#solstice awards. ⠀ ⠀ ▬▬ ⠀ summer solstice.

[geopsych]

Looking east at sunrise and west at moonset this morning. I often mention solstice and equinoxes but haven’t talked about the 18.6 year lunar cycle. In the lower picture you can see the moon above the now-bare ginkgo trees. This is where the sun sets at summer solstice. The lunar movements are much more complicated than the sun’s, its rising and setting changing in the course of each month, but the larger lunar cycle means that within a year and a half it will reach lunar standstill and I’ll see the moon set even further right/north, probably over those conifers behind the old Martin Guitar factory, and then slowly proceed to the left/south back down Main Street.

Ancient people observed and knew about this cycle. Some megalithic and other ancient monuments were built with this in mind, maybe most famously the Octagon Earthworks at Newark, Ohio, part of the newly awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site. But I like that you and I can observe it from my upstairs window!

[talonabraxas]

“Inti” Shamanic Sun Worship

Sun Worship Much Inca architecture was designed and built to assist in the worship of the Sun, Moon and stars. The Inca often built pillars which marked the position of the Sun at the solstices, which were celebrated by grand festivals. The Inca lords would preside at such festivals. In the great temple of the Sun, a high-ranking Inca woman – generally the sister of the reigning Inca, if one were available – was in charge of the cloistered women who served as the Sun’s “wives.” The priests observed holy days such as solstices and prepared the appropriate sacrifices and offerings.

Eclipses Theca could not predict solar eclipses, and when one occurred, it tended to trouble them greatly. The diviners would attempt to figure out why Inti was displeased, and sacrifices would be offered. The Inca rarely practiced human sacrifice, but an eclipse sometimes was considered cause to do so. The reigning Inca would often fast for days after an eclipse and withdraw from public duties.

Inti Raymi One of the most important religious events of the Inca was Inti Ramyi, the annual festival of the sun. It took place in the seventh month of the Inca Calendar on June 20 or 21, the date of the Summer Solstice. Inti Raymi was celebrated all over the Empire, but the main celebration took place in Cuzco, where the reigning Inca would preside over the ceremonies and festivities. It opened with the sacrifice of 100 llamas selected for brown fur. The festival lasted for several days. Statues of the Sun God and other gods were brought out, dressed up and paraded around and sacrifices were made to them. There was much drinking, singing and dancing. Special statues were made of wood, representing certain gods: these were burned at the end of the festival. After the festival, the ashes of the statues and sacrifices were brought to a special place on a hillside: only those disposing of these ashes were ever allowed to go there.

Inca Sun Worship The Inca Sun god was relatively benign: he was not destructive or violent like some Aztec Sun Gods like Tonatiuh or Tezcatlipoca. He only showed his wrath when there was an eclipse, at which point the Inca priests would sacrifice people and animals to appease him.

The Spanish priests considered Sun Worship to be pagan at best (and thinly-disguised Devil worship at worst) and went to great lengths to stamp it out. Temples were destroyed, idols burned, festivals forbade. It is a grim testament to their zeal that very few Andeans practice any sort of traditional religion today.

Most of the great Inca goldwork at the Cuzco Temple of the Sun and elsewhere found its way into the melting fires of the Spanish conquistadors - countless artistic and cultural treasures were melted down and shipped to Spain. Father Bernabé Cobo tells the story of one Spanish soldier named Manso Serra who was awarded a massive Inca sun idol as his share of Atahualpa's Ransom. Serra lost the idol gambling and its eventual fate is unknown.

Inti is enjoying a bit of a comeback lately. After centuries of being forgotten, Inti Raymi is once more being celebrated in Cuzco and other parts of the former Inca Empire. The festival is popular among native Andeans, who see it as a way to reclaim their lost heritage, and tourists, who enjoy the colorful dancers.

[zenkindoflove]

Summer Heat - Ch 5 (Elucien WIP)

Title: Summer Heat

Relationship: Elain/Lucien

Rating: E

Status: Multichapter - WIP

Summary: Summer Court is hosting the Summer Solstice Summit and the Night Court is sending their best emissaries to attend. It will be Elain's first time mingling in another court, and it's a good thing she has an expert guiding her: the mate she's been ignoring for the last two years.

Post-ACOSF, Elucien, Multi-chapter.

READ ON AO3

Chapter 5 excerpt

Lucien gazed at her, marveling at her beauty cast in front of the sunset. Her bright smile scrunched up her freckled nose in a way that made his heart hurt. He felt drunk on the laughter they shared. It was a side to her he hadn’t seen before, and he wanted to spend the rest of his existence making her laugh like that.

“Are you having a nice evening?” he asked, seeking reassurance that she felt as joyful as he did.

“Yes,” her face lit up as she looked back at him. “I’ve never had an experience like that before. Thank you.”

“No, thank you. You certainly won the award for most charming dinner companion. Whenever I’m sad, I’m going to think about the face you made biting into that squid to cheer me up.”

“Stop it!” Elain swatted his arm and giggled as Lucien grabbed her hands in his, using the excuse of defending himself from her assault to rub his thumb over her knuckles.

“I think I was pretty brave, all things considering.”

“You were, my lady. I’m very impressed.” 

[frodothefair]

Does the Shire do like a.. well, I guess not an independence Day a la *from Britain*, but like a patriotic holiday? I guess there might be more incentive for one after the war of the ring and all, especially since I know that our little not-leaving trio shuffle things in the Shire politically a bit after the war and I'm sure they'd like to honor everyone's sacrifice/bravery/trauma. Then again, was there like already a Shire Day or something? and they'd make like a veterans and/or memorial day after the story? god, i hope they'd put a little more into either than a deep discount on mattresses. like a town shindig or something!

💐 ASK ME about my headcanons about hobbits and the Shire! 💐

Great question!

Before the War of the Ring, I doubt the hobbits were "patriotic" as we understand the term. They loved their land, surely, but they expressed that love through the tilling of the earth, and by enjoying its boons. They did not need a special day to honor who they were and where they came from.

If there were holidays that celebrated the "Shire-ness" of the Shire, those were probably Midsummer and the Harvest Festival.

Midsummer took place around the time of the summer solstice, and was a time of bonfires, dancing, singing, maypoles, drinking ales, and of course feasting. The days were long, and the flowers plentiful, so it was also a popular time for weddings. Because of the profusion of flowers, there was also a big flower market at around that time, where awards were given for the finest specimens, and enthusiasts could purchase bulbs and cuttings.

