#shaun marsh

[howlidae]

EUREKA!

After the announcement of Ace Attorney: Investigations 1&2 on the Switch, I hosted a redraw of the promotional poster in my server. Over thirty-five artists participated in this gargantuan love letter to the duology!! Fulls below!

Credit (in order of versions posted above):

Miles Edgeworth: @howlidae, @notcoolkris, @u3pxx Dick Gumshoe: @Largeworm, VER2, @drawingdreamboats Kay Faraday: @replin4mi, @summertrianglee, @esdithequeen Eustace Winner: @walkman-cat, @morbidlypositive, @CleverLittleGoddess, @stubbyartist Verity Gavelle: @CoffeeKauz, @gaylawyers Eddie Fender: @kissingonclouds, @ladderlovesscaffeine, Shih-Na: @/robeccasteams (Twitter), WevuGotHacked (no soc), @andromedachainn Shi-Long Lang: @TheSmolAndFurious, @anatomical-puppet, @tinkerpeller, @CoffeeKauz Franziska von Karma: @lastritesbish, @lawyest, @MixMatchMagic, VER4 Manfred von Karma: @notcoolkris, @roandroid, @whisunny Gregory Edgeworth: @/d2cc__ (TikTok), @esdithequeen, @toads-n-moss Ema Skye: @BigMoneyDeluxe (Twitter), @gaylawyers, @howdoesbrainwork, @pastel-ducks Shelly deKiller: @kissingonclouds Shaun Fenn: @morbidlypositive, @teradriive Maggey Byrde: @pineconemilk, @39Mice, @athena-the-undestructible Tabby Lloyd: @ladderlovesscaffeine Lotta Hart: @im-arty, @pastel-ducks Regina Berry: @andromedachainn Simeon Saint: @39Mice, @CleverLittleGoddess Tyrell Badd: @teradriive, @whisunny Blue Badger: @anatomical-puppet Pink Badger: @notcoolkris Proto Badger: @itzjustfritz_ Steel Samurai: @lawyest Pink Princess: @/BigMoneyDeluxe_ (Twitter) Justice statue: @CoffeeKauz

[glittercakes]

Investigations Name-Off #19

Original Name: Shimon Aizawa

[fazcinatingblog]

Wait what???? Harper wasn't on strike, didn't they cross the last ball of the over???

[encyclopediacr]

A new Critical Role short story collection!

To celebrate ten years, Critical Role and Penguin Random House will publish Vox Machina: Stories Untold in March 2025.

This collection features a foreword by Liam O'Brien and ten short stories by Jess Barber, Martin Cahill, Rebecca Coffindaffer, Aabria Iyengar, Sam Maggs, Sarah Glenn Marsh, Rory Power, Nibedita Sen, Izzy Wasserstein, and Kendra Wells.

These stories include, quoting from Penguin Random House:

Shaun Gilmore reflects on the life he has chosen, as told by Aabria Iyengar.

Raishan, racked by a pestilent curse, plots to release the Cinder King from his fiery prison, as told by Rory Power.

Trinket the Wonder Bear accompanies the next generation of Vox Machina on their first adventure, as told by Sarah Glenn Marsh.

You can learn more at Penguin Random House's website for Critical Role books.

[pad-wubbo]

All AAI2 official English character and case names rated based on whether I think they're better or worse than the fan translation equivalents:

Di-Jun Huang > Di-Jun Wang - It's the same.

Horace Knightley > Bronco Knight - Worse.

Ethan Rooke > Bastian Rook - Worse.

Nicole Swift > Tabby Lloyd - Much better.

Raymond Shields > Eddie Fender - Slightly worse.

Jay Elbird > Rocco Carcerato - Much better.

Simon Keyes > Simeon Saint - Slightly worse.

Sebastian Debeste > Eustace Winner - Sounds worse, fits better.

Justine Courtney > Verity Gavèlle - Much better.

Sirhan Dogen > Bodhidharma Kanis - Much better.

Patricia Roland > Fifi Laguarde - Much better, they've already done "patrol" twice.

Jeff Master > Samson Tangaroa - More unique, less punny. Not sure.

Katherine Hall > Judy Bound - Slightly worse because no food pun.

Isaac Dover > Artie Frost - References his nature as an artist, better.

Pierre Hoquet > Paul Halique - Same as Japanese name, no longer parrot.

Dane Gustavia > Carmelo Gusto - Worse, doesn't sound as awesome.

Delicia Scones > Delicia Scone - It's the same.

Karin Jenson > Florence Niedler - Much better. Florence Nightingale and needles.

Bonnie Young > Hilda Hertz - Better, because alliterative.

