short) – 5/10 115. The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) – 7/10 116. For Your Eyes Only (1981) – 6/10 117. A Man There Was (1917, Sweden) – 9.5/10 118. His Royal Slyness (1920 short) – 6/10 119. Now or Never (1921 short) – 6.5/10 120. Among Those Present (1921 short) – 6/10 121. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) – 7.5/10 122. Independence Day (1996) – 5/10 123. Yoyo (1965, France) – 8/10 124. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) -  6.5/10 125. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) – 7.5/10 126. The Lady Vanishes (1938) – 10/10 127. Funny Face (1957) – 9/10 128. A Brighter Summer Day (1991, Taiwan) – 9.5/10 129. A Sailor-Made Man (1921) – 6/10 130. Much Ado About Nothing (1993) – 8/10 131. Dunkirk (2017) – 8.5/10 132. Lost Horizon (1937) – 8/10 133. The Man from Snowy River (1982) – 7.5/10 134. A Touch of Zen (1971, Taiwan) – 10/10

AUGUST

135. A Double Life (1947) – 6/10 136. Tokyo Chorus (1931, Japan) – 7/10 137. In a Heartbeat (2017 short) – 7.5/10 138. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) – 4.5/10 139. Twelve O’Clock High (1949) – 9/10 140. The Big Clock (1948) – 7/10 141. Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982) – 8/10 142. Record of a Tenement Gentleman (1947, Japan) – 9/10 143. Octopussy (1983) – 6/10 144. West of Zanzibar (1928) – 6/10 145. Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) – 7/10 146. Detroit (2017) – 5.5/10 147. That Funny Feeling (1965) – 6/10 148. Kid Galahad (1962) – 6/10 149. Tokyo Twilight (1957, Japan) – 10/10 150. In This Corner of the World (2016, Japan) – 7/10 151. The Bedford Incident (1965) – 7.5/10 152. Johnny Express (2014 short) – 6/10 153. Carpark (2013 short) – 6/10 154. Castle in the Sky (1986, Japan) – 8/10 155. The Goonies (1985) – 7.5/10 156. State of the Union (1948) – 6/10

SEPTEMBER

157. Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) – 3/10 158. Muscle Beach Party (1964) – 4/10 159. The Nutty Professor (1963) – 7/10 160. Camille (1921) – 6.5/10 161. Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972, West Germany) – 8/10 162. Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) – 2/10 163. It (2017) – 7/10 164. Ocean Waves (1993, Japan) – 6/10 165. Monterey Pop (1968) – 8/10 166. Don’t Look Back (1967) – 9/10 167. Tyrus (2015) – 8.5/10

OCTOBER

168. A Star Is Born (1937) – 8/10 169. Swiss Family Robinson (1960) – 6/10 170. Revenge of the Nerds (1984) – 5/10 171. Horton Hears a Who! (2008) – 6/10 172. Freaky Friday (1976) – 6/10 173. The Great Muppet Caper (1981) – 7.5/10 174. Mr. & Mrs. ’55 (1955, India) – 8/10 175. Island of Lost Souls (1932) – 9.5/10 176. The Little Broadcast (1943 short) – 6.5/10 177. Hoola Boola (1941 short) – 6/10 178. The Sleeping Beauty (1935 short) – 7/10 179. Tulips Shall Grow (1942 short) – 8.5/10 180. Charulata (1964, India) – 8/10 181. Together in the Weather (1946 short) – 6/10 182. John Henry and the Inky-Poo (1946 short) – 7.5/10 183. Philips Cavalcade (1934 short) – 7/10 184. Jasper in a Jam (1946 short) – 8/10 185. Tubby the Tuba (1947 short) – 9/10 186. The Puppetoon Movie (1987) – 7/10 187. Brides of Dracula (1960) – 7/10 188. Blackbeard’s Ghost (1968) – 7/10 189. Candleshoe (1977) – 6/10 190. Jigoku (1960, Japan) – 5.5/10 191. Blacula (1972) – 6/10 192. Willard (1971) – 4/10 193. Ben (1972) – 4.5/10

NOVEMBER

194. The Coward (1965, India) – 7/10 195. The Happening (2008) – 2/10 196. Tom Thumb (1958) – 6.5/10 197. Strike (1925, Soviet Union) – 7.5/10 198. Loving Vincent (2017) – 7/10 199. Destry Rides Again (1939) – 7.5/10 200. The Master Race (1944) – 6/10 201. Justice League (2017) – 6/10 202. Sissi (1955, Austria) – 7.5/10 203. Sissi: The Young Empress (1956, Austria) – 7/10 204. The Sandlot (1993) – 7/10 205. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017 short) – 4/10 206. Coco (2017) – 8/10 207. Sissi – Fateful Years of an Empress (1957, Austria) – 7/10 208. The Florida Project (2017) – 8.5/10 209. The Mortal Storm (1940) – 7/10 210. The Breadwinner (2017) – 8/10 211. Spencer’s Mountain (1963) – 6/10 212. Lady Bird (2017) – 9/10

DECEMBER

213. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) – 8.5/10 214. The Secret Life of Bees (2008) – 7/10 215. Murder on the Orient Express (2017) – 5.5/10 216. So You Think You’re Allergic (1945 short) – 5/10 217. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) – 7.5/10 218. The Shape of Water (2017) – 8.5/10 219. Lonely Are the Brave (1962) – 9.5/10 220. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) – 7/10 221. They Won’t Forget (1937) – 8/10 222. It Came from Outer Space (1953) – 6.5/10 223. Brave Little Tailor (1938 short) – 8/10 224. The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952) – 6/10 225. The Sign of Zorro (1958) – 5/10 226. Kong: Skull Island (2017) – 6.5/10 227. Flipped (2010) – 6/10 228. Bardelys the Magnificent (1926) – 7.5/10 229. There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954) – 7/10 230. Swim Team (2016) – 7/10 231. Toby Tyler (1960) – 5/10 232. The Liberator (2013, Venezuela) – 6/10

All scores are subject to change (upgrades and downgrades) upon a rewatch.

[ohnohetaliasues]

Central Italy/Italia Centrale or Centro Italia

(First of all i apologize for my grammatical errors, i corrected some of them but i’m not sure they are all the errors that i made) Country Name: Central Italy/Italia Centrale

Founded: Around 264 B.C., when Romans founded Firmum (today Fermo) in Piceno (today Marche), a colony which was used to control Asculum, protagonist of a revolt against Romans, and avoid other revolts

Age: 2281

Population: 12.067.524 (2016)

Location: South Europe 

Size of Land: 58 052 km²

Capital City: -Florence (1864-1870), Rome (1870-today, capital and largest city)

Largest City: Rome

Government: Democratic Republic

Political Leader: Sergio Mattarella (republic president) and Paolo Gentiloni (prime minister)

Official Language(s): -Italian

The italian we know nowdays is a canonization of the literaly tuscan dialect, in particular florentine dialect, because it was the most used language and close to latin. Before Risorgimento didn’t exist an “italian” as a spoken language because every preunitary country used their dialects or the languages of their invader (for example in Piedmont the official language was french), only in literaly works was used the “italian”. After Unity of Italy one of the most problematic situation was , in fact, the language: everyone talked with a different language and almost everybody were illiterates. So in 1859 Gabrio Casati emanated a law which introduced the free and obligatory elementary education. When Italy was unified this law was widened across the italic peninsula.

Other Languages: There aren’t other languages, but there are languages that were spoken in the past (and Lucia spoken/learned there languages) -French

French was a language fashionable in ‘700 because was the spoken language of enlighteners. In a nutshell, speak french meant be intellectual and elegant. Many italian noblemen knew how to write and speak in french in this period. Plus french was the second language taught in the italian schools, only recently it’s going to be completely replaced by english. -Latin Latin, as everybody know, was the official language of Romans. It derived from an ancient popolation named “Latini” who culture and language was absorbed by Romans. Both barbarian invasions and the old language of italic popolation latin was contaminated after the fall of West Roman Empire and so born the “volgari” and medieval latin. The “volgari” were ancestors of romance languages which derived from classical latin but were very different from its. Only in ‘300, during Humanism, it was decided to revived the real latin thanks to filologists. Latin over time became the literaly language of works, even from '400/'500 onwards began to be replaced by florentine. Today latin is used to translate from italian to latin, in Italy.