(image credit)

The Harvest Festival was similar to the "county fair" experience in our time. It took place in late September, and by that point, the crops would come in, and the farmers would gather to showcase their finest crops, their finest animals, and their finest wares (from canned goods, to pies, to woodwork), again with prizes being awarded. It was also a time to see family from the far corners of the Shire, hold sports and other competitions, and of course eat. I am sure that there was even a prize for the largest mushroom found in the woods.

(image credit)

After the War of the Ring, things changed, and a new holiday was introduced: Remembrance Day. A natural time for this was November 3rd, the anniversary of the Battle of Bywater. This was a time to honor those fallen in that battle, but also the sacrifice of those who lived through the Scouring. It was a time to tell family stories that centered around those events, as well as the story of the four hobbits who expelled the Ruffians and Sharkey from the Shire.

Remembrance Day was a more solemn occasion. There was feasting as well, but also trips to the cemetery to honor the dead, and pictures, candles, and flowers displayed in homes commemorating both the living and the dead. Food and drink would be left out at special altars throughout the night, or simply at a vacant seat at the table, to remember those who died of hunger and other privations, and those who were starved and ill-used in the Lockholes.

Bonus: When hobbits visit their loved ones at the cemetery, they always bring the favorite food and drink of the deceased to leave at the grave. For this and other reasons, hobbits maintain detailed registers of their loved ones' favorite meals.

[tarjeismoeworknews]

FURIA season 2

Caught in a web of deception, Ragna is branded as the very enemy she's hunting. Join her and the unyielding Asgeir in a race from the Arctic's icy breath to the heartbeats of Budapest and Warsaw, to unravel a deadly plot and clear her tarnished name.

Furia resurrects and once again undercover agents, Ragna and Asgeir must fight the notorious right-wing terrorists that threaten Europe with destruction. Ragna’s true identity is revealed to the world by someone trying to frame her, making everyone believe she is Furia, the right-wing terrorist that she is battling. She is now both the hunter and the hunted. With her uncompromising partner, Asgeir by her side, she is forced into a race against time to foil a new terrorist plot that takes them from the Arctic to Budapest and from there, into the heart of Warsaw.

In the series Tarjei plays Tarje, Ragna's brother.

Genres: Thriller, Drama, Crime, Nordic Noir

Duration: 6 x 50’

Language: Norwegian, English, German

Cast: Pål Sverre Hagen, Ine Marie Wilmann, Boryz Szyc

Director: Magnus Martens, Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen, Michal Rogalski

Scriptwriter: Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen

Delivery Info: Q4 2023

Created by the Emmy award-winning Gjermund Eriksen (Mammon), the gripping second season of the political thriller FURIA is expertly directed by Magnus Martens (Banshee) Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen and Michał Rogalski (Summer Solstice) with Pål Sverre Hagen (Kon-Tiki), Ine Marie Wilmann (Sonja: The White Swan), Boryz Szyc (Oscar-nominated Cold War) leading the outstanding cast.

source: Viaplay Content Distribution

[rainbowsky]

BXG Calendar

There are a lot of dates that are significant to BXG, either for CPN reasons, because of their significance for GG and DD, or because of the GG and DD content we can expect to see at those times. There are also some Chinese festivals BXG might be interested in knowing about. I'll keep this updated as a handy reference.

Fake, fan fiction, CPN.

BXG Calendar

January

Weibo Night - An annual awards show that generally takes place in early January, but COVID has interfered with that lately. This is one of the few events we can expect both GG and DD to attend.

Chūnjié (pronounced tchwun-jaih) - Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) - First day of the Lunisolar Calendar (usually sometime between Jan 20 and Feb 20). Often there is a gala or event where GG and/or DD perform. There will also usually be posts from them, photos etc. GG and DD likely get to spend time together and with family, eating a lot of good food.

23 January - Lan Wangji's birthday.

February

14 February - Valentine's Day - Chinese people seem to love Valentine's Day, and they celebrate a few different ones throughout the year. The Western Valentine's Day is one of them. We will see some Valentine's themed ads from GG and DD around this time.

Spring Festival (see January for more info).

Yuanxiaojie (pronounced yuwen-shao-jiah) - Lantern Festival - On the first full moon after the new year, two weeks after Chinese New Year (usually in Feb). Lantern Festival marks the end of Spring Festival. GG and DD will sometimes post greetings or other content on this day.

March

14 March - 3/14 - The anniversary of the XNINE DDU episode where we first saw GG and DD together. A very special day for BXG, many of whom believe it's the day GG and DD first met.

28 March - Anniversary of Wuji Recording - Wuji was recorded on this date in 2019, and is special to BXG in part because GG and DD were able to record together. Fans celebrate this day by sharing videos and fan art, and Lin Hai (the composer) will post something commemorating the date.

April

4-6 April - Qingming (pronounced tching-mieng) - Chinese holiday where family tombs/graves are swept and fresh offerings laid out, paper money burned and firecrackers set off to scare away evil spirits. This festival marks beginning of spring and is associated with kite flying.

28 April - Anniversary of the BJYX supertopic, which opened on 28 April 2018.

May

17th May - International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia - celebrating and advocating for queer rights worldwide.

20 May - 520 - One of the many Chinese Valentine's Days. Based on the kadian 520 for wo ai ni or, 'I love you'. We will usually see a lot of Valentine's themed ads from GGDD, they may even drop candies, and we get a lot of CPN from BXG.

June

Pride Month

1 June - Children's Day - A government holiday that celebrates children. GG and DD always post for Children's Day, and we get to see cute pictures of them as children and sometimes hear cute stories about them as children.

Duanwujie (pronounced twan-woo-jiah) - Dragon Boat Festival - 5th day of the 5th Lunisolar month (otherwise known as Double 5th), which happens right around Summer Solstice (Solstice falls around 20-22 June). Zongzi are eaten, and GG and DD almost always post something around this time.

22 June - 622 - Widely believed to be GGDD's anniversary, or a date of similar special significance to them. There's always a lot of CPN, art and other content shared by BXG around this time.

27 June - 627 - CQL Anniversary - We see a lot of art and posts from BXG and sometimes posts from cast/crew at this time.

July

Yuehua Family Concert - Yuehua is DD's management company. They hold an annual concert featuring stars signed to the company, usually in July. Unfortunately in 2022 COVID interfered with those plans.

August

5 August - DD's Birthday - An incredibly special day. We'll usually get a lot of new content featuring DD, brands will post messages of celebration, BXG and other fans will go all out with posts and art, and often there will be candy dropped.