Jill Crane > Rosie Ringer - Better, alliterative. Different nursery rhyme.

Blaise Debeste > Excelsius Winner - The absolute Winner among these names. It's so pompous, contains "celsius" and "excel" and just sounds like he went to Oxford.

John Marsh > Shaun Fenn - It's the same. Shaun means John and fen means marsh.

Amy Marsh > Amelie Fenn - It's the same.

Dai-Long Lang > Da-Long Lang - It's the same.

Jack Cameron > Alf Aldown - Better, only because it's a Deid Mann tier awful name rather than a boring realistic name.

Turnabout Target > Turnabout Trigger - Better, sounds more like a presidential assassination attempt.

The Imprisoned Turnabout > The Captive Turnabout - Better, less long-winded.

The Inherited Turnabout > Turnabout Legacy - Better for same reason as above.

The Forgotten Turnabout > A Turnabout Forsaken - Sounds more pretentious, but probably better because less confusion with The Lost Turnabout, where Phoenix forgets.

The Grand Turnabout > Turnabout for the Ages - Worse, I think. It sounds cooler, but doesn't have any chess connotations. They should have called it "The Grandmaster's Turnabout" or "Turnabout Checkmate", I think.

Also, have updated case cards to help you get used to the new names.

EDIT;

Some extra things:

* iFly Airlines in AAI1 has been reverted to its Japanese name of "GoYou". This was probably done because iFly is the name of a real Russian airline with global sanctions against it since 2022.

* As a result, Hugo Ifly is now Ugo Hughes and the tanuki called Mr. Ifly is now Captain Ugo.

* Moozilla is now Taurusaurus, which I think is a better name.

* The Grand Tower is now the Bigg Building, suggesting that Big is not merely its size, but a Mr. Bigg is its proprietor.

* The Zodiac Hall galleries are now referred to as seasonal "Wings" rather than "Palaces". Makes more sense.

* Edgeworth Law Offices is now referred to as Edgeworth and Co. Law Offices, the Co. being Eddie Fender (aka Ray Shields). Again, makes more sense.

* Rocky the bear is now Teddy, since his owner is now already Rocco as a Rocky reference.

* Anubis the hunting dog is now Helmut, a lame pun on "hell mutt".

* Astique the elephant is now Azea, like an "Asian" elephant.

* Ally the alligator is still the same. Regina Berry is not very good at naming animals.

[little-miss-doe]

Already overthinking the Vox Machina Stories Untold book ... here's the stories we know of so far:

The unicorn logo from Gilmore's Glorious Goods; "Shaun Gilmore reflects on the life he has chosen, as told by Aabria Iyengar."

Looks like the Raishan design from Legend of Vox Machina; "Raishan, racked by a pestilent curse, plots to release the Cinder King from his fiery prison, as told by Rory Power."

There's our best boy Trinket; "Trinket the Wonder Bear accompanies the next generation of Vox Machina on their first adventure, as told by Sarah Glenn Marsh."

Stories featuring Kaylie, Doty, and Kevdak are also in the list, which most likely correspond to the icons with flute for Kaylie, quill and ink for Doty, and one of the Titanstone Knuckles for Kevdak.

This leaves us with 4 remaining images:

The Sun Tree as depicted on the Whitestone/de Rolo iconography. Maybe something about the Sun Tree itself? or the history of Whitestone? or the de Rolo family?

A rifle with a scope. Maybe something about Percy building Bad News? or Ripley stuff? or the Whitestone Musketeers Rifle Corps?

Another dragon. This one doesn't fully match the profile of the dragon designs they've been using for the Legend of Vox Machina, like they've used for Raishan. It matches best with the Thordak design, so maybe this is a younger version?

Craven Edge in the design from Legend of Vox Machina. Maybe something about the history of Craven Edge? or maybe something about Sylas Briarwood or someone else that wielded it?

[featherbow]

Critical Role: Vox Machina--Stories Untold

Celebrate a decade of Critical Role with this anthology featuring the perspectives of ten characters who fought alongside—and against—Vox Machina.

The adventure began in 2015 with a group of friends sitting down in front of a camera to roll some dice, bring their characters to life, and tell a story that would become immortalized in their livestream tabletop roleplaying game: Critical Role. The crew known as Vox Machina fought necromancers and vampires, slew a conclave of mighty dragons, and became . . . well, basically gods.

            What started as a humble home game eventually grew into a worldwide phenomenon that has touched countless people with its poignant, larger-than-life storytelling—and in that same vein, this collection celebrates the characters whose lives were touched by Vox Machina but whose stories are yet to be told. Within its pages:

Shaun Gilmore reflects on the life he has chosen, as told by Aabria Iyengar.