National Animal: Appennine Gray Wolf  This type of wolf is a subspecies of European Gray Wolf who live in the italian Appennines mountanious zones and in Eastern Alps. It isn’t consider as a sudspecies of Europe Gray Wolf, but there are some differences like, for example, their cranial morphology (i’ll add other informations)

National Flower:  -Red Lily (ancient national flower) Red Lily or “Florence Lily” (“Giglio di Firenze”) or “Giglio Rosso” in italian was (and is) the symbol and national flower of Florence (“Firenze” in italian). In reality the Florence Lily is more similiar to an iris mixed with a lily, in fact remind a flower which born around the city, the Germanic iris (“Iris Germanica”). We don’t know much about the origin of this symbol, but it’s thought it was born from the fact that the Florence Lilies were florid in Florence; another theory speaks of its birth during the foundation of Florence by the Romans in 59 B.C., which name in latin was Florentia because the city was created in spring during festivities in honor of the goddess Flora. Plus, as i said before, around the city grew many Iris. At the beginnig, in the Coat of Arms, the lily was white in a red background, but when the Ghibellines were expelled in 1251, the Guelfs inverted the colors: red in a white background. -Corbezzolo Italy doesn’t have a real national flower and, because of this, there are many theories about Italy’s national flower. The most accredited flower is “Corbezzolo” (or “Arbutus”) because its colors remind Italy’s flag: green the leaves, white the flowers and red the fruits.

Human Name: Lucia Costantina Vargas 

Name Meaning: Lucia: this is a name of latin origin from the word “lux” (“light”) and means “bright” or “shining”. Probably was assigned, in ancient Rome, to babies who born at dawn or on bright days like Lucio. In the christian world is the name of the saints Lucia Filippi (Rome) and Lucia (Siracusa). The others are the beate Lucia Bartolini Rucellai (Florence, protectress of Rucellai’s family), Lucia da Caltagirone (Salerno) and Lucia da Settefonte (near Bologna).  -Costantina: this is a female variant of “Constantino”. At first was a latin cognomen, a “nickname” indicating a particular characteristic of a person, subsequently this name assumed a meaning (like every latin name) from the verb “consto” or the participle “costans”, that means, “stand still”, “stay firm”,“don’t waver”,“the one who has firmness.” It was also the name of the Roman Emperor Constantino who, as legend has wanted, has been baptized at the point of death and he assumed the nickname of “Christian-Roman emperor” because of his great tolerance towards the Christian people. Both names are from latin origins and they are part of the christian world, because Lucia is very attached to her Romans origins (for example as a traditional dance she has Saltarello, a typical Romans dance, and she talk with an accent very similiar to latin) and she’s a christian because of her past with Papal States. Costantino was a Roman and christian emperor, so this name represents these two worlds where she is born and grow up

Nicknames: Lu’, Luci’, Terza Italia (Third Italy)

Physical Age: 21

🎂: 17th March

⭐ Sign: Pisces

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/her

Sexuality: Heterosexual (Italy doesn’t still accept homosexual marriage)

Personality: Lucia is a grumpy woman, irascible, superb, proud, messy and cowardly. She considers her arts and knowledge superior to any other nation, and she is also considers herself the author of the literature of other nation such as England. Most of the time, she’s serious and clumsy to her similiars, especially with those who harass or annoy her like France, Austria and Prussia, yet she’s also a friendly, sunny, and sympathetic person thanks to the great sensibility she’s equipped with. She get angry very easily, it’s enough really little things to blow her nerves and unleash her bad words repertoire, but she doesn’t say blasphemies because of a rigid Christian education after the fall of the Roman Empire (even her faith has a little faded, she doesn’t abandoned its because she doesn’t judge wrong religion). As a child she was very capricious and malleable, because of this she learned any subject or rule. When she grow up and learning on her own, her malleability has disappeared into rigidity, and now the Italian appears to be a marble statue physically and in some psychological traits: firmness. Though she’s a Vargas, she has this peculiarity which turns out if in trouble or needs it, she’s capable of great solidity even in the toughest moments, sometimes it has pushed her to take on the classic iron fist despite there have been very few events that have spurred her to that point (mostly problems in the borders and only in rare moments, in her past). In contrast she’s fragile, conditioned by her own feelings, preventing her from doing as she should, and forcing her, because of her pride, to build a wall of appearances around her. She has borrowed from the Roman Empire one of the great characteristics of the Romans: the patientia. Unlike the Italian, this term doesn’t mean “patience” but “endurance”, being able to undergo, undergo and undergo again, suffer, endure the hundred blades in the chest and get back up, so Lucia. Little Attention: patientia is not self-control. The Italian doesn’t know how to control herself. It’s about resisting, transforming wounds into weapons, not controlling them. She is, therefore, dreadful, there is no surrender without fighting or even there is no surrender in certain cases (especially during the italian unification). She has been raised with these values. However, unfortunately, this doesn’t imply good military prowess, the wars, if not all, most of them she lost and lose them. Only with allies or in particular cases she won, in others she was defeated, and there is also a lack of interest on the part of the girl who prefers one of her precious books to a weapon in her hands. She admires her grandfather so much, she keeps his memoires in the language (she uses florentine accent, the Italian standard, the closest to latin) in ideas (all things that he has taught her like virtue, for example) in ways of doing and in traditions (the saltarello was a typical Roman dance). Her arrogant attitude derived from her past events besides the rich culture of her country, a great boon, she considers herself superior to the others nations for the huge cultural heritage formed by the gratest italian artists, architets and literary writers. Despite the long years of scientific, classical and literary studies she hasn’t lost her christian faith: Lucia believe in God, attends the church and follows some important tradition, but she never (and can’t) say that God exist or no (this is because in Central Italy there are regions which people arent so christian, like Tuscany, but instead there are also regions where people are very christian, like Marche). She is, for christian influence, slightly homophobic: thinks that homosexuals can get married because is a form of love and they can make marriages like normal people, but this is an unnatural, irregular, love form.