Qixi Festival (pronounced tchee-shee) - Chinese Valentine's Day - Another Valentine's day, taking place on the 7th day of 7th month of the Lunisolar calendar (usually sometime in August). GG and DD will usually be featured in a lot of Valentine's Day themed advertising around this time, and BXG post a lot of CPN, art and photos in celebration of the day.

September

5 September - BXG Day - DD's birthday falls on the 5th of August, GG's on the 5th of October, so BXG day is in between on this date. 9/5 is also special to BXG because GG and DD are believed to be 95% compatible. Turtles will celebrate and GG and DD will often drop candies.

Zhongqiujie (pronounced jhong-choe-jiah) - Mid-Autumn Festival, Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival - Annual harvest festival similar to Western thanksgiving, celebrated on the full moon. People get together with family to eat and celebrate, and mooncakes are traditionally eaten. A gala event is aired on TV featuring performances and variety show elements. DD performed for the gala in 2022. Brands release a lot of interesting ads during this time of year. GG and DD post greetings as well.

15 September - DD's Debut Anniversary - DD debuted 15 September, 2014. Always a fun day. Yibo Official will post something honoring DD's years as a star, and fans and brands will post in celebration of the day.

28 September - GG's Debut Anniversary - GG debuted 28 September, 2016. GG's studio will post something in honor of GG's years as a star, and fans and brands will post celebrating the day.

29 September - Xiao Zhan Studio Anniversary - Xiao Zhan Studio was launched on 29 September 2019. GG's studio usually releases a video showing all the progress made in the previous years.

October

5 October - GG's Birthday - An incredibly special day. We get a lot of new content from GG, usually multiple photo shoots with gorgeous photos and new looks, videos, art and other great content from him and from fans and brands. We'll usually get some good candy too.

31 October - Wei Wuxian's birthday.

November

11 November - Singles Day aka Double 11 - The 11th day of the 11th month. A day for single people to treat themselves to gifts, and for people to get together or get engaged. This is a big shopping day in China (actually one of the biggest shopping days in the world). There is usually a gala or event where DD and/or GG may perform. We get a lot of new brand content from them as there is always a lot of advertising leading up to this date.

December

Tencent Starlight Awards - Usually held sometime in late December, but COVID has interfered with that lately. One of the few events we can generally expect both GG and DD to attend.

25 December - Christmas - They'll be involved in a lot of advertising around Christmastime so they'll usually be pretty active and we get a lot of new brand content from them.

30 December - DD's Latest Song Release - DD releases a new song every year on 30 December and usually performs it on New Year's Eve. Promotional materials usually start appearing around Christmas.

31 December - New Year's Eve - GG and DD usually have NYE performances, so we'll get to see them sing, dance, etc. and they'll post a lot of photos of their outfits and New Year's wishes for their fans. They will do their customary chong ya pose as well.

I'm sure I've probably forgotten something, so if you think of anything that you believe should be on this list (or if you find an error), please let me know! 😊

[rockislandadultreads]

Science Fiction & Fantasy: Sapphic Picks

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

It's 1853 London. Ex-medical student Victor Frankenstein has been missing for years now. Frankenstein's great niece Mary Saville and her husband, Henry, are trying to follow in his scientific footsteps and become renowned paleontologists. They have the brains and the ambition; the only thing they lack is the reputation. Mary is a woman with a sharp mind but a fierce tongue and Henry is an unemployed gambling addict: none of this earning appeal with their peers. But after finding clues to her great uncle's disappearance, Mary's luck may just change. She constructs a plan that will force the scientific community to take her and her husband seriously; no one will be able to ignore them after they learn to create life. Once they have successfully constructed their Creature, Henry's ambition soars, but Mary finds herself asking deeper, more important questions than she's ever confronted before. As Henry's desire for fame grows, Mary must decide how far she is willing to go to protect the Creature she has grown to love.

Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

If you look hard enough at old photographs, we're there in the background: healers in the trenches; Suffragettes; Bletchley Park oracles; land girls and resistance fighters. Why is it we help in times of crisis? We have a gift. We are stronger than Mundanes, plain and simple. At the dawn of their adolescence, on the eve of the summer solstice, four young girls--Helena, Leonie, Niamh and Elle--took the oath to join Her Majesty's Royal Coven, established by Queen Elizabeth I as a covert government department. Now, decades later, the witch community is still reeling from a civil war and Helena is now the reigning High Priestess of the organization. Yet Helena is the only one of her friend group still enmeshed in the stale bureaucracy of HMRC. Elle is trying to pretend she's a normal housewife, and Niamh has become a country vet, using her powers to heal sick animals. In what Helena perceives as the deepest betrayal, Leonie has defected to start her own more inclusive and intersectional coven, Diaspora. And now Helena has a bigger problem. A young warlock of extraordinary capabilities has been captured by authorities and seems to threaten the very existence of HMRC. With conflicting beliefs over the best course of action, the four friends must decide where their loyalties lie: with preserving tradition, or doing what is right. Juno Dawson explores gender and the corrupting nature of power in a delightful and provocative story of magic and matriarchy, friendship and feminism. Dealing with all the aspects of contemporary womanhood, as well as being phenomenally powerful witches, Niamh, Helena, Leonie and Elle may have grown apart but they will always be bound by the sisterhood of the coven.

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Alex Green is a young girl in a world much like ours, except for its most seminal event: the Mass Dragoning of 1955, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprouted wings, scales, and talons; left a trail of fiery destruction in their path; and took to the skies. Was it their choice? What will become of those left behind? Why did Alex’s beloved aunt Marla transform but her mother did not? Alex doesn’t know. It’s taboo to speak of. Forced into silence, Alex nevertheless must face the consequences of this astonishing event: a mother more protective than ever; an absentee father; the upsetting insistence that her aunt never even existed; and watching her beloved cousin Bea become dangerously obsessed with the forbidden. In this timely and timeless speculative novel, award-winning author Kelly Barnhill boldly explores rage, memory, and the tyranny of forced limitations.

Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood

Each spring, Ithaca condemns twelve maidens to the noose. This is the price vengeful Poseidon demands for the lives of Queen Penelope’s twelve maids, hanged and cast into the depths centuries ago. But when that fate comes for Leto, death is not what she thought it would be. Instead, she wakes on a mysterious island and meets a girl with green eyes and the power to command the sea. A girl named Melantho, who says one more death can stop a thousand. The prince of Ithaca must die—or the tides of fate will drown them all. Sarah Underwood weaves an epic tapestry of lies, love, and tragedy, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller, Alexandra Bracken, and Renée Ahdieh.