Raishan, racked by a pestilent curse, plots to release the Cinder King from his fiery prison, as told by Rory Power.

Trinket the Wonder Bear accompanies the next generation of Vox Machina on their first adventure, as told by Sarah Glenn Marsh.

Plus seven more hilarious, heartbreaking, and heroic tales!

In these ten stories from ten contributors, see the legendary adventuring party anew through the eyes of some of the most memorable characters to have ever interacted with Vox Machina.

Featuring a foreword by cast member Liam O’Brien and stories by Jess Barber, Martin Cahill, Rebecca Coffindaffer, Aabria Iyengar, Sam Maggs, Sarah Glenn Marsh, Rory Power, Nibedita Sen, Izzy Wasserstein, and Kendra Wells.

criticalrolebooks.com

[ultimateempath]

rating ace attorney investigations 2 localization names, PART 2! Part one can be found HERE

Blaise Debeste --> Excelsius Winner

9/10. I wanna be mad, I really do, but I just can't. Excelsius is super over the top, but I think it's cool as hell. Why'd they give the shittiest character such a metal name-

Jay Elbird --> Rocco Carcerato

8/10! I like it, it fits him and it's fun to say. Plus he does look like a Rocco.

Rocky --> Teddy

5/10. Calling the bear character Teddy is super obvious and honestly just lazy. Come on now.

Astique --> Azea

9/10, a pretty name that's fitting for a circus elephant.

Ally --> unchanged

10/10, they knew better than to change it, no notes.

Sirhan Dogen --> Bodhidharma Kanis

10/10! I was a little apprehensive at first because of how fuckin long that name is, but I did a little research and I actually really like it! They named him after an actual legendary Buddhist monk and managed tasteful dog wordplay, they did him good.

Anubis --> Helmut

8/10. This is acceptable, I understand the meaning behind the name and it fits well! ..Also it's the same name as a Psychonauts character I love so I'm a little biased.

Patricia Roland --> Fifi Laguarde

7/10. It doesn't roll off the tongue as well, but it fits her and honestly she does act like a Fifi.

Delicia Scones --> Delicia Scone

10/10. They only changed one letter, true perfection.

Jeffrey Master --> Samson Tangaroa.

6/10. Eh...it's not necessarily bad, it just feels very off to me. I get what they were going for though and I appreciate that they put thought into it.

Katherine hall --> Judy Bound

9/10! Not what I expected, but it's a pretty name and it fits her well. I also how he surname Bound can be seen as a nod to how she and Samson are bound together in a way.

Dane Gustavia --> Carmelo Gusto

7/10. It fits him well and rolls off the tongue alright. I don't have anything else to say about it.

Isaac Dover --> Artie Frost

7/10. Very on the nose, but in a way that works well! I think it's fitting.

Pierre Hoquet --> Paul Halique

9/10! It stayed a P name and they moved the que to the surname, I'm happy with this!

Jill Crane --> Rosie Ringer

8/10, it's a pretty name and fits her very well. I also really like the alliteration, it's a fun touch.

Karin Jenson --> Florence Niedler

6.5/10. I get what they were going for, but I don't think it really fits her. She just doesn't look or act like a Florence to me. I like the surname though.

Bonnie Young --> Hilda Hertz

8/10. It's certainly more of an old lady name, but I think it fits pretty well.

John Marsh --> Shaun Fenn

9/10, I like it! They kept the wetland wordplay and I think the name fits him well enough! Plus Shaun is also the Irish variant of John, which is a fun tidbit.

[rivalsforlife]

first impressions post-completion on how I feel about the names. elaboration under cut:

In order from tiers:

Nicole Swift vs Tabby Lloyd: I never really got the "nicole swift" pun. tabby lloyd is fun

Patricia Roland vs Fifi Laguarde: We have three other characters that are puns on "patrol". Fifi is just fun and fits her overall fluffy appearance.

Justine Courtney vs Verity Gavelle: I think Verity is a more fun and memorable name overall. Some part of my brain is still stuck on Justine Courtney though.

Sebastian Debeste vs Eustace Winner: I know this will be a controversial one. I think Debeste is the superior last name but I love the name Eustace. I can't explain why. I think the hidden "useless" vs "excelling" pun added to these two names are what brings it sliiightly up from me.

Blaise Debeste vs Excelsius Winner: similar to Sebastian/Eustace, I think the first name is an improvement (I get the Blaise/Blaze but I feel like Excelsius calls back to the "Banzai" pun a little more with him). Last name is a downgrade though. If I could separate these out...

John Marsh vs Shaun Fenn: I was never super fond of the name John Marsh. Honestly Shaun Fenn isn't that much of an improvement? But it reminded me of the heavy rain glitch when people were yelling after him.