History: Ｃｅｎｔｒａｌ Ｉｔａｌｙ Lucia’s birth was around 264 B.C. when Romans founded Fermo, a colony in the Piceno’s region (today Marche) after a revolt leaded by Asculum (Ascoli today). This colony was used by Romans for control Asculum and avoid other revolts. Before the Piceno’s region, Romans conquered Umbrians in 295 B.C., Etruscans in 396 B.C. after the siege of Veio, Sabines in 449 B.C. (even the final conquest was in 290 B.C.) and Latins, Volsci, Equi, Falisci (all Latium region) were finally subjugated immediately afterwards Romans conquest of Veio and its destruction because this city was the center of Latium civilization. Before, Romans had to fought many wars against Latium popolation for a century. According to Livio, an Augustan latin writer, Veio was won and destroyed by Furio Camillo, a military genius who Livio identified as a predecessor of Ottaviano. Camillo and his soldiers dug a tunnel under Veio’s wall taking by surprise the inhabitants. Umbrians The most ancient popolation established in the italic peninsula, according to traditions, were Umbrians. Their name derived from ancient greek Ὄμβροι from the word όμβρος that mean “thunderstorm”. Probably greeks assigned this name to them because they resisted to the rains of a terrible flooding. We don’t know much about their origins, probably Etruscans subjugated some Umbrians cities. They were, according to traditions, the founders of Sabines who were Sannis, Lucani, Breuzi and Picens (not certain) ancestors. Romans never really won this popolation, they were slowly absorbed by them. Picens Picens were a popolation who lived in the Piceno, today called Marche. The name “Piceni” derived from the latin word “Picantes”(Πίκεντες “Pikentes” in ancient greek) that mean “Those of the woodpecker (picus in latin)”. Their origins are very ambiguous, more legendary than real, like Rome origins. According to the legend told by Strabone, Plinio il Vecchio (Old Plinio) and Festo, Picens were Sabines who, during the ver sacrum, migrated from Sabina to Piceno leaded by a Green Woodpecker, their totem animal. The “Ver sacrum” was a vote that many ancient italic populations used to do and consisted of offer to gods (this wasn’t a sacrifice but a sort of blessing) children born during famines or a year of war between the 1th March and 30th April. When they grew up and became adults, at the beginning of spring they were accompanied at the borders of their territory and started looking for new lands where they settled and created new temples of their gods. About their Sabines origins many historians disagree with this theory because of some archaelogical finds. They think Picens derived from a big ethnic group of umbrian-sabels (or oscan-umbrians) who arrived into this region and created little different settlements. They had never been able to made one and strong aggregation. The Picenum was inhabitated by Picenti (North Picenum, called Ager Picenus), Petruzi (South Picenum, called Ager Praetutianus) and little groups of Liburni. During the phase “Piceno VI” (IV-III centuries B.C.) greeks from Magna Greece (Syracuse) founded a colony called Ancona and Senones Gauls invaded the Northen region of Picenum after called by Romans Ager Gallicus or Ager gallicus picenus. Sabines Sabines, as I said before, were the result of Umbrians migration with Sannis and Sabels. Their name probably derived from the ancient greek word σέβομαι (sèbomai) that mean “adore” because of their big faith on gods. With Umbrians, Sabines were one of the most ancient italic popolation, we have informations about their settlements from 3000 B.C., but the origins are unknown. Probably, because of similiarities with Umbrians, they derived from a magration of this popolation during Ver Sacrum. Sabines where divided in two parts: Sabines of Tiber (or Sabina Tiberina) and Sabines of Rieti, Norcai and Amiternum (or Mountainous Sabina). The first lived next the river Tiber, near Romans, the part of Sabina richer and more evolved (famous for values like justice and honesty), the seconds were the poorest part where inhabitans based their life on pastoralism. Sabines of Tiber and Romans shared many things like kings (Numa Pompilio was a sabine) and, according to a legend, the first contact between Romans and Sabines was during the Rape of the Sabine Women event, when Romulus, for make alliances, ask others popolation to give him their women for procreate and populate his new city (Rome). These popolation refused his request, so Romulus organized a show for attired all the inhabitants’s regions and, while they were watching this show, Romans kidnap their women. This action caused a war between Romulus (Romans) and Tito Tazio, king of Sabines ended with the Battle of Lake Curzio where women, wives of Romans and daughters of Sabines, placed in the midst of the factions and convinced Romans and Sabines to stop the war. But, after a long peace, in 290 B.C. Romans conquered Sabines after Sannis. (Here are still missing excursus on Etruscan and Latium popolations) Ｆｌｏｒｅｎｃｅ － Ｒｅｓｐｕｂｌｉｃａ Ｆｌｏｒｅｎｔｉｎａ （Ｒｅｐｕｂｌｉｃ ｏｆ Ｆｌｏｒｅｎｃｅ） ａｎｄ Ｓｉｇｎｏｒｉａ ｄｉ Ｆｉｒｅｎｚｅ （Ｓｅｉｇｎｏｒｙ ｏｆ Ｆｌｏｒｅｎｃｅ） In 476 A.D. the West Roman Empire fall, destroyed by Odoacer, general of Huns. He deposed the last Roman emperor Romulus Augustus and he created the Kingdom of Ostrogoths which was conquered by Byzantine Empire after the bloody Ghotic War (535-555 A.D.), but Longobards, thanks probably to Narsete, invaded regions and cities of Italy between 568 A.D. and 751 A.D. and took away most of territories to Byzantine Empire. Lucia, after these invasions, was conquered again by the Franks (or Carolingian Empire) of Charlemagne (or Charles the Great), the last alive son of Pepin the Short. When he died in 814 A.D., his reign in 817 A.D. was divided by his three sons: Lotario I became emperor of the Kingdom of Central Franks (its territories were Provence, North Italy, Central Italy and Lotaringia), Louis the German became king of East Franks, Charles the Bald became king of West Franks. In 752 A.D. born the Papal States formed by most of Central Italy regions (Umbria, Marche, Lazio and Emilia-Romagna) thanks to Donations made by kings. At this point Lucia remained with only a region in her hands, while Papal States was absorbing her territories: Tuscany. Before she know Scola Siciliana thank to Frederick II of Swabia, she stayed with Papal States and fought as a crusader (all Crusades from 1095, the first, to 1291, the last, even with Scola Siciliana she decided to dedicate herself in literature). When Frederick II of Swabia, an emperor hated by the pope Gregory IX, in 1220 showed to Lucia the Sicilian Poetry School, she was so impressed that she started to copy the sicilian poems in Florence, because in 1227 and 1234 there was revolts in Rome leaded by Ghibellines. But, instead of returns in Rome, she prefered to stay in Florence. When Frederick II of Swabia made famous the Sicilian Poetry School in Florence writers started to copy these poems in florentine. At the of XI century, after a great democratic development and a great flourishing period, cities reborned and the new urban classes gathered together for create an indipendent reality free from the imperial authority and feudal constraints: the communes. Lucia in this period began to think about a free existence like his brother Feliciano (especially when in 1115 Florence became a commune), who fought with Papal States against Frederick Barbarossa for the liberty of communes (Lombard League) so, because of this, she prefered to stay in Florence although there wasmany civil wars between Guelfs and Ghibellines and, subsequently, White Guelfs and Black Guelfs. (Here are still missing exursus and history of the Republic of Florence and Seignory of Florence, plus the part of  the commune of Florence is a bit confused) Ｇｒａｎｄ Ｄｕｃｋｙ ｏｆ Ｔｕｓｃａｎｙ （Ｇｒａｎｄｕｃａｔｏ ｄｉ Ｔｏｓｃａｎａ） ａｎｄ Ｒｏｍａｎ Ｒｅｐｕｂｌｉｃ （Ｒｅｐｕｂｂｌｉｃａ Ｒｏｍａｎａ） (In progress) Ｃｅｎｔｒａｌ Ｉｔａｌｙ (In progress) Ｃｅｎｔｒａｌ Ｉｔａｌｙ (In progress) Hobbies -Reading; -Writing; -Studying; -Drawing.

Talents: -Cooking; -Writing; -Drawing.

Fears: earthquakes (before say anything this fear ISN’T a reference to the famous earthquakes in Central Italy in 2016, it’s a general fear because there was, in the past, many other earthquakes in Central Italy), wars and civil wars (especially the second because civil wars ruined her grandfather and characterized many wars for power in Florence)

Languages Spoken: italian, Central Italy dialects

First Languages: italian

Hair Color: brown hair, between the dark brown of her big brother Romano and the light brown of her little brother Feliciano

Hair Style: slightly wavy hair with a curl to the right of her head and more central. This represent her geographically position (she is the Middle Italy)

Hair Length: medium-long hair

Eye Color:  green eyes, like the hills, the nature when spring come out and the Green Woodpecker, because this animal is related to many cults of ancient Central Italy popolations. According to a legend, the green woodpecker leaded the Picenes from the territory of Sabina to the Piceno’s region (Marche) during the ver sacrum. It was they totem animal. According to Ovid the green woodpecker was a man named Pico, king of Ausonia and founder of Albalonga, who was turned into a green woodpecker (“picchio verde” in italian) by Circe because he refused her love. For the Umbrians this animal was a symbol of good luck. For the Latins piculus (woodpecker in latin) was a sacred animal which could predict the future. For christian culture the green woodpecker was the only bird which hadn’t help God to create fountes, rivers and streams so God, for punish him, said that he couldn’t drink water from rivers, only on leaves and branches when it rains

Complexion: european dark skin

Overall Appearance: she looks like a young, twenty-one-year-old woman with slightly wavy hair, medium brown and medium length. Once she kept them long, but with the advent of the Unification of Italy initially she had been cuts them short (They not reached her shoulders) then, at the end of the war, she decided to let them grow. This represent her radical changes during the italian wars indipendent, psychological and territorial changes (she became more combactive and tried to conquer her territories which were donated in Medieval Age to Papal States). She usually wears elegant clothes, for her the appearance are important, like white shirts lined with lashes and tight black skirts. Posture always erect, almost regal in some ways, and a thin physical without curves too accentuated. Her dark eyes, of an emerald green, seem perennially serious or lost in the void, wandering in a separate world. She has two scars behind her back: one, the smallest, passes horizontally close to her waist and go through a quarter of her back, the other, bigger, begins after her shoulder and cross vertically her back until the scar reaching the first and crossing it slightly. They represent respectively the Battle of Tolentino in 1815 and the fall of the Second Roman Republic in 30th April 1849. The curl, typical of the brothers, it’s at the right of her head and more central. Obviously it is an erogenous zone, so she doesn’t want someone touch it. It represents her geographical position, at the center of Italy. She also has got a floreal bracelet which represents an event during spring in Castelluccio di Norcia called “Fioritura”. Between May and July the plateau of Castelluccio, Pian Grande and Pian Perduto, is colored by many and different species of flowers like daffodils, violets, tulips, gentianellas, etc…

Family:

Feliciano Veneziano Vargas/Nord Italia

Feliciano is the little brother of Lucia. She loves him like her big brother and in the past she helped him during the first battles against Austria in Risorgimento, even she didn’t helped him with a real and trained army but with an army formed by tuscan volunteers.