[seasonsofcapri]

Rules & Guidelines

Schedule:

Prompting Opens: 11th June 2023 (Closes 23rd June) 

Claiming Opens: 24th June 2023

Submissions due: 2nd September 2023

Posting Starts: 9th September 2023

About:

The Seasons of CaPri Captive Prince Fest is a fest to imagine and explore the seasons and festivals—whether it’s dreaming up in-world feasts and solstices, or throwing your faves into summer flings at the beach, or getting stuck in the snow in December! This year the theme is Cycles and Circles. Life and death; the waxing and waning of relationships; peace and war—or something else? How to interpret this is entirely up to you!

All ships are welcome, as well as all genres. All types of fanworks are eligible—fic, art, podfics, graphics, or moodboards. Collaborations welcome!

Rules:

All participants must be 18+, no exceptions. Please abide by your local laws when creating content.

Minimum word count is 500, no maximum. 

All creators must have an AO3 account. 

This is not an anonymous fest, so chatting about your creation is encouraged! But we do ask that all fanwork is new, complete, and created especially for the fest (so no WIPs, sequels/prequels, or previously-published works). 

When you submit, your fic will be put into the fest collection and hidden until reveals—this way we can make sure every creation gets its own moment to shine and be celebrated!

Prompting:

Prompting opens 11th June 2023 at 1pm GMT (what time is that for me?).

You may submit as many prompts as you want. You do not have to be creating a work for the fest in order to post a prompt. Anyone can prompt!

You can either prompt anonymously or include your name with the prompt.

Prompt format will be as follows: 

Prompter name: 

Prompt:

Ship:

Special Requests/Squicks: (this is where you list any extra prompt details, or squicks you may have—make sure you specify which is which! Please be aware that the person claiming your prompt is not required to adhere to these)

Unless specified otherwise, we will assume all prompts are open to all ratings.

You can find the prompting form here. (The form will open at 1pm GMT)

Prompts are available to view here.

Prompting closes 23rd June 2023 (noon, GMT). 

Self prompting is welcome, but you don’t need to send in a form - just put the details into a claiming email to us along with the same prompt info as above and we can add it to our records! We will be capping participants at 50, due to the fest workload we can reasonably manage, so knowing you’re self-prompting means we can include you in the total.

Claiming:

Claiming opens on 24th June 2023 at 1pm GMT (what time is that for me?)

Prompts will be awarded on a first come first served basis.

Each prompt can be claimed once for fic, once for art, and once for other fanworks (podfic, etc).

Please choose your top three prompts when claiming, in order of preference (i.e. your top prompt as prompt choice 1, second choice as prompt choice 2, etc) as they will be awarded in this order. You are not required to fill out all three prompt choices.

You can only claim one prompt at a time. If you finish your prompt, you may claim an additional prompt. If you have finished your first prompt, and wish to claim another, please email your header to seasonsofcaprimod@gmail.com  and let us know you wish to claim an additional prompt, before submitting another claim form.

If you claim a prompt and subsequently feel unable to complete the work, please inform us as soon as possible so that we can free the prompt up for another writer/artist. We understand that life can get in the way! Unfortunately, however, in such circumstances, you won’t be eligible to claim a further prompt for 2022.

Collaborations are welcome! Please include details for all claimants in one claim form.

Please find the claiming form here. The form will become active when claiming opens 1pm GMT(what time is that for me?).

You will receive an email within 24 hours confirming your successful claim. Please respond to this email within 72 hours to confirm your participation in Captive Prince Fest.

Creating:

For fics, there is a minimum word count of 500 words and no maximum.

Submissions must be completed works. If you want to have your work beta read but you are unable to find a beta please let us know. All creations must be individual works, and cannot be part of a series, or a prequel/sequel to an existing work. All creations must be new and complete.

Fics and art should use the prompt as inspiration, but feel free to interpret it in your own creative way.

We encourage you to be inspired by the prompters’ additional details, but these are not required to be incorporated into the creation. You may also wish to take into consideration your prompter’s squicks when creating, but this is not a requirement — but we ask that you do not gift the creation to the prompter if you are not taking the squicks into consideration, and as always, be sure to tag your work appropriately.

Submitting:

Once you have completed your fic, it’s time to submit! 

Submissions are due on 2nd September 2023, but if you are finished before this date, you are welcome to submit then.

When your work is ready to be submitted, please fill out the following header and email it to seasonsofcaprimod@gmail.com

Title: 

Ship:

Creator/s: 

Rating: 

Word count (if applicable): 

Art medium (if applicable): 

Run time (if applicable):

Warnings/Tags: 

Prompt #: 

Summary:

All creations must be posted directly to the AO3 collection here. 

You are required to add the fest mod account as Co-creator when uploading your submission. This is primarily so that we can change the posting date. We will not make changes to your fic, and will remove the mod account for reveals.

Be sure to include all appropriate warnings, and tag your work correctly.

Please contact the mods if you have any issues posting your work.

Extensions:

You can contact the mods at ​seasonsofcaprimod@gmail.com. If you need an extension, or have to drop out, please let us know by email. Please do not be afraid to reach out about this, we are always happy to hear from you!

Posting:

The mods will post your creation on the scheduled day, and will make a Tumblr post for each. We do not release the posting schedule as this is subject to change.

Further information:

For general questions about the fest don’t hesitate to contact the mods. That’s what we are here for. But keep in mind that we’re operating in multiple time zones, and will be dealing with offline life as well as fandom! We won’t be available 24/7, but we always aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.

Please note that should there be any disputes regarding the interpretation of the rules, the decision of the mods will be final.

❤️ your mods

[ID: A graphic with a photograph of the sea, shallow enough to see the sand below and with small waves. Photo followed by text reading: Seasons of Capri. Rules and guidelines. /End ID]

[abookishdreamer]

Character Intro: Artemis (Kingdom of Ichor)

Nicknames- Wombmate, Missy by Apollo

Leto’s Spawn by Hera

Arty by Zeus

The Huntress by the people of Olympius

Age- 18 (immortal)

Location- Lunar district, New Olympus

Personality- Artemis is an unrivaled master of hunting, tracking, and archery. She’s a proud introvert and fiercely independent. She’s practical, adventurous, and athletic with a tomboy flair. She loves nature and being outdoors, whether she’s shooting arrows with her brother, hunting with her crew of huntresses, or enjoying her surroundings by herself. She’s a biromantic asexual and is single.