Skipping over the two that have the same names since it's self-explanatory:

Katherine Hall vs Judy Bound: Honestly I'm tempted to move Judy up a bit. I think they're both really good.

Dane Gustavia vs Carmelo Gusto: both of these never left much of an impression on me as names

Karin Jenson vs Florence Niedler: Both injection puns, don't have a strong preference either way

Sirhan Dogen vs Bodhidharma Kanis: They both have the dog/canine pun which is most important

Simon Keyes vs Simeon Saint: Simeon Saint isn't bad. But Simon Keyes has so many puns rolled into it that it's going to be a winner.

Jeff Master vs Samson Tangaroa: I'm still stuck on that one line of "Jeff Master the Master Chef"

Bonnie Young vs Hilda Hertz: I remember reading something a while ago that her jp name had something that sounded young in it. Which is why this is here.

Raymond Shields vs Eddie Fender: I just keep instinctively typing out "uncle ray" or "mr. shields". I love the sword/shield combo and "a defender" seems like the kind of name you'd give to a throwaway defense attorney and not a major character, to me.

Jay Elbird vs Rocco Carcerato: jailbird. what more could you ask for.

Horace Knightley vs Bronco Knight: HORSE KNIGHT. what more could you ask for.

my opinions may change with time but this is how I feel about it right now at the end of my first playthrough with the new names.

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

🔎 YA Under the Radar 7 🔍

I have been working on this list in the series all year 😂 it just took me that long to read a decent amount of underrated YA - but I got there in the end and I'm pretty happy with the recs on this list 🥰

there are rainbow flags next to LGBT+ rep, wheelchair symbols next to disability rep and koalas next to Australia YA simply because there's a lot of that on this particular list

so take a gander and maybe consider picking up a title or two (or ten) in 2024 to support lesser-known authors and books 😊

Take Me With You When You Go by David Levithan & Jennifer Niven 🏳️‍🌈

Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl by Brianna R Shrum & Sara Waxelbaum 🏳️‍🌈♿️

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli 🏳️‍🌈

To Break a Covenant by Alison Ames 🏳️‍🌈

It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames 🏳️‍🌈

Scout’s Honor by Lily Anderson 🏳️‍🌈

Grace Notes by Karen Comer 🐨

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch 🏳️‍🌈

Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew

After Dark With Roxie Clark by Brooke Lauren Davis

Blind Spot by Robyn Dennison 🐨

Melt With You by Jennifer Dugan 🏳️‍🌈

The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest ♿️

What We Harvest by Ann Fraistat

All Eyes On Us by Kit Frick 🏳️‍🌈

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey 🏳️‍🌈

The Lightness of Hands by Jeff Garvin ♿️

Then Everything Happens at Once by M-E Girard 🏳️‍🌈♿️

The Buried by Melissa Grey 🏳️‍🌈

Because of You by Pip Harry 🐨

The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl 🏳️‍🌈

Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson

Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June 🏳️‍🌈

Out of the Blue by Jason June 🏳️‍🌈

Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball by Jason June 🏳️‍🌈

Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko 🏳️‍🌈

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala 🏳️‍🌈

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

It Will End Like This by Kyra Leigh

Extasia by Claire Legrand

Ryan and Avery by David Levithan 🏳️‍🌈

Starlings by Amanda Linsmeier 🏳️‍🌈

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo 🏳️‍🌈

We Didn’t Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough 🐨

Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over by Miranda Luby 🐨

None Shall Sleep series by Ellie Marney 🐨

The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh ♿️

Our Last Echoes by Kate Alice Marshall

These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall 🏳️‍🌈

The Narrow by Kate Alice Marshall 🏳️‍🌈

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Mask of Shadows duology by Linsey Miller 🏳️‍🌈

Sugar by Carly Nugent ♿️🐨

All Our Hidden Gifts trilogy by Caroline O’Donoghue 🏳️‍🌈

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton

Lucky Girl by Jamie Pacton

The Vermilion Emporium by Jamie Pacton

Accidental by Alex Richards

Some Kind of Animal by Mar Romasco-Moore

Luminous by Mara Rutherford

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford

The Midnight Lie duology by Marie Rutkoski 🏳️‍🌈

Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore 🏳️‍🌈

When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw 🏳️‍🌈

If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So 🏳️‍🌈

Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon ♿️

Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester ♿️

Cold by Mariko Tamaki 🏳️‍🌈

Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi 🏳️‍🌈

The Weight of a Soul by Elizabeth Tammi

Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas ♿️

Violet Ghosts by Leah Thomas 🏳️‍🌈

The Comedienne’s Guide to Pride by Hayli Thomson 🏳️‍🌈🐨

The Siren, the Song and the Spy by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley 🏳️‍🌈

Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley 🏳️‍🌈

Nothing Sung and Nothing Spoken by Nita Tyndall 🏳️‍🌈♿️

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White 🏳️‍🌈

This Is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde 🏳️‍🌈♿️🐨

Where You Left Us by Rhiannon Wilde 🏳️‍🌈🐨

Two Can Play That Game by Leanne Yong🐨

Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia

[aimeeisdead]

aai2 names more or less confirmed and i have Thoughts on them so. Here. Spoilers i think

eddie fender - i mean me personally i wouldnt name a supporting character a name u would expect from a background character who happens to be a defence attorney but its also like not that bad like. it looks like a name that could exist probably.

verity gavèlle - 10/10 gorgeos no further comments

eustace winner - that is a name he would be called.

simeon saint - i think this is peak (fully biased) just bc it isnt drastically different + ur supposed to think he's just Some Guy who didn't do anything wrong in that case.

di-jun wang - pretty much the same as fanmade one so. yeah. idk i dont have any thoughts on this guy in general

tabby lloyd - massive win actually i really like this. like that is a really cute name i think.

bronco knight - chat this is my eustace winner. im not fucking calling him that.

bastian rook - close enough welcome back sebastian.

rocco carcerato - major improvement i would say

fifi laguarde - she looks more like a fifi than a patricia to me at least. like maybe laguarde is too obvious however i dont care here.

bodhidharma kanis - the kanis/dog part is obvious however i would have no idea what the rest of it meant without having someone on twitter explain why its peak.

samson tangaroa - same as above like i would also not have any idea if there was a joke or reference here. however there is and i think it works really well.

judy bound - i think it grew on me a bit but at the same time i do not like it. maybe if it was a nickname like i can see her as a judith.

paul halique - literally just the same as it was originally no comment

artie frost - i mean. the foreshadowing is good. i think artie should've been a nickname instead tho tbh.

carmelo gusto - i think gustavia sounded better as a name but i think they're about the same to me. It ok

delicia scone - aai2 fan translation sole survivor. i mean ik why she's called that in both of them i just think its funny

florence niedler - they cooked a bit too hard on a minor character i think. this isnt a complaint i really like it

hilda hertz - she also looks like a hilda more than a bonnie i can respect this. also hertz is funny.

rosie ringer - it is one half of a joke + the better half i think

excelsius winner - that is also a name he would be called i think.

shaun fenn - fenn/marsh connection was more obvious to me actually. idm it tho he looks like a shaun.

alf aldown - close enough welcome back deid mann. that is a pun first and a name second i think.

[fraeuleintaka]

Remaining new names in the official Investigations 2 Localisation - Cases 4+5

This is the 69th post in the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Countdown: 12 days left until release!

Today's topic: the remaining new names in the official Investigations 2 localisation from cases 4+5!

Continuing from my last countdown post I'm going to discuss all the remaining new names of the official Investigations 2 localisation meaning of the characters appearing in cases 4 and 5 and the new names of those cases. First, again, the characters:

Excelsius Winner (for Blaise Debeste): I was very anxious for this name considering I have my reservations about Eustace but I'm unexpectedly happy with what they chose for his father. "Excelsius" is a wonderfully fitting exotic first name for a self-obsessed person like Blaise. There's the similar sound to "excellent" and the Latin root of the word itself "excelsus" which are both exactly what Blaise thinks of himself and there's even a reference to his flame association with "celsius" being part of the name. I still overall prefer "Blaise Debeste" because his name is inextricably linked with that of his son but apart from that his official name is excellent! 😁

Florence Niedler (for Karin Jenson): "Niedler" sounds like "needle" or "needler" referencing her habit of wanting to give injections for everything which is also the reference the fan translation goes for with "Jenson" being a play on "injection". "Florence" is apparently comes from Florence Nightingale (the founder of modern nursing) whereas "Karin" is a play on "caring". From their meanings I'd consider both names equal, maybe with a slight edge to the official localisation. I'm more used to the fan translated name obviously so I slightly prefer its sound but that will very likely change with time.

Hilda Hertz (for Bonnie Young): Her full official name is a play on "heal the hurts" which is very fitting for the director of a hospital (Hertz Hospital in the official localisation). Her fan translated name has "Bonnie" meaning "pretty" which goes for the same meaning as her Japanese given name and "Young" in contrast to her age and to make the joke with the hospital's name being "Dye-Young Clinic" (die young). In a similar case to Karin I think both choices work really well and don't really prefer one over the other. I like the "die young" joke slightly more but that's about it.