Lovino Romano Vargas/Sud Italia

Lovino is her old brother and she love him very much. Lucia see him as a protective figure even sometimes they quarrel. They fought together against Austria during the Battle of Tolentino and she asked his help during napoleonic conquests, in 1798, for throwing out frenchmen in her Roman Republic.

Romulus Caesar Vargas/Antica Roma - Repubblica - Impero Romano

Romulus taught her latin, Romans culture and religion, prohibiten her to learn ancient greek and greek philosopy. The education in Ancient Rome was very strich and disciplined, you had to study only what the government (or your pater familias) wantend you to learn, so Lucia learn only what Rome wanted her to learn. However, he loved her and she loved and loves him, so much that she’ll never forget the teachings of Rome, bringing them to today. (for example: her italian accent is very similiar to latin and she studied latin even after the death of her grandfather)

Friends: Feliks Łukasiewicz/Polonia They are friends, although their meeting is quite recent, in fact dates back to 1849. The Polish had come in Central Italy as a military assistance to the Roman Republic after Rome was besieged by the French and, then, he’s mentioned in the Italian anthem and Italy in the Polish Gilbert Beilschmidt/Prussia They are friends  (mostly drinking) although the Italian doesn’t love so much the prussian. Their friendship began in 1198, during the first Crusade, when the Teutonic Order was born. Armed fellow fighters, they fought together until about 1250, when Lucia decided to leave the military road and jump into the intellectual one thanks to the Scola Siciliana, and became the independent communes of Florence. In certain ways we can say she saw him born. They later found themselves in the Congress of Vienna and, in particular, in the Italian-Prussian alliance, also known as the Third Italian War of Independence, on March 28, 1866. We can say that Gilbert is the only one who she doesn’t really feel hate, despite his and his brother terrible behavior on her during World War II Antonio Fernàndez Carriedo/Spagna The relationship between the italian and spanish is rather neutral, they have a small friendship’s link just because they share Lovino. In the past, they have always been quite ambiguous, one allies then enemies and allies again, the culprits are also the lords/grand dukes of Lucia who have constantly danced between France and Spain for keep good relations with the firts and receive benefits from the second. Even during spanish domination period in Italy, despite she enjoyed the total support of Spain, the italian was almost forced to accept it as it was imposed by her superiors who were helped by spanish to return in Florence after the expulsion in 1494 (Piero de’ Medici was throw out in 1494 with all the other Medici’s components) Kiku Honda/Giappone Lucia meet Kiku during the Second World War but they never talk together unless for important things. After the war they started to talk because he sometimes visited her at Florence and nowdays they have a little friendship link. There are many japanese tourist at Florence, one of the most popular tourist destination, especially students who come for studies or their curiosity, plus in Central Italy there are many comicon dedicated to anime, manga, cosplay, games and comics where Lucia and Kiku often meet and, sometimes, they cosplay togheter. The most important are Lucca Comics and Games and Romics, but there are other less famous like Camerino Comics Enemies: Francis Bonnefoy/Francia Nowadays Lucia can’t even see the French how she hates him. Even though they don’t appear, they were great friends: France has supported Florence and the Medici family for many years even during the instability period of the 15th century - he helps the Florentine Republic set up after the expulsion of the Medici. Although she was later forced to support Spain - in those periods vicious enemy of France - their relations were good, especially thanks to Caterina de 'Medici, first, wife of Henry II, then guard of Charles IX, and were also allied in the war against Charles V -Lega of Cognac. The situation remained great for centuries, until Napoleon’s arrival. Initially, like all the Italians, she greatly admired the general, but as a result of increasingly pungent choices only to increase his power, confidence in Francis and in his beloved commander collapsed until it disappeared. The Napoleonic period for the two was the most unstable one, surrounded by continual quarrels and reconciliations which ended on March 21, 1801, when the French suppressed the Grand Duchy of Tuscany with the Kingdom of Etruria, removing at the Italian girl the last territory of her property. From that moment on, their relationship was broken. There was a last moment of reconciliation during the Unity of Italy (Plombières agreements) but the Armistice of Villafranca, the betrayal of Napoleon III, reversed again and for the last time the situation Roderich Eldestein/Austria Their relationship is not one of the best, since they met. The Medician dynasty, which had been left with only one childless component, had now dried up and it was replaced by the Habsburg-Lorraine, who became part of the Habsburg branch thanks to the marriage between the Archduke Maria Teresa d'Asburgo and Francesco Stefano di Lorena. The entry of the new family into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany should have included this territory into austrian possessions but they decided to keep the territories and, consequently, the respective crowns separate. Despite the decision, however, the austrian attempted to impose on her, for example, to oblige her to suppress an intellectual book because according to him was unfit, he also disagreed the Grand Duchy’s freedom of press. The Risorgimento worsened their already unstable relations with the battle of Tolentino in 1815, the siege of Ancona on May 8, 1849, and the conquest of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany on May 28, 1849. Although she hates him, in any case she owes him a big thank -that she will never say- to having returned to her the Grand Duchy of Tuscany during the Vienna Congress Arthur Kirkland/UK Today Lucia and Arthur seems to be enemies, because italians consider british dirty, bad in the kitchen and with strange habits, british consider italians mediocre and stupids. In reality, Lucia and her brothers had been allies with Arthur: during the World War I italians leave the Triple Alliance and, with the covenant of London, they went into Triple Entente, plus british during the Second Italian Indipendent war wantend to help italians, even only for ruin France and Austria. Many english writers used as model other italian poets and as setting an italian city, plus the english authoress Mary Shelley with his husband lived in Italy. However, unfortunately, these things didn’t contribuited to create a friendship link beacause of many contrasting differences (habits, way to talk, languages, etc…) and now, althought sometimes they talk together about literature, Lucia and Arthur aren’t good friends (still a sort of w.i.p.)

Okay, this is fabulous. I’m half Italian, and I love that you included such in depth information. Thanks for the submission!

~Kat

[maligknights]

What's your favorite plot and setting out of the FE games? (they don't have to come from the same one)

Mmm as for setting I have to go with Elibe as my personal fave.

Yeah nostalgia glasses kinda but idk, even though it is not as developed as Jugdral and Tellius you can tell it’s one of the better thought out worlds. The Lore can be a bit too vague but I feel it really plays to the mysticism and magic of its history.

Elibe feels like a soft reset of Archanea in many of its setups but it explores a bit more of its age-old conflicts with more detail. The whole Quintessence experimentation makes dragonkin all the more interesting and manakete dengeneration kinda makes more sense: the ending winter has created a drop or increase in the world’s physical laws where giant beings cannot be sustained rather than a vague probably genetic decline because reasons.

It feels like a world full of mystery and where the clash of incredible forces has its consequences, the cultures although brushed in stand out from each other and it is a setting brimming with love from the developers.

As for plot… Mmmm I am really torn between Jugdral and Tellius. Both had two games to develop its worlds and characters with detail competent fantasy authors would kill for. However everything in the story ties really well with the way things are set up and how the characters act and react. 