As the goddess of the moon, hunting, archery, wilderness, childbirth, & maidens her powers/abilities include night vision, teleportation (through concentrated moonlight), lunakinesis, firing lasers of moonlight through her eyes, lightning redirection, limited hydrokinesis (as it pertains to tides & forest waters- like lakes, ponds, & streams), chlorokinesis (as it pertains to the forest), limited aerokinesis, being an expert at archery & knifemanship, hunting transfiguration, zoolingualism (being able to communicate with wild animals), including those that are sacred to her (as well as shapeshifting into them), animal replenishing, and vitakinesis. She can also turn a person into the opposite sex. 

She mostly gets around town using her motorcycle nicknamed “Moonbeam."

Artemis lives in the Lunar district of New Olympus, the neighborhood inspired by her. She’s the owner of an apartment complex built for young girls & women. She has a strict “no men allowed” policy, but she is known for bending the rules a bit when her brother Apollo comes to visit. She also owns a cabin in the Celestial Woods. She goes there during the weekends and whenever she's free to decompress & relax. She also has an extensive collection of hunting knives at her place. Her favorite things are her silver bow & arrows. She has a single pet- a cat named Monday (a girl) whose soft-to-the-touch silver fur is often complimented on!

She travels often to the states of Delos and Delphi to visit her family.

With her immediate family, she's really close with her mom Leto (Titaness of demurity & motherhood). Artemis is a lot closer to her grandfather Coeus (Titan god of foresight, intellect, & knowledge) than her grandmother Phoebe (Titaness of prophecy, the moon, radiant intellect, & mystery). Artemis barely knows her uncle Lelantos (Titan god of air, the unseen & hunting) and can't stand her cousin Aura (goddess of the breeze).

Artemis is in a band called Eclipse with her brother and Euterpe (muse of music & lyric poetry). She’s the co-lead singer & plays the lead electric guitar. They perform often on tour as well as clubs and bars. They have released a few albums to nationwide acclaim. As Eclipse, she has 17 Golden Laurel Awards!

She’s also an official co-chair of the Summer Solstice Music Festival! 

In New Olympus, Artemis operates a wildlife sanctuary and also runs classes for young girls & women called Hunters of the Moon where they learn hunting, fighting, knifemanship, and archery. When the girls “graduate”, they officially become a huntress. She also released a makeup palette called MoonRave as well as a nail polish brand (Colors by Twilight)- which is sold exclusively by the beauty store Olmorfia. Her favorite color to wear from her line is “When The Moon Calls”, a metallic silver color. She also has a fashion line called Nocturnal Vibez (that includes clothes, shoes, accessories, and handbags) & she's also got a chain of hunter apparel stores. Artemis is also a licensed midwife and holds classes for that in the community center! She also has her own amusement park, LunarWorld theme park.

Artemis is not very fond of the male species. The closest relationship she has with a guy is her twin brother Apollo (god of the sun, music, poetry, healing, medicine, archery, plague, light, & knowlesge). She's isn't as close to her father Zeus (god of the sky, thunder, & lightning) as she used to be.

She can't stand one of her brother's exes, Chione (goddess of snow).

In the pantheon, Artemis is real close with The Muses- particularly Euterpe (muse of music & lyric poetry) and Urania (muse of astronomy), Nike (goddess of victory), Diochetévo (goddess of sewers, garbage, & waste), Methe (goddess of drunkenness), Brizo (goddess of sailors, mariners, fishermen, & dreams), Pasithea (goddess of hallucinations & relaxation), Lykos (goddess of wolves), and Bia (goddess of force & power). She's also close with one of her esteemed huntresses, Britomaris (goddess of mountains, hunting, & fishing nets). Aside from her mother, Artemis greatly admires Selene (Titaness of the moon) who was also her mentor. She also likes Hestia (goddess of the hearth).

She's not that close with the rest of her half-siblings, but does like Hebe (goddess of youth) and on other occassions Dionysus (god of wine) & Hermes.

Artemis calls herself a “bacon connoisseur." Everything she eats has to include bacon. Her favorite T-shirt that she likes to wear has the saying “I’d be a vegetarian if bacon grew on trees."

She has a birthmark behind her ear in the shape of a crescent moon.

Some of Artemis' fav snacks include chocolate sandwhich cookies (with vanilla creme in the center), bacon flavored potato chips, cloud cakes (deep fried), and blueberry licorice twists!

Her & her brother wear differing amulets, she wearing a crescent moon and Apollo wearing the sun.

Her & her huntresses go on yearly camping trips in the Celestial Woods, traveling there by Artemis’ RV.

She often takes in abandoned woodland animals, nursing them back to health before she releases them back to the wild.

In her free time, Artemis enjoys archery, hiking, basketball, hunting, painting (mostly outdoor landscapes), working on her fighting skills (her favorite being mixed martial arts), mountain climbing, kayaking, playing music, ballet, riding her dirt bike, interpretive dance, and she’s even taken on gymnastics. She also likes writing poetry & new songs.

Artemis' go-to sandwich is a BLT from The Bread Box, a popular sandwich shop.

Her go-to drink is a rocky road milkshake from The Frozen Spoon. She also likes beer, ginger ale, mint flavored sparkling water, green tea, and blueberry soda. Her usuals from The Roasted Bean is the large chocolate mocha & the olympian sized blueberry açai splash.

Her favorite treat from Hollyhock's Bakery are the maple glazed donuts (topped with bacon pieces).

Her favorite meal is a double bacon olympian burger (with extra bacon of course😉) served with a slab of barbeque ribs, large fries, and a large blueberry soda from Olympic Chef.

“Moonlight fills my veins."

[itsmoonpeaches]

Title: Reprise

Written for @kataang-week 2022 and thank you to @kataang-awards !

Word count: 11,164

Rating: G

Chapters: 3

Summary: A short series of interconnected chapters using prompts made for Kataang Week 2022. Katara and Aang visit the Northern Water Tribe for Avatar Kuruk's festival. But there is danger lurking around the corner. Could someone be watching them? GOLD winner for the Kataang Week Awards!

After the war, the Northern Water Tribe flourished. She always thought that her sister tribe was a magnificent place, but Katara saw how it had grown in the years since Ozai’s defeat. Certainly, the Southern Water Tribe where she was from regained its recognition throughout the world as a trade port and the modest clusters of tents that had made up the splintered tribe had expanded into towns. But the North had been left largely untouched by the war, blessed by its resources and more powerful allies. The capital city of Agna Quel’a had only become more intricate and sprawling in design since she had first set eyes on it as a teenager.