Rosie Ringer (for Jill Crane): Both versions of her name reference a nursery rhyme, her official one to "Ring Around the Rosie" and her fan translated one to "Jack and Jill". The fan translation additionally references her Japanese name with "Crane". Since she's "just" a victim I don't have that strong of an attachement to Jill Crane's name but I do prefer the fan translated one for a few reasons. The biased one is that "Ringer" just sounds like a weird surname for her, the more significant one is that "Jack and Jill" works so well as an analogy for what happens to her and her boyfriend ("Jack fell down and broke his crown; and Jill came tumbling after"). The shared reference of both their names is still kept in the official localisation but I do like that the rhyme being referenced has a fitting meaning in the fan translation. That's such a good idea.

Shaun Fenn (for John Marsh): I have to admit, I've never been a fan of his fan translated name because it seemed to have no properly fitting meaning or reference. "Marsh" references his Japanese surname (which translates to "fellow swamp") and that is also the reference the official name kept with "Fenn" but John has nothing at all to do with swamps so why that meaning? At least his official name has "Shaun" sounding a little like "son" which is very plot relevant in his case so that, by definition, has to get the edge for me here.

Amelie Fenn (for Amy Marsh): I have the same criticism for her as I do for John's name and "Amy" and "Amelie" seem to have no meaning either apart from being similar to her Japanese given name "Ami". Maybe "Amelie" sounds a little bit like "family" referencing her close relationship to Justine (Verity)? I honestly have no idea but therefore also no preference either way.

Alf Aldown / Hugo Holderbusch (for Jack Cameron): As I described for Jill Crane's name, their names both share a reference to a nursery rhyme in both the official localisation and the fan translation. I already said why I prefer the chosen reference in the fan translation but his name there also has an additional meaning with "Cameron" referencing his camera and his job as a journalist. He is "just" a victim but I still think the name works better overall than the official one. In German he has a different name, Hugo Holderbusch, because the text of the nursery rhyme is different so his name is changed to reference the German text. (Rosie Ringer works in both languages.) And "Hugo Holderbusch" sounds so ridiculous to me that I almost prefer it again 😄

Da-Long Lang (for Dai-Long Lang): Since the method of how his English name was chosen in the fan translation is the same as the one used for his son Shi-Long Lang in the official localisation (the Mandarin Chinese reading of the kanji of their Japanese names) I expected there wouldn't be much difference between Dai-Long's fan translated and official name. His Japanese given name means "big dragon" which is wonderfully fitting for the father of a character whose given name means "warrior" and "dragon", with their surname meaning "wolf", naturally. "Da-Long" is more accurate but "Dai-Long" flows a little better imo without really changing the meaning. So I do prefer his fan translated name just the tiniest little bit but they're so similar that it really doesn't matter much.

Now for the cases:

A Turnabout Forsaken (The Forgotten Turnabout): Oh wow, another banger of a title! The meaning is relatively similar, as expected, but the official title gets a lot more creative with it. "Forgotten" mostly just references the amnesia plot which is admittedly one of the most significant parts of the case so it's definitely not a bad choice. However, "A Turnabout Forsaken" goes for much more than that, it could still be read as alluding to that plotline but it focuses much more on the desperation you feel throughout the entire case, how Miles refuses to give up on Kay even when she does so herself and how he gives up pretty much everything else to follow his conviction for the truth against bending to corruption. The official title gets these themes across wonderfully! I also love that they didn't just go with the simpler version "The Forsaken Turnabout" but really drove home the impact of the case with the more unusual construction "A Turnabout Forsaken".

Turnabout for the Ages (The Grand Turnabout): And here I thought "The Grand Turnabout" was an epic title for the best case in the series! It's a great reference to the main location the case takes place at (the "Grand Tower" in the fan translation) but it's also a perfect description of the case itself because no other case in the entire series matches how amazing, epic and truly grand it is. I love that title choice! However, ... "Turnabout for the Ages" is a-ma-zing! Incredible! Perfect! (It loses the location reference but that's honestly a good thing considering the official name of said location. "Bigg Building" is horrible, I hate it.) If there was ever a case title that communicates that this is peak Ace Attorney and you will never experience anything like it again, it's this one. It says "Okay, this turnabout is like nothing before or after it, there will be books written about this and those who experienced it will remember it forever". And that truly is the level of epic this case operates on! They couldn't have chosen a more fitting and wonderfully unique name! It's brilliant, I love it!

[deadlydelicious]

Ok guys i'ma bit stuck. I have three books burning a hole in my physical TBR list and I cannot decide what the reach for so...