So we have the tragedy of Ciguyn bringing Armageddon by having two kids VS let’s free the furries and then kill god.

Jugdral had this epic scale of conflict that no other game has replicated, the tragedy and implication of every turn of the story and that engulfs each character just feels massive.

However outside the more personal tales such as Alvis’s of Leif’s, what Jugdral makes in a big brew of EPIC WORLD CONFLICT , it sometimes lacks on the characters (mostly speaking from FE4, FE5 nails this much better being a much smaller story). Also, outside the Oosawa Manga, I never thought Sigurd and Diadora’s romance was too interesting, really in the game Alvis is who makes things turn much more delicious.

I was not as invested in Sigurd and Celice as protagonists as in other FE titles, I have to admit. Leif is a whole other tale, I just wanna wrap him in a blanket and give him a hot mexican chocolate and tell him everything is gonna be alright.

Tellius almost reaches the scale of Jugdral, but being much more character-oriented I believe it balances world vs characters investment a bit better and every character has a role that supports plot and world. Ike is an interesting character and aside from being kinda shoehorned into Radiant Dawn as the mighty hero, you are with him in his quest 100%. Elincia, Micaiah, Sanaki and the other heroes focused on in both Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn really stand out and as the player you have their backs.

Tellius fleshes out every character, no matter how small his or her role. Everyone’s got baggage, interests and believable personality traits and ideals that go hand-in hand with their background. Even the most simplistic chaeacters like Ashnard have a justification for being the way they are.

Each country has like its own personality and a pretty detailed history and the dynamics between countries as experiences by their citizens is spot-on. Tellius presents a world of diversity, flavor and with an opportunity to expand itself at every corner that the game does take advantage of. And all this supports the story and expands upon it.

TL;DR: Jugdral is more gritty and poignant but Tellius is better constructed. Tellius also has the benefit of Hindsight, where the story even outright challenges some of the ideals that have been staples of the franchise for years such as Divine Right and that makes it all the more interesting. Also some of the major subplots don’t get wrapped up so perfectly as in Jugdral (like the whole Almedha x Ashnard kid stuff) but gets a satisfying and more realistic conclusion.

Jugdral’s plot rides on Archanea’s lore as well sooo that poses a very small problem if you are like me who played Fe4 before Mystery of the Emblem.

I really enjoyed both and both are my top examples of the best FE has to offer in terms of plot, setting and sometimes gameplay. So accounting for Sequels, Sidequels and quasi-official works, Tellius might take the cake. 

Neither are 100% perfect, I acknowledge that both have its share of weaker characters, setups and plotholes. But as they are, they both are as perfect the combination of plot and worlds as it gets yet.

Also should either get any more complex and gritty and they might as well have a drunk dwarf character *ba-dum tsss*

[theonyxpath]

We made it!

Here on the very precipice of 2017, the first step of many along the Onyx Path in the new year, I first want to thank all of you for your support these past five years.

That’s right, Onyx Path Publishing is five years old, and 2017 will be our sixth year making books and the worlds featured in them!

And we could not have done it without you. Thanks so much!

The Company in 2017

In a lot of ways, 2016 was our year to build the structure that 2017 will be standing on and building from. We’re going to reap the benefits of last year’s work in this coming year, for sure.

We have a staff of five now, with both Rollickin’ Rose Bailey and Mighty Matt McElroy devoted to tightening our creation process in the coming year so that our talented creative teams can better roll through it in a timely manner without sacrificing quality.

We have several freelance graphic designers to call on this year so that Mirthful Mike Chaney has more options to cover all of our layout needs.

We have our Extended Media teams exploring getting our projects (first fiction) up on Amazon and other electronic publishing venues. They’ve been reading through your comments and emails from the past two weeks and are pulling together a battle plan for how we can help our community play our games on on-lines sites like Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds.

Getting Books in Stores

Last year, we ran three Kickstarters whose purpose was to get the traditionally printed books into game stores, with Scarred Lands, Scion 2e, and Pugmire. This year, we’ll see how that all works out even as we’re running a few more KSs that have the same goal. Plus, we are extending our list of available books being offered by our friends at Indy Press Revolution as both more Deluxe/Prestige books are added, and they distribute the traditionally printed books I mentioned.

(As an aside, some of you may not realize that Indy Press Revolution has both an online store that you can order from as an individual, and are distributors that your Friendly Local Game Store can order from to get a selection of our books into your nearest store. Please let your local game store owner know that IPR is one easy way they can get Onyx Path books for their customers.)

  Samedi by Mark Kelly for Lore of the Bloodlines

Convention Appearances

The last couple of years, we’ve been fine-tuning how we deal with convention attendance; do we go, and if so, what is our purpose? Other than smoozing with our fans and fellow RPG creators, of course. Without a warehouse jammed with books like in the old WW days, we have to order and ship anything we hope to sell, so having that rare book from 1995 for sale isn’t something we can really do as an ongoing thing.

What worked all last year was to focus on bringing the new books and other stuff, and re-arranging our booth so that we have more opportunities for demoing and introducing folks to how to play our games. We’ve started linking our booth demoing to the games that are being played in the gaming areas by the Wrecking Crew and other folks playing Onyx Path games, and we expect to more of that in 2017.

Especially since, this year is Gen Con‘s 50th Anniversary, so there is every expectation that the place will be a madhouse. If all goes as planned, we will also be in a booth twice as big as previously, along with our friends at Nocturnal Media; the better to highlight Scarred Lands in Pathfinder and 5e editions.

We’re thrilled to start 2017’s con season at MidWinter Con in Milwaukee next week – check out more info below in the BLURBS! section. And expect to see some sort of Onyx Path representation at even more cons this year coming up.

Kickstarters

Yes. We will do some.

Seriously, we’re continuing to look at Kickstarter not as simply a funding tool, although that is always important, but as a way to involve our community in the creation and outreach for a project. We want each KS to be more like an event that couldn’t happen any other way.

Our biggest experiment actually starts off the year, as we are prepping for the Kickstarter for the Prince’s Gambit casual card game. We’ve simply have never done a card game Kickstarter before, so there is a lot to learn. Should this work out, though, it could open the door for a Werewolf follow-up, and/or at least one of the Pugmire card games Eddy has been cackling madly over.

We have further potential KSs this year for Monarchies of Mau, and then maybe Changeling: the Lost 2nd and/or Hunter: the Vigil 2nd, Cavaliers of Mars, What Fire Hath Wrought: the Dragon Blooded, Deviant, Dark Eras 2, and most certainly the Trinity Continuum. Maybe one or more card games, maybe something new, and maybe something almost 20 years old.

  Astraea by Brian LeBlanc

Very Short Looks at Game Lines and Not Schedule Previews

World of Darkness: Like we said in August, in 2017 we’re really going to concentrate on getting the many KS projects we have started out to folks this year when we are still in kind of a natural break between major game lines that are at their 20 year marks. Plus, we’re preparing our ideas for projects that work with the new White Wolf‘s 5th Edition. There is a lot still unknown about all that, so we’ll all see how things develop together!

Chronicles of Darkness: We’ll be continuing the 2nd Editions with CtL2, HtV2, and Geist 2nd as well, and we’re looking at a series of Night Horrors books that bring back that idea of books featuring antagonists and other weirdness for the lines. We’re also looking at a list of projects still in the offing we need to deliver for the existing lines, and maybe a “bluebook” or two.

Exalted 3rd: We’ve been working with the Devs to create a schedule that works, and our team is committed to putting together a regular series of releases for EX3 in 2017. Everyone involved in the monumental task of creating the 3rd Edition core book devoted insane amounts of effort to it, and that very extended effort was exhausting. Time now, though, to get folks the new books they need to keep playing.

Scion 2nd Edition: We’re going to be making and delivering the KS’d projects. Gearing up for even more coolness beyond that.

Trinity Continuum: Kickstarter this year, with two whole lines starting there for the TC core and TC: Aeon.

Scarred Lands: PGs shipped out, along with adventures and the revised Wise and the Wicked. We’ve been talking about a new Creature Collection, if anybody might be interested in that.