Just after the winter solstice, there were still silver and white lanterns left hanging throughout the streets. But many of them were still being lit, and even more, were being strung up. In the little light they had during the polar night, these served as beacons in the near darkness.

For the hour or so during the winter that sunlight was visible, it was a welcome time of day. Katara remembered that during the South’s polar nights she would look forward to seeing the sky brighten for that short sliver of time. Here, she thought the lantern light made the season’s perpetual evening appear magical. Maybe it was because now they could keep their lights on with no fear of having to hide from encroaching warships.

The air was frigid, but the atmosphere was warm. It was midmorning and the streets were bustling with people preparing for the upcoming festival dedicated to Avatar Kuruk. She could smell all the cooking food, the pleasant smoking fish, the baking flatbread, the familiar waft of herbs collected to make Labrador tea saved from early summer.

Continue reading on ao3 or ffn.

[rainagaintomorrow]

5, 9, and 22 for the winter redacted asks 💖

MY SUN. MY RAY OF LIGHT. MY SHINING HOPE. MY ENLIGHTENED SOLARPUNK HEALING OTHER HALF. hi. i love you <3

5. Who makes the best gingerbread houses? Do they have a theme?

Ok, hear me out. I think Caelum loves to make them but they aren't very good. But it's fun! (I feel like Gavin is really good at it for Caelum though, it's the big brother vibes.)

But the best is probably either Damien (perfectionist) and it's very meticulously rainbow themed OR it's Milo, who I think just has the patience to do something kind of cute like that and make a classic house.

9. Who makes the best hot chocolate? How fancy do they get with it?

Best hot chocolate award goes to David and I've just decided it's because his dad would make him and his mom hot chocolate while she was sick and it continued even after she passed and it's just. It's something really important to him. He has PERFECTED the hot chocolate recipe and ratio of marshmallows, spices, and whipped cream. It's delicious and everyone wants one at the solstice party, or if they're having a bad day!

22. Who struggles the most with seasonal depression? Who counts down the day until summer?

you bitch. you chose this for me specifically. i hate you. i love you.

I want to say Damien, but that's my Damien kinnie and my projection coming through. But like.... he is sun-bound! It almost makes sense.... right? is it just me projecting fuck

[alzindiana]

2022: A milestone year in Indiana – and beyond

2022 was a milestone year for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter and – most importantly – for the fight against this disease. It included the Chapter’s first $1 million Walk to End Alzheimer’s and the most promising news yet in dementia research.

Take a look back at the year in advocacy, care and support, research, fundraising, and awareness.

FEBRUARY

Advocates from across Indiana urged state legislators to pass a bill requiring minimum dementia training standards for home health aides during the Virtual Indiana State Day of Action.

MARCH

The Alzheimer’s Association 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report was released. It found significant shortages in the dementia care workforce, both nationwide and in Indiana. According to the report, there are currently 66 geriatricians in Indiana. By 2050, the state will need 299 geriatricians to serve 10% of those 65 and older – a 353% increase.

After passing the Indiana House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, Governor Eric Holcomb signed the dementia training bill into law.

MAY

Volunteer advocates traveled to Washington D.C. for the first in-person Advocacy Forum since before the pandemic. They met with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for making Alzheimer’s a national priority. Evansville advocate Evan Haynes-Knepper was honored with the Young Advocate of the Year award.

JUNE

We concluded our fiscal year and found that in FY22, 5,256 people in our Chapter area attended an education program, support group, or early stage activity – a 37% increase over the previous year.

Staff and volunteers attended Indy Pride, sharing information on Alzheimer’s in the LGBTQ community and raising awareness of the resources available to help all those affected. The Greater Indiana Chapter also sponsored a Hydration Station.

West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis announced that he has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. By sharing his diagnosis, he raised awareness of the disease and helped other families know they are not alone in this journey. Later in the year, he served as honorary chair of the Greater Lafayette Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Staff and volunteers attended the Indy Juneteenth Festival Wellness Fair at Celebration Plaza in White River State Park.

The Longest Day participants held fundraisers on and around the summer solstice. By the end of the campaign, Aug. 31, they raised more than $324,000. The top team was Spoke & Memories at more than $40,000.

JULY

The Greater Indiana Chapter once again partnered with the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center to provide information and resources at the Indiana Black and Minority Health Fair.

A new event for The Longest Day, the Making Memories Classic pickleball tournament, was held in Greenwood. It was co-hosted by Greater Indiana Chapter board member Dr. David Mandlebaum and local pickleball pros Jade and Jackie Kawamoto. The event raised nearly $36,000.

The 2022 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) was held in San Diego. Greater Indiana Chapter executive director Natalie Sutton was in attendance and shared her reflections on the experience.

AUGUST

Indianapolis RivALZ players and coaches held their flag football game, raising more than $78,000.

SEPTEMBER

The 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s season began and continued for six weeks across 13 Greater Indiana Chapter communities. By the end of the season, 6,842 participants raised close to $2 million.

Positive topline results were announced from a Phase 3 global clinical trial of a treatment called lecanemab. The news brought additional energy and excitement to the remaining Walks.

To mark World Alzheimer’s Day, Sept. 21, the Chapter held a special Effective Communication Strategies for Future Healthcare Workers program. Students attended virtually from across the state. 

Photos: Ted Fields/Indianapolis Airport Authority

The Indianapolis Airport Authority, sponsor of the Indianapolis Walk to End Alzheimer’s Promise Garden, unveiled a 10-foot tall spinning Promise Garden flower in the Civic Plaza area of the Indianapolis International Airport. The display was surrounded by information about the warning signs of the disease and the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline (800.272.3900), a free resource that is available nationwide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

OCTOBER

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s season wrapped up, and the Indianapolis Walk achieved a major milestone – raising more than $1 million for the first time ever.

NOVEMBER

The 2022 Chocolate Sunday brunch gala was held, raising nearly $400,000.

To mark National Family Caregivers Month, the chapter held a “Caring for the Caregiver” workshop with about 40 faith leaders in Fort Wayne. Reaching out to faith communities was identified as a top priority during a local community forum, and both parties have committed to continuing the partnership in the new year. 

At the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease conference (CTAD), data from the Phase 3 global clinical trial of lecanemab confirmed this treatment changes the course of the disease in a meaningful way for people in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer's Association has called for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) accelerated approval of lecanemab and for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise its coverage policy with the utmost urgency. Read the full statement from the Alzheimer’s Association here.