Here are the links to the goodreads for each, plus the backcover copy

The Helm of Midnight - In a daring and deadly heist, thieves have made away with an artifact of terrible power--the death mask of Louis Charbon. Made by a master craftsman, it is imbued with the spirit of a monster from history, a serial murderer who terrorized the city with a series of gruesome murders. Now Charbon is loose once more, killing from beyond the grave. But these murders are different from before, not simply random but the work of a deliberate mind probing for answers to a sinister question. It is up to Krona Hirvath and her fellow Regulators to enter the mind of madness to stop this insatiable killer while facing the terrible truths left in his wake.

Our Share of Night - A young father and son set out on a road trip, devastated by the death of the wife and mother they both loved. United in grief, the pair travel to her ancestral home, where they must confront the terrifying legacy she has bequeathed: a family called the Order that commits unspeakable acts in search of immortality. For Gaspar, the son, this maniacal cult is his destiny. As the Order tries to pull him into their evil, he and his father take flight, attempting to outrun a powerful clan that will do anything to ensure its own survival. But how far will Gaspar’s father go to protect his child? And can anyone escape their fate? Moving back and forth in time, from London in the swinging 1960s to the brutal years of Argentina’s military dictatorship and its turbulent aftermath, Our Share of Night is a novel like no other: a family story, a ghost story, a story of the occult and the supernatural, a book about the complexities of love and longing with queer subplots and themes. This is the masterwork of one of Latin America’s most original novelists, “a mesmerizing writer,” says Dave Eggers, “who demands to be read.

The Dissonance - "You can never go home again," the saying goes—but Hal, Athena, and Erin have to. In high school, the three were students of the eccentric Professor Marsh, trained in a secret system of magic known as the Dissonance, which is built around harnessing negative emotions: alienation, anger, pain. Then, twenty years ago, something happened that shattered their coven, scattering them across the country, stuck in mundane lives, alone. But now, terrifying signs and portents (not to mention a pointed Facebook invite) have summoned them back to Clegg, Texas. There, their paths will collide with that of Owen, a closeted teenager from Alabama whose aborted cemetery seance with his crush summoned something far worse: a murderous entity whose desperate, driving purpose includes kidnapping Owen to serve as its Renfield. As Owen tries to outwit his new master, and Hal, Athena, and Erin reckon with how the choices they made as teens might connect to the apocalyptic event unfurling over the Lone Star State, shocking alliances form, old and new romances brew, and three unsuccessful adults and one frightened teen are all that stand between reality and oblivion.

[simshousewindsor]

FIRE AND ICE

[Royal Lodge, Buckingsimshire 9:19 PM WST]

Deon Waters [Crew]: Captain, power is off in the other two units. We’re clear.

Jermaine Askew [Captain]: Great. Bring the truck back up now. I’ll do the final all clear on this one with Shaun.

Princess Lara: I’m so glad the rain stopped.

Queen Katherine: Had the fire gotten worse, the rain may have helped.

Princess Lara: Either way, we were just vacated from our home due to a fire! Had Anna and Marsh not invited us to dinner, we would have been here!

Prince Rainier: This could have been much worse, Kate.

Jermaine Askew [Captain]: I agree, Your Majesty. These townhomes had been vacant for so many years, a fire like this was bound to happen. Thankfully, this unit was vacant. A thorough inspection of all three is highly recommended.

Queen Katherine: (somber) Mom was planning to move here next week. This is a disaster.

Princess Anna: (somber) The children are going to be devastated we have to move again. I do not want to go back to Kently with my parents, and Leo and Jazmyn.

Queen Katherine: You’re all staying at the palace tonight. We’ll sort the rest out in the morning. I’m sure there are options!

Prince Rainier: I’ll call the palace to have rooms prepared.

- - - - - THE NEXT DAY - - - - -

[Buckingsim Palace, Buckingsimshire 8:56 AM WST]

Princess Lara: I’m going to tell Kate we’d like to go back to Broderick House. It makes more sense now!

Prince Anthony: They made us move last year because it was too expensive. What makes you think anything has changed now, especially with every dollar being watched to cover the coronation.

Princess Lara: Broderick House was gifted to us by daddy!

Prince Anthony:...but we can't afford it, Lara! We only receive §1.1million simoleons a year from the Duchy. Security, alone, was §250k!

Princess Lara: I’m going to request an increase from the duchy. Time’s are changing and it’s only fair. Kate expects me to help her with so much but not allow me time to do any of my own charities. You can't even take photography clients anymore!

Prince Anthony: You always let your family run over you. What makes you think Kate won't bully you into taking your request back or worse, bully you into something bigger?

Princess Lara: I know how to say no!

Prince Anthony: Someone’s gotten a little fire inside of them. If you say so, Lara. You love your sister too much to tell her no.