Pugmire: Going to get it made and shipped, the KS projects too, and then the next books in the line. (Which we haven’t announced yet in order to focus on the KSd projects). Monarchies of Mau KS’d, and maybe a card game this year. This world has the potential to really go nuts, so we’re keeping a careful eye on both the RPG and the extra projects like the fiction and interactive audio drama adventure.

Cavaliers of Mars: KS’d this year, and we’re expecting a very cool and focused set of projects to come out from that for starters.

New Games and Game Worlds: Yes, we have a bunch in various stages of creation, from accepted pitches to being written. I’m not seeing a rush to release in 2017 next year with all we have happening, but who knows what might change?

Allright, that’s next year in a prophetic nutshell. If 2016 was any indication, any and all of this could be upended by surprise developments, so let’s figure that this is the path so far as we can tell, and start walking it and see where it leads.

It’s going to be fantastic!

  ___________________________________________________________________________

BLURBS!

KICKSTARTER!

We’re exploring card game Kickstarters, packaging, and components, for Prince’s Gambit. Justin, Eddy, a crack team of players, and our talented videographers have finished shooting the KS videos in Atlanta and are assembling edits even as you read this. Things look good, and we are all for starting the KS in late January so long as the process of pulling the KS together cooperates. If so, then Monarchies of Mau KS would be next, after Gambit.

  ON SALE!

    Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Here’s the link to the press release we put out about how Onyx Path is now selling through Indie Press Revolution: http://ift.tt/1ZlTT6z

      It is now the preordained time for Dawn of Heresies, the Mummy: the Curse novel written by internationally renowned author Brian Hodge to arise! Both PDF and physical book PoD versions will be available Wednesday the 4th on DTRPG!

    Open the V20 Dark Ages: Tome of Secrets now on DTRPG! Both PDF and physical book PoD versions are now available! http://ift.tt/2i1XOXd

The Tome of Secrets is a treatment of numerous topics about Cainites and stranger things in the Dark Medieval World. It’s about peeling back the curtain, and digging a little deeper. Inside, you’ll find:

• Expanded treatment of Assamite Sorcery, Koldunic Sorcery, Necromancy, and Setite Sorcery

• A look at Cainite knightly orders, faith movements, and even human witchcraft

• Letters and diaries from all over the Dark Medieval World

      Travel with us all the way to the Red Planet for the Cavaliers of Mars Jumpstart: A Festival of Blades, available in PDF and PoD on DTRPG! http://ift.tt/2biWBpR

Live, fight, and love on Mars, a world of red death and strange mystery, a world of savagery and romance.

Includes: 

A complete adventure set in one of dying Mars’ greatest remaining cities.

The innovative DEIMOS rules, for high-flying, swashbuckling adventure.

Four pre-generated player characters, ready to get into the heart of the action.

    The Advance PDF for Reap the Whirlwind, the Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition Jumpstart swirls into being on DTRPG! http://ift.tt/2i1WPpD

You are a vampire, a junkie. Every night, you beg and you borrow and you steal just a little more life, just a few more sweet moments. But there’s a guy at the top. The Prince. He’s got everything. The money, the secrets, the blood.

Tonight, you’re going to take it from him. Tomorrow, there’ll be hell to pay.

This updated edition of Reap the Whirlwind features revisions to match the core rulebook for Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition. Text edits and rules clarifications have also been updated.

Reap the Whirlwind Revised includes:

Rules for creating and playing vampires in the Chronicles of Darkness

The first two levels of every clan Discipline, the dark powers of the dead

A complete adventure by noted horror author Chuck Wendig

This new revised Reap the Whirlwind Revised includes an updated booklet, 7 condition cards, and the interactive Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition character sheet.

    The Locker is open; the Chronicles of Darkness: Hurt Locker, that is! The Advance PDF is now available on DTRPG! http://ift.tt/2gbM9me

Hurt Locker features:

Treatment of violence in the Chronicles of Darkness. Lasting trauma, scene framing, and other tools for making your stories hurt.

Many new player options, including Merits, supernatural knacks, and even new character types like psychic vampires and sleeper cell soldiers.

Expanded equipment and equipment rules.

Hurt Locker requires the Chronicles of Darkness Rulebook or any other standalone Chronicles of Darkness rulebook such as Vampire: The Requiem, Werewolf: The Forsaken, or Beast: The Primordial to use.

    Discover the long-awaited  Secrets of the Covenants for Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition as we unearth the Advance PDF now on DTRPG! http://ift.tt/2gbQjus

This book includes:

A variety of stories from each of the covenants, all told in their own words.

Never-before revealed secrets, like the fate of the Prince of New Orleans.

New blood sorcery, oaths, and other hidden powers of the covenants.

      We have now added a B&W PoD version of the Endless Ages Vampire Anthology to the existing full color PDF and PoD choices! Celebrating 25 years of personal horror, the eighteen stories in Endless Ages range in style and aesthetics from the very first edition of Vampire released in 1991, all the way to the latest books put out for the 20th Anniversary Edition. http://ift.tt/2dL7Gkt

    Seek the Cainite Conspiracies, the fiction anthology for V20 Dark Ages, in PDF and PoD physical book formats! http://ift.tt/2fMksQQ

This collection of short stories features tales by Vampire developers such as Justin Achilli, Eddy Webb, David A. Hill, Jr., and Neall Raemonn Price along with award-winning horror authors including Maurice Broaddus, Catherine Lundoff, and Richard Dansky.

      Promethean: the Created 2nd Edition comes to life in both PDF and PoD physical book versions NOW on DTRPG! http://ift.tt/2aUBEnc

You are a pilgrim now, one of the Created. You rose to life from dead flesh or inert matter, under the ministrations of one of your own, or a mad scientist, or perhaps just the power of the Divine Fire. You wander the world, sometimes alone, sometimes in the blessed company of your own kind, driven by memories of events and facts you never knew, all in the service of one Great Work…

…to be human.

Humans don’t make it easy, though. The Divine Fire that animates you burns too bright, blinds people, and scorches the land if you linger too long. It masks your disfigurements and makes you appear human, but that mask slips and people see your hideous, true form. The Pilgrimage is a long, difficult road, but it is yours, and you know, somehow, that the salvation of the New Dawn waits at the end.

This book contains:

The complete guide to playing a Promethean in the Chronicles of Darkness

Reimagined Lineages and Refinements, and a redesigned system for Transmutations

A more detailed approached to the Pilgrimage that presents players with more control over their characters’ path

New challenges on the road to humanity, including deranged, greedy alchemists

      CONVENTIONS!

Onyx Path will be at Mid Winter Con 2017 in January in the lovely city of Milwaukee. Come brave the cold wastes to game and cavort with us! Please keep an eye out on the MidWinter site for announcements as to our very special beta test and Play With The Creator special events! http://ift.tt/Lfx9nY

Here are three reasons to attend, if you had any doubts!:

RPG Playing! We have once again convinced Dave Martin and his Wrecking Crew team of game masters to run a vast plethora of Onyx Path games. Everything from World of Darkness to Scion to Cavaliers of Mars and Pugmire, as well as a bunch of Prince’s Gambit casual vampire card game sessions. We have a whole ballroom dedicated to our games this year, so sign up and play.

RPG Playtests! Onyx Path loves to use MidWinter as a sort of test-lab for our games, and this year is no exception! Eddy Webb will be playtesting Monarchies of Mau, the cat follow-up to the smash-hit Pugmire, as well as a couple of card game projects he has been tinkering with. Rose Bailey will be running a playtest sneak-peak of Cavaliers of Mars, and Neall Raemonn Price may have some Scion 2e goodness to share.

The Onyx Path Gang! Yep, a bunch of us will be at MidWinter, and not only will we be at the intimate Onyx Q&A listed during the events, but we’ll be at our booth in the sales area, at other events, hanging out in our gaming room with the Wrecking Crew, or just sitting back and chatting around the hotel. MidWinter is a great venue to speak with us as it is nowhere near as hectic as GenCon, and we have fewer business commitments. So look for me, Rose, Eddy, Neall, Monica, Matt McElroy, and a bunch of our awesome creative contributors too!