There has never been a more exciting time in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementias, and 2023 promises to be another monumental year. Stay tuned on the latest research news by downloading the Science Hub app and following the Greater Indiana Chapter on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Here’s to 2023!

[thaoworra]

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association recently released the poems that made it to the finalist stage for consideration for the 2024 Rhysling Awards for Short and Long Speculative Poems of the year. Congratulations to all of the nominees! This will be the 46th year these awards have been conferred!

Short Poems (50 finalists)

Attn: Prime Real Estate Opportunity!, Emily Ruth Verona, Under Her Eye: A Women in Horror Poetry Collection Volume II

The Beauty of Monsters, Angela Liu, Small Wonders 1

The Blight of Kezia, Patricia Gomes, HWA Poetry Showcase X

The Day We All Died, A Little, Lisa Timpf, Radon 5

Deadweight, Jack Cooper, Propel 7

Dear Mars, Susan L. Lin, The Sprawl Mag 1.2

Dispatches from the Dragon's Den, Mary Soon Lee, Star*Line 46.2

Dr. Jekyll, West Ambrose, Thin Veil Press December

First Eclipse: Chang-O and the Jade Hare, Emily Jiang, Uncanny 53

Five of Cups Considers Forgiveness, Ali Trotta, The Deadlands 31

Gods of the Garden, Steven Withrow, Spectral Realms 19

The Goth Girls' Gun Gang, Marisca Pichette, The Dread Machine 3.2

Guiding Star, Tim Jones, Remains to be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, ed. Lee Murray (Clan Destine Press)

Hallucinations Gifted to Me by Heatstroke, Morgan L. Ventura, Banshee 15

hemiplegic migraine as willing human sacrifice, Ennis Rook Bashe, Eternal Haunted Summer Winter Solstice

Hi! I am your Cortical Update!, Mahaila Smith, Star*Line 46.3

How to Make the Animal Perfect?, Linda D. Addison, Weird Tales 100

I Dreamt They Cast a Trans Girl to Give Birth to the Demon, Jennessa Hester, HAD October

Invasive, Marcie Lynn Tentchoff, Polar Starlight 9

kan-da-ka, Nadaa Hussein, Apparition Lit 23

Language as a Form of Breath, Angel Leal, Apparition Lit October

The Lantern of September, Scott Couturier, Spectral Realms 19

Let Us Dream, Myna Chang, Small Wonders 3

The Magician's Foundling, Angel Leal, Heartlines Spec 2

The Man with the Stone Flute, Joshua St. Claire, Abyss & Apex 87

Mass-Market Affair, Casey Aimer, Star*Line 46.4

Mom's Surprise, Francis W. Alexander, Tales from the Moonlit Path June

A Murder of Crows, Alicia Hilton, Ice Queen 11

No One Now Remembers, Geoffrey Landis, Fantasy and Science Fiction Nov./Dec.

orion conquers the sky, Maria Zoccula, On Spec 33.2

Pines in the Wind, Karen Greenbaum-Maya, The Beautiful Leaves (Bamboo Dart Press)

The Poet Responds to an Invitation from the AI on the Moon, T.D. Walker, Radon Journal 5

A Prayer for the Surviving, Marisca Pichette, Haven Speculative 9

Pre-Nuptial, F. J. Bergmann, The Vampiricon (Mind's Eye Publications)

The Problem of Pain, Anna Cates, Eye on the Telescope 49

The Return of the Sauceress, F. J. Bergmann, The Flying Saucer Poetry Review February

Sea Change, David C. Kopaska-Merkel and Ann K. Schwader, Scifaikuest May

Seed of Power, Linda D. Addison, The Book of Witches ed. Jonathan Strahan (Harper Collins)

Sleeping Beauties, Carina Bissett, HWA Poetry Showcase X

Solar Punks, J. D. Harlock, The Dread Machine 3.1

Song of the Last Hour, Samuel A. Betiku, The Deadlands 22

Sphinx, Mary Soon Lee, Asimov's September/October

Storm Watchers (a drabbun), Terrie Leigh Relf, Space & Time

Sunflower Astronaut, Charlie Espinosa, Strange Horizons July

Three Hearts as One, G. O. Clark, Asimov's May/June

Troy, Carolyn Clink, Polar Starlight 12

Twenty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary, John Grey, Medusa's Kitchen September

Under World, Jacqueline West, Carmina Magazine September

Walking in the Starry World, John Philip Johnson, Orion's Belt May

Whispers in Ink, Angela Yuriko Smith, Whispers from Beyond (Crystal Lake Publishing)

Long Poems (25 finalists)

Archivist of a Lost World, Gerri Leen, Eccentric Orbits 4

As the witch burns, Marisca Pichette, Fantasy 87

Brigid the Poet, Adele Gardner, Eternal Haunted Summer Summer Solstice

Coding a Demi-griot (An Olivian Measure), Armoni “Monihymn” Boone, Fiyah 26

Cradling Fish, Laura Ma, Strange Horizons May

Dream Visions, Melissa Ridley Elmes, Eccentric Orbits 4

Eight Dwarfs on Planet X, Avra Margariti, Radon Journal 3

The Giants of Kandahar, Anna Cates, Abyss & Apex 88

How to Haunt a Northern Lake, Lora Gray, Uncanny 55

Impostor Syndrome, Robert Borski, Dreams and Nightmares 124

The Incessant Rain, Rhiannon Owens, Evermore 3

Interrogation About A Monster During Sleep Paralysis, Angela Liu, Strange Horizons November

Little Brown Changeling, Lauren Scharhag, Aphelion 283

A Mere Million Miles from Earth, John C. Mannone, Altered Reality April

Pilot, Akua Lezli Hope, Black Joy Unbound eds. Stephanie Andrea Allen & Lauren Cherelle (BLF Press)

Protocol, Jamie Simpher, Small Wonders 5

Sleep Dragon, Herb Kauderer, The Book of Sleep (Written Image Press)

Slow Dreaming, Herb Kauderer, The Book of Sleep (Written Image Press)

St. Sebastian Goes To Confession, West Ambrose, Mouthfeel 1

Value Measure, Joseph Halden and Rhonda Parrish, Dreams and Nightmares 125

A Weather of My Own Making, Nnadi Samuel, Silver Blade 56

Welcoming the New Girl, Beth Cato, Penumbric October

What You Find at the Center, Elizabeth R McClellan, Haven Spec Magazine 12

The Witch Makes Her To-Do List, Theodora Goss, Uncanny 50

The Year It Changed, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Star*Line 46.4

Voting for the Rhysling Award begins July 1; a link to the ballot will be sent with the Rhysling Anthology, as well as with the July issue of Star*Line. More information on the Rhysling Award can be found here.

