#the winter long

[marmotsomsierost]

Quentin, buddy, you are in the wrong book series.

[living400lbs]

“Mother, if you can hear me, I’ve been very good,” said the Luidaeg. “I haven’t killed anyone who didn’t deserve it, not even my sister, who should probably have been killed a hundred times over by now. I haven’t stolen any hearts or broken any vows, and I’m only calling on you now because I need you more than I’ve ever needed you before. Mother, I am your oldest living child. I am your eternity made flesh. Now please, hark to me, heed me here, and open the door before we die a horrible and lingering death in the darkness.” The smell of her magic surged again, this time underscored by roses like I had never smelled before—not the cold, snowy roses of Evening or the perfect hothouse roses of Luna; not even the bloody-thorned roses of my mother’s magic, which used to define my entire world. These were wild roses, untouched by any gardener’s shears and untamed by any horticulturist’s design. They grew where they wanted, thrived where they chose, and would never be anything but their own truest selves, unable to conform to anything else. They were the roses that had grown at the beginning of the world, and the roses that would grow at the end of it. There were a hundred other scents beneath the roses, loam and fresh-turned earth and the sweet decay that leads to new growth, but I knew that what I would remember was the roses. They would stay with me, because . . . because . . .

Because no one could smell Maeve’s magic and forget it.

From The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire

[book-quotes-and-moodboards]

“The day I get a vacation is the day the world ends.”

The Winter Long (by Seanan McGuire)

[ionomycin]

Maiden of Light

[geraniums-red]

Seanan McGuire - The Winter Long

Book 8 of the October Daye series

This book starts with Toby being given the title of Hero, which she seems to resent despite having spent most of her life doing that anyway. Then we get to the revelations. A dead friend turns out to be alive, and also to be a terrible piece of work (past Toby was really bad at picking her friends, but also there may have been magic involved). An old enemy is back, but trying to save her life, and may have been trying to save her life in the past. And then there's the family secrets...

For a book with a lot of revelations, it's actually pretty forgettable. Maybe because there are so many that no one of them stands out? I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but a couple of days have passed, and most of the plot hasn't stuck with me. Good triumphs over evil, Toby gets to practice her core skill of being stubborn and everything ends happily enough.

[cheruib]

[soldrawss]

🧹🐺🧛‍♀️ Trick or Treat!⚡💀😈

[heraxic]

ethan winters (the fallen angel (alexandre cabanel) - recreation)

[hypewinter]

He didn't know how far he had wandered. He had just kept running and running, for once glad of his newfound body's constitution. But now he was finally tired and he doubted his pursuers were close by (if they were even looking for him anymore). So for now, he found an abandoned warehouse, bundled up under a tarp, and rested.

----

Wally had been scouting the area for the enemy when he found the boy. He'd noticed a particularly weird shaped clump in the corner and when he removed the tarp, he found a body. At first he thought the body was dead since he had no pulse and was cold to the touch. But then the boy suddenly sat up causing Wally to have to back up (he did not yelp from the sudden movement thank you very much).

The boy backed up towards the warehouse wall and pulled his knees to his chest as he studied Wally. For his part, Wally studies the boy back. He was clad in a black suit with golden accents and more knives that Wally was comfortable with. His golden avian eyes seemed to bore into the young hero. They seemed to size Wally up as opposed to being full of fear. Additionally, despite being huddled away in hiding the boy displayed no signs of fear. Overall it felt less like he was cowering away and more like he was silently judging him. Wally really didn't like how it felt like this kid would slit his throat if given the chance.

As the two continued their staring contest, Wally felt a gust of wind and Barry was suddenly by his side. "Kid Flash, what's up? You weren't answering your co-" Barry trailed off as he noticed the boy.

He side glanced at Wally but the sidekick only shrugged back. Barry stepped forward. The boy tensed, muscles suddenly tight and body ready to spring. Barry quickly put his hands up.

"We don't want to hurt you," He said. "Quite the opposite actually. We're heroes, we can help."

The body blinked long and slow at him, before finally his body seemed to uncoil. He gracefully got to his feet and neared the pair, circling around them once before stopping in front of them with a soft smile.

Wally returned it with a smile of his own. "So uh- why are you here? Is someone chasing you or something? Wait, what's your name first?"

The boy's face crumpled into something sad before he pulled down the collar of his suit to reveal a scar running across his throat. Oh. Both heroes side glanced each other at the same time, a silent communication shared between them. The bats? The bats.

[chantaldraw]

"...because you did start something."

[8-0mph]

PT 3

Bonus page.

Yes, this is a different universe than canon WK. I will never let Betty catch a break. Happens after the events of the Vampire World. The fight scene was supposed to be longer But I am not drawing all that. Theres one last world left.

At some point there will be a master-post with the lore in order.

[living400lbs]

October Daye:

"Why did I let you people outnumber me?” I demanded. I turned, starting to walk in the direction Tybalt had been trying to push me. I kept my chin high, trying to show that I was choosing to walk this way.

“Because somewhere in that lovely skull of yours is a glimmer of self-preservation, fighting against all odds to remain intact and keep the rest of you breathing,” said Tybalt, hurrying to keep up. He still didn’t take his hand off my arm.

from The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire

[book-quotes-and-moodboards]

“I don’t know why I bother trying to use logic on you. It always ends poorly. I should save my strength for better pursuits.”

The Winter Long (by Seanan McGuire)

[ionomycin]

My favorite pieces this year

[crumb-crumblet-s-crumbington]

bath

[soldrawss]

Huntlow doodle dump including 3 different aus so yeah enjoy