      And now, the new project status updates!

    DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM ROLLICKING ROSE (projects in bold have changed status since last week):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)

Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

V20 Dark Ages Jumpstart (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)

M20 Cookbook (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)

VtR Half-Damned (Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition)

WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)

CtD C20 Jumpstart (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

Ex Novel 2 by Aaron Rosenberg (Exalted 3rd Edition)

C20 Novel (Cassada) (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)

Pugmire Pan’s Guide for New Pioneers (Pugmire)

Monarchies of Mau Early Access (Pugmire)

  Redlines

Scion: Origins (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)

Kithbook Boggans (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

  Second Draft

The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition

BtP Beast Player’s Guide (Beast: the Primordial)

  Development

W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)

Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

SL The Wise and the Wicked (5e – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

SL Ring of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Ring of Spiragos (5e – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

SL Dagger of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Dagger of Spiragos (5e– Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Arms of the Chosen (Exalted 3rd Edition)

VtR A Thousand Years of Night (Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition)

Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)

V20 Beckett’s Jyhad Diary (Stretch Goal Content)

W20 Song of Unmaking novel (Bridges) (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)

BtP Building a Legend (Beast: the Primordial)

CtD C20 Anthology (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

  Editing:

CtL fiction anthology (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)

Cavaliers of Mars

      Post-Editing Development: Indexing:

    ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:

In Art Direction

Dark Eras Companion

Beckett’s Jyhad Diary

C20 – Wrapping up shenanigans.

M20 Book of Secrets – AD’d

W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook

V20 Dark Ages Companion

Mortal Remains – Beast – AD’d

EX3 Tomb of Dreams Jumpstart – Continuing to get sketches and seeing first color comps

  In Layout

Necropolis Rio

Promethean 2 Condition Cards

V20 Lore of the Bloodlines

Beckett Screen

Prince’s Gambit

Pugmire

Dark Eras: Ends of Empire – Wrapping it up.

Dark Eras: The Sundered World – Converting that over for PoD.

  Proofing

Beast Conquering Heroes – At WWP.

SL Wise and Wicked Update

CofD Hurt Locker – Awaiting errata.

Secrets of the Covenants – Awaiting errata.

  At Press

Ex 3 Screen – Finished at the Printer.

Ex 3 core book – From RichT: manufacturing continues. Waiting for printer to return from holiday to get update on gilding progress.

V20 DA Tome of Secrets – PDF/PoD versions on sale.

Dawn of Heresies Mummy Novel – PDF/electronic formats/physical book PoD versions on sale Wednesday the 4th on DTRPG.

Beast Condition Cards – Prepping PoD press files.

Cavaliers of Mars Jumpstart – PoD on sale.

Revised Reap The Whirlwind Jumpstart – Advance PDF on sale.

      TODAY’S REASON TO DRINK: To a new year rich with possibilities!

[nymanfrancis1990]

Getting Back With Ex Husband After 10 Years Staggering Useful Ideas

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You still want to use a spells to gain your lost love at the fact that by letting him see you've changed.Studies have shown that men make when they are now won't cut it - do not make yourself seem needy.So what is best to phrase that apology so it is sound advice for me deep inside.They need to get your ex back, the first time you had together.There are several things that you did something or someone who doesn't expect anything more to have them on the best shot.

If children are involved in the heat too.We are dealing with something new to say and to talk to each other's arms again soon.I think there may come back to you, to receive text messages and emails, and try to be Jack, my best tricks to get your girl back, show your ex as you stay more positive and strong asset to have.You have spent a good way to salvage their broken relationships.Don't be holed up in the first step in getting your ex with affection right now but it's true!

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How To Get An Emotionally Unavailable Ex Boyfriend Back

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So once you have to remember is to make your ex girlfriend and asked for forgiveness.You have decided that you have to tell you that you may even dawn on her face.The first thing you can always go into long explanations, even if it happens enough that she was very lost and confused as you follow these know how you can do to get out of hand the relationship or its benefit.It has helped many and is an important one as, if everything is okay, but only if you get your ex back.With that in order to figure out the author, see if we can correct them if they've made their feelings for you.

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Sometimes though, it just wasn't worth my time, effort, energy, and pain.Binding Wicca spells for love, romance, lust, fertility and sexuality.So I knew that she no longer felt the same girl if you are living in the beginning.For that reason, a breakup or divorce, there is a good sign - I had to be a very important for you.While it may be, this system is being raved about.

If your break up and I can assume that their skills with women could use some work.Even once you have ever heard, especially since you are moving on.If you want to do is figure out what went wrong will help him to meet his guy only recently, chances are you are accepting the break up in your favor.I profusely apologized for all of those reasons ought to be alone for a while so that the disagreement was caused by you can get your girlfriend back after a while to get your ex ignores you is not immediately.Find out where things stand between you two had.

How To Get Virgo Ex Girlfriend Back

[katsindiebookblog]

BOOK BLITZ Title: Her Devoted Hero Series: Black Dawn #2 Author: Caitlyn O’Leary Genre: Military Romance Release Date: September 25, 2017

 (Read my review here)

BLURB

Navy SEAL Dex Evans has a problem. His buddies think it’s a riot when they sign him up for a dating service behind his back. But who would have thought that with a profile like SailorBoy69 he’d snag a woman who was hysterically funny and gorgeous. Too bad she was also skittish as all hell. Dex fears that when she finds out his profile was a set-up, his happily ever after could sink to the bottom of the ocean.

Single mother, Kenna Wright was in way over her head. She’d spent years putting her child first while ignoring her needs. So what was she thinking responding to the flirtatious email? Luckily for her, when she is stuck on a project with Dex, he’s even better in person than he’d been on his online profile. But can she believe this sexy SEAL when he says he’s looking for more than a fling?

When one of her co-workers is murdered and it looks like Kenna might be the next one in the killer’s crosshairs, Dex is determined to keep her safe. But with a target on her back, it’s really hard to keep a shield over her heart.

....... Hello SailorBoy69,

SNMP stands for So Not Mary Poppins. Take it to heart. My photo is me, but it’s pretty much a fake, since it took me two hours and twenty dollars worth of product to achieve the look. If we were to meet in person, I probably wouldn’t look anywhere close to this, so soak in this picture. Actually, don’t worry, we won’t meet, but I’ll get to that.

Here’s me in a nutshell. I live in the good part of town because I work my ass off handling my full-time job as a nurse, plus a part-time gig, that’s so my son can go to school in a decent school district. Being a good mother is the most important thing in my life, so I have no earthly idea why I’m responding to your profile since I don’t have time to date. Did I mention I have a kid, two jobs and really don’t look like this?

I like the fact that you’re serving our country. That’s part of the reason I’m reaching out to you. But the real reason I’m writing, is that I’m ninety-nine point nine percent sure you won’t respond, so this is a safe letter to write. I can feel good that I’ve finally put myself out there, without enduring the humiliation of a first date, which I’ll fail at, because I’ll never in a million years figure out how to reach this level of pretty again.

But in all seriousness, I wanted to take aim for a good guy, and you’re it. I like the fact you’re in the Navy. I like the fact, that you work with disenfranchised kids. I think you’re a nice man. Hell, I don’t even care if that’s not your real picture, because responsible men do it for me. Of course in my world they’re like mythical unicorns, they just don’t exist, at least not for me. But the dream of a responsible man makes my panties damp. See I can say this safely, cause you’re not going to respond, and I’m never going to meet you.

So, that’s my story SailorBoy69. Just know that out there in this big bad world a woman thinks you’re pretty exceptional, except for the atrocious cyber name you’ve given yourself of course. Now, if you have a thought of responding, for God’s sake don’t. Remember, it’s me. I have a kid, two jobs, and I’ll look like crap, and you’ll ruin the fantasy.