[writer59january13]

Still smarting from stupid scamming fraudsters...

five months ago to the day

Twas the cusp of tooth thousand

twenty three summer solstice, when yours truly (a fool and his money went separate ways) mine cherished nest egg, I would immediately miss

lesson immediately learned courtesy takeaways

linkedin with looted checking and savings accounts

analogously yanked, unmoored and unbridged

at Citizen Bank quays

me subsequently exhibiting,

maddening, and snorting re: imagine how figurative unbridled horse's ass neighs;

a fate engendering mental anguish on par with voluntarily unrolling Scottish welcome mat readying yours truly

being lynched courtesy kkk

(I apologize for any incantation, incrimination, incubation,

indiscretion, insinuation, intimation, invitation...), cuz metook poetic license attempting to accentuate brazen crafty deception, how con artist invoked tender loving care while (all the while) stealthily employing stealing gambit, which hack by the way incorporated his suppressed hurray

for him positively coaching me

invisibly eliciting, interposing, manifesting, questing, and ushering entranceway into sought after vaunted money synonymously enlisting sprinkled pet accolade such as "good job" never disclosing discerning ulterior motive exacting a risky (business) mission unlike dramatizing the WWII story of the Thailand-Burma Railway regarding those soldiers who built

Bridge over the River Kwai in the former scenario exhibiting how yours truly (me) did betray requisite necessity to protect fungible assets of mine by voluntarily cooperating with the enterprising villainous prankster, who applying one alias called himself "Harvey Specter" guiding blindsided yours truly (who received nincompoop of the year award)

obliging scoundrel to withdraw cash willingly and convert sain moolah into bitcoin (a type of digital currency in which a record of transactions maintained and new units of currency are generated by the computational solution

of mathematical problems, and which operates independently of a central bank) courtesy digital wallet, which nefarious experience found me posting a gofundme page to no avail!

[rockislandadultreads]

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Recommendations

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Alex Green is a young girl in a world much like ours, except for its most seminal event: the Mass Dragoning of 1955, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprouted wings, scales, and talons; left a trail of fiery destruction in their path; and took to the skies. Was it their choice? What will become of those left behind? Why did Alex’s beloved aunt Marla transform but her mother did not? Alex doesn’t know. It’s taboo to speak of.

Forced into silence, Alex nevertheless must face the consequences of this astonishing event: a mother more protective than ever; an absentee father; the upsetting insistence that her aunt never even existed; and watching her beloved cousin Bea become dangerously obsessed with the forbidden.

In this timely and timeless speculative novel, award-winning author Kelly Barnhill boldly explores rage, memory, and the tyranny of forced limitations. When Women Were Dragons exposes a world that wants to keep women small—their lives and their prospects—and examines what happens when they rise en masse and take up the space they deserve.

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

If you look hard enough at old photographs, we're there in the background: healers in the trenches; Suffragettes; Bletchley Park oracles; land girls and resistance fighters. Why is it we help in times of crisis? We have a gift. We are stronger than Mundanes, plain and simple.

At the dawn of their adolescence, on the eve of the summer solstice, four young girls--Helena, Leonie, Niamh and Elle--took the oath to join Her Majesty's Royal Coven, established by Queen Elizabeth I as a covert government department. Now, decades later, the witch community is still reeling from a civil war and Helena is now the reigning High Priestess of the organization. Yet Helena is the only one of her friend group still enmeshed in the stale bureaucracy of HMRC. Elle is trying to pretend she's a normal housewife, and Niamh has become a country vet, using her powers to heal sick animals. In what Helena perceives as the deepest betrayal, Leonie has defected to start her own more inclusive and intersectional coven, Diaspora. And now Helena has a bigger problem. A young warlock of extraordinary capabilities has been captured by authorities and seems to threaten the very existence of HMRC. With conflicting beliefs over the best course of action, the four friends must decide where their loyalties lie: with preserving tradition, or doing what is right.

This is the first volume in the “Her Majesty’s Royal Coven” series.

The Thousand Eyes by A.K. Larkwood 

Two years ago, Csorwe and Shuthmili defied the wizard Belthandros Sethennai and stole his gauntlets. The gauntlets have made Shuthmili extraordinarily powerful, but they're beginning to take a sinister toll on her. She and Csorwe travel to a distant world to discover how to use the gauntlets safely, but when an old enemy arrives on the scene, Shuthmili finds herself torn between clinging to her humanity and embracing eldritch power.

Meanwhile, Tal Charossa returns to Tlaanthothe to find that Sethennai has gone missing. As well as being a wizard of unimaginable power, Sethennai is Tal's old boss and former lover, and Tal wants nothing to do with him. When a magical catastrophe befalls the city, Tal tries to run rather than face his past, but soon learns that something even worse may lurk in the future. Throughout the worlds of the Echo Maze, fragments of an undead goddess begin to awaken, and not all confrontations can be put off forever...

This is the second volume in “The Serpent Gates” series.

Màgòdiz by Gabe Calderón

Everything that was green and good is gone, scorched away by a war that no one living remembers. The small surviving human population scavenges to get by; they cannot read or write and lack the tools or knowledge to rebuild. The only ones with any power are the mindless Enforcers, controlled by the Madjideye, a faceless, formless spiritual entity that has infiltrated the world to subjugate the human population.

A’tugwewinu is the last survivor of the Andwànikàdjigan. On the run from the Madjideye with her lover, Bèl, a descendant of the Warrior Nation, they seek to share what the world has forgotten: stories. In Pasakamate, both Shkitagen, the firekeeper of his generation, and his life’s heart, Nitàwesì, whose hands mend bones and cure sickness, attempt to find a home where they can raise children in peace, without fear of slavers or rising waters. In Zhōng yang, Riordan wheels around just fine, leading xir gang of misfits in hopes of surviving until the next meal. However, Elite Enforcer H-09761 (Yun Seo, who was abducted as a child, then tortured and brainwashed into servitude) is determined to arrest Riordan for theft of resources and will stop at nothing to bring xir to the Madjideye. In a ruined world, six people collide, discovering family and foe, navigating friendship and love, and reclaiming the sacredness of the gifts they carry.