- - - - - LATER - - - - -

Princess Lara: I still can't get over how well the remodel looks, Kate. Why did daddy never approve this?

Queen Katherine: He never got around to it. I had so much free time while on maternity leave at Beaverdam to catch up on all of his plans and finally make overdue decisions like approving the remodel.

Princess Lara: All of his plans?

Queen Katherine: Daddy had plans outside of just being sovereign.

Princess Lara: (hesitant) okay...

Queen Katherine: I’ll catch you up over breakfast. We’ve been so busy since I got back, we haven't had alone time long enough to catch up since Christmas. The fire has, at least, given us a day to stop and do that. I also have some other things to discuss.

- - - - - LATER - - - - -

Prince Anthony: I can't believe His late Majesty had so many awards.

Prince Rainier: Along with personal treasures he amassed, he kept his awards up here! As Prince of Brindleton Bay, he was a huge environmentalist.

Prince Anthony:...and as sovereign he wasn't?

Prince Rainier: (laughs) You know what I mean. That was before the Crown didn't allow him to be as vocal about certain issues, like politics. Neutrality and all.

Prince Anthony: Are those journals of Edward I? That’s his cypher, right?

Prince Rainier: Yes. There is also a journal of Albert II up there. The larger collections are housed in the royal archives.

Prince Rainier:  Let’s have a drink in the billiard room. I’d like to discuss something with you.

Prince Anthony: (shocked) It’s not even noon.

Prince Rainier: So, that’s a yes! Bourbon or Hennessy over ice?  

- - - - - LATER - - - - -

Queen Katherine: ...so, daddy may have found something important the night before he died about where the stone is, and now the Grand Duchess of Glimmerbrook wants to meet with me.

Princess Lara: Oh, daddy! What was he thinking? He hid this from everyone. No wonder mom has stayed in mourning for so long!

Queen Katherine: I still can't believe Royal Lodge caught on fire! To think, had this happened next week mom would have been living in that vacant unit.

Princess Lara: Yes. Speaking of, Anthony and I...

Queen Katherine: Oh, Anthony! I know how happy you both had been there, and being close to Anna. It doesn't appear we will get approval for occupancy on the two units that weren't harmed until renovations are complete on the one that was.

Princess Lara: Anthony and I think it would be best if we went back to Broderick House. Daddy gifted it to us on my wedding day. Why not now?

Queen Katherine: Didn't parliament deny the request last year for additional security, and the duchy decline the increase requested to pay for security?

Princess Lara: Yes, but...

Queen Katherine: Daddy and I actually discussed this after parliament denied the request, and why his hands were tied. You see, as a Countess you receive the maximum amount allowed from the duchy. What he wasn't allowed to do then, I am allowed to do now. I can elevate Anthony’s title! The Boykins title was always meant to be a dukedom not an earldom designated to the monarchs fifth son, and since I’m done birthing children.

Princess Lara: (excited) Really?

Queen Katherine: Of course! A dukedom would be entitled to a larger amount from the duchy, and after my approval, be able to assume Broderick House as residence. You’re the only sibling to the monarch, and I’m going to need you and Anthony supporting Rainier and I now even more than ever!

Princess Lara: (somber) Oh! I... I’d need to talk this over with Anthony.

Queen Katherine: Rainier is talking to him now!

Previous | Beginning | Next - continue Heir Ascent (story)

Previous | Beginning | Next - continue Second Place Countess (story)

[three-out-of-four]

AUNTIE SHAUN, CAITLIN, UNCLE MARSH-

YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY!

I FOUND MY FUCKIN' DAD AND HE'S A KAHUNA.

-@thetravelingymleader

…what…?

Wait what’s happening??

WHAT??? YOU FOUND HIM??? OHHHH TRUTH OHHHH IDEALS HOLY SHIT—

IS HE NICE??

IS HE TREATING YOU WELL???

…

KAHUNA?????????

[nevinslibrary]

Totally Youthful Tuesday

In Pender, when a kid goes missing in October, its blamed on a monster in the marshes. The Mumbler. Clara doesn’t believe that’s true. But, while she doesn’t believe in the monster, there are definitely kids that are missing, and so she does believe that there’s something going on in Pender, Maine.

This novel was a fun combination of a lot of different things. Halloween (the feeling of it really came through in the text), urban legends, and teenagers in a small town (which at least in fiction can make teens do weird things). It was another slow burn of a thriller (this week seems to be the week for them), and the author did it really well. The characters again were great, and not exactly the same sort of characters that are seen in the most popular other YA books. It was a fun (and chilling) read.

You may like this book If you Liked: Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas, Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson, or Secrets So Deep by Ginny Myers Sain

The Missing Season by Gillian French