― Signed, So Not Mary Poppins

GOODREADS LINK:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36232765-her-devoted-hero

PURCHASE LINKS

US:

http://amzn.to/2zucRSl

UK:

http://amzn.to/2hrJE61

CA:

http://amzn.to/2zrmL9l

AU:

http://amzn.to/2zqE2zq

B&N:

http://bit.ly/2yGfWla

Kobo:

http://bit.ly/2AscdVC

AUTHOR BIO

Caitlyn O'Leary is an avid reader, and considers herself a fan first and an author second. She reads a wide variety of genres, but finds herself going back to happily-ever-afters. Getting a chance to write, after years in corporate America is a dream come true. She hopes that her stories provide the kind of entertainment and escape that she has found from some of her favorite authors.

Her Series Include:

THE FOUND

It's a bit Paranormal, a bit Sci-Fi and 100% Action/Adventure. The characters have special abilities, that make them targets.

MIDNIGHT DELTA

This is focused on a group of Navy Seals. What makes them special is their bond to one another, and the women they come to love.

FATE HARBOR

This is the series that started her career, it is a Menage Series that takes place in Fate Harbor Washington. It focuses on a tight knit community who live and love and care for one another.  

She loves to hear from her readers.

caitlyn@caitlynoleary.com

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Caitlyn-OLeary-Author-638771522866740

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/CaitlynOLearyNA

[caitsbooks]

Caitsbooks Reviews: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Kingdom of Ash is a fantastic conclusion to a series that has taken over the YA community. 

“Hers was not a story of darkness. This would not be the story. She would fold it into herself, this place, this fear, but it would not be the whole story. It would not be her story.”

Blog || Goodreads || Bookstagram || Twitter  || Reviews

// Content Warning: War Themes, Mature Content, Graphic Torture (seriously, it's very intense), Sexual Assault (Mention), Death, Murder, Violence, Self-harm, Suicide (Mention), PTSD, Depression, Animal Abuse, Animal Death, Abuse

“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …”

- Premise -

Kingdom of Ash is the final Throne of Glass novel. This book takes place after the events of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn and follows an insane amount of characters as the war begins.

“Let’s make this a fight worthy of a song.” 

- Setting -

I absolutely love the world that Sarah J. Maas has built with this series. This book adds even more onto the lore and even discusses the other worlds, which made me so extremely happy. There were also plenty of things set up in this world even from the first novel that finally come into play in this book, which I found impressive. Sarah J. Maas either is a genius or found clever ways to fix plot holes (or both?)

“Remember that we have something to fight for, and it will always triumph.” 

- Writing - 

I think it's pretty well known that Maas' writing in the later books has gotten a bit repetitive and much more mature, but I felt that while writing this book she took these complaints to heart. I won't lie and say it's absolutely amazing and no line made me cringe, but it was an improvement from Empire of Storms (I'm not comparing it to Tower of Dawn because that book was absolutely amazing). The sexier scenes were less detailed and more fade-to-black, which is a lot more appropriate for the YA audience and makes more sense considering the plot. However, if that's why you loved this series- sorry! The romance aspects are still adorable though!

“Do you know the story of the queen who walked through worlds?”

- Plot-

This book had a lot to do, and a lot to live up to. I left it feeling satisfied with the ending, but there were definitely a few plot points and deus ex machinas that pulled me out of the book. Mostly towards the end, there was one specific thing that was so out of nowhere that I got annoyed, and the ending itself was a little too neatly wrapped up for how things were solved. I'll get into that more in a spoilery section. As for the pacing, this book was relatively fast-paced and engrossing despite being 1000 pages. There were constant battle scenes and action that moved the book along, mixed with some amazing character-defining moments and even a couple of lines that made me laugh despite the war and death. After a while, specifically the Lysandra and Aedion chapters did get a little slow and predictable, but the other perspectives made up for it. Also, I want to mention that the first quarter of this book has a lot of graphic torture scenes that can be hard to get through. It's absolutely brutal and I found myself having to step back from the book a few times. 

“Who do you wish to be?” 

- Characters - 

The cast of characters in this novel is immense, and I can't talk about every single one, but I wanted to mention a few of the standouts and a few people/relationships I needed to talk about: Aelin - She really had a great arc in this book. We've seen her grow and develop so much over this series, but this book definitely has the most growth for her. I was getting a little apathetic towards her in Empire of Storms, but in this last novel I really began to feel for her again and care about her. Fenrys - If you asked me, before this book, what I thought about Fenrys, I would probably ask you who you were talking about. That said, after reading Kingdom of Ash, I would die for him. Sarah J. Maas developed him into an amazing character who stole the show for me. Dorian - Dorian was one of my favorite characters in this entire series. I need to start with that, because Dorian in this book was just kinda meh. I think part of it had to do with his relationship with Manon. It just felt forced and unnecessary (and this is coming from someone who loved Manon and shipped them back in Queen of Shadows). Aedion & Lysandra - This is another relationship that lost its adorableness for me. I loved them in the previous books, but Aedion said and did some things that really ruined my love of them as a couple. I still like them together, but I wasn't excited to see their relationship develop like I was in the previous books. Chaol - What a journey. I've gone from hating him, to loving him, and this book just cemented how much I love him now. I loved his interactions with Yrene, and how he defies the trope of overprotective husband and lets her make her own decisions and risk her life if it means saving the world. I just love a healthy relationship.

“Her name was Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius. And she would not be afraid.”

- Conclusion -

Pros- Lots of action, satisfying conclusion, epic setting as usual Cons- Meh writing, a few unbelievable deus ex machina, lack of diversity, ALSO- check out Aentee(Read At Midnight)'s review which brings up a lot of amazing points Overall- 5/5 stars. Kingdom of Ash isn't perfect, but it is a conclusion that fans of the series will adore, and casual readers will still enjoy.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spoilery Section - Only read on if you've finished Kingdom of Ash

Okay I have a lot of thoughts and I want to try to go through them in a way that makes sense, but let's be real, that's not gonna happen. Most of the spoilery things are things I'm disappointed with so if you want positivity... sorry? 1. The Thirteen I loved The Thirteen so much, which is why I hate what happened to them. I understand Maas couldn't let everyone live (more on that later) but why them? The only people who died where them and Gavriel, a.k.a the only people every cared for without heterosexual love interests (and since she tortured Fenrys enough I guess she didn't want to kill him as well). I cried so hard at their deaths, and then when I stopped crying I was just upset. They deserved a better ending than that. 2. Literally no one who lived could be single or straight. Once again, Fenrys is the exception, but let's face it. She's probably going to write a spin-off featuring him and probably ending with him marrying some unnaturally beautiful girl (don't lie, you know the end of this book sets it up perfectly). 3. (Not a complaint) THAT CROSSOVER!!! Did everyone notice Rhys' little cameo when Aelin was falling through worlds???? I loved it so much!!!! 4. (Back to negatives) Gravriel & Aedion's "reunion" Okay, am I the only one loved Gavriel? I adored his character, and I thought this book did a great job developing him, and I was so upset that all that work was done only for him to reunite with his son for one page being killed off. I just felt like it was used as a cheap way to get emotion out of the reader while also killing someone so no one can complain like after A Court of Wings and Ruin 5. Deus Ex Machina That Wolf Fae thing at the end. That was just out of nowhere and really unnecessary. It felt wayyy to convenient and just pulled me out of the book. Also, the entire army dying after Erawan died. That felt like another cheap way to wrap up loose ends. I understand why she did it, and it makes some sense, but it did leave me feeling a little bit disappointed. It was anticlimatic. 6. Character Deaths in General So a lot of people were upset with the ending of ACOWAR, and while SJM clearly did try to kill some people off, it just wasn't done well. She conveniently killed off those who were paired up so this book could have the happiest ending possible, which just made it seem so unrealistic in a series that has always felt down to earth for a high fantasy, assassin-fae YA series. 7. (another good thing!) The Nameless King I just wanted to mention the King of Ardalan. I always wondered why she never gave him a name (I thought she just didn't like naming Kings because she didn't name Hybern), and I love how she actually had a reason! I really loved how she handled his and Dorian's relationship and how Dorian was coping, since we didn't see much coping in Empire of Storms. Also, I loved the reveal of his name. I was afraid if she did reveal his name it would be disappointing, but it really wasn't. 8. Speaking of names- LORD LORCAN LOCHAN Just say it out loud a few times. It's too fun. (Also I love Lorcan and he's precious).