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#I LOVE HER SO MUCH SHES SO LOVEABLE AND REALISTIC AND PERFECT AND SO SATISFYING
cassiejade · 6 years
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I am surprised by how much I actually read this month, thinking back on the month I don’t feel like I read a lot but as I was counting through this book, no I did read a lot. And I read some big books! I read a lot of books that have been on my tbr for a while now and I caught up on a series and finished another which makes me so happy!
    Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this, loved the magic system, loved the characters and all the directions it went in. The only thing I didn’t care about was the political conflicts, they felt really basic.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
I had quite a few issues with this and there were things that I did like. I enjoyed the writing and the Russian high society setting, Tolstoy’s descriptions really make you feel like you are part of the world.  I did not like most of the characters and I don’t understand why its thought of as a love story, because I didn’t see a lot of love, there was passion and lust, and they were reflected with jealousy and insecurities. I don’t know maybe this just wasn’t for me.
Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken my rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this, it took me a while to get into, but once I got past chapter 6, I was hooked. I thought the story was told at a nice pace, I really liked the new characters that were introduced.
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia my rating: 5 out of 5 stars
OMG, I LOVED THIS!! I loved everything about this, the anxiety was so realistic and relatable for me, I loved the comics and the fanfiction. I really loved how Eliza was super flawed, she was not perfect. The friendships in this were super amazing and supportive. One of my new faves.
  Persuasion by Jane Austen my rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was fine overall. I do already feel like I need to reread it because I wasn’t super into it, a lot of the plot was a bit boring, I also straight up spaced some of it right out.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley my rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This was different from what I thought it was going to be, I was hoping for more action instead of multiple narrations telling the story to other characters. There were a lot of letters that explained the backstory. It was mostly just Frankenstein and the Monster telling their stories, and that just wasn’t the set up I was expecting to go into this.
My Plain Jane by Brodi Aston, Cynthia Hand, Jodie Meadows my rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Another book that I really really enjoyed. Now you don’t have to read Jane Eyre before reading this but I will say that reading Jane Eyre before adds a special enhancement to the pop culture references. And its also fun to compare the plot points between the two books, or at least it was fun to me. But even if you haven’t read Jane Eyre, this book is still funny and super enjoyable.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera my rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I knew there was a reason I put this off for so long. I don’t even know what to say about it. Honestly, I don’t really want to say anything. Just read it, yes it’s sad, yes it will break your heart, is it worth it? Yes. Go read it and then come back and we can cry together.
  A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir my rating: 5 out of 5 stars
There’s a handful of series, that I own, where I waited until the last book was out or I’m continuing to wait until the last book is out. This is not one of those series and I kinda wish I had waited BECAUSE LEAVING OFF AT THE ENDING IS JUST CRUEL. This was also amazing and if you finished A Torch Against the Night and for some reason you were feeling meh about everything, I urge you to at least give this a try. But I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book like I need answers and I need them now.
My Lady Jane by Brodi Aston, Cynthia Hand, Jodie Meadows my rating: 4 out of 5 stars
While I did enjoy this, I also felt like the ending was a little cop-out, I loved Jane though and finding her to be so relatable. The magic and animal shifting was a super fun twist to everything and the humor was great.
Bright We Burn by Kiersten White my rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed how this wrapped up, I ended up feeling satisfied with where things left off and felt like I didn’t have any questions left unanswered. Overall a great ending to a fun trilogy.
Girl Made of Stars by Ashely Herring Blake my rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Oh, my heart! I cried so much while reading this. It just broke my heart several times. But I loved this characters and I loved the writing and the use of the stars. It’s hard because I don’t want to say too much about it but if you’re sensitive to topics like sexual assault and rape, I would encourage you to proceed with caution, if at all, because the story does get hard to read at points.
  Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu my rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Wow four book that I’ve given 5 stars to this month, it has been a great reading month for me. I did write a non-spoiler review for this book so I will leave that here. This has great writing and amazing characters. I will warn that it does talk about sexual assault and rape, so trigger warning if you are sensitive to those topics.
The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen my rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This one is hard, to sum up, my feelings on, for the most part, it was very slow paced even though the main character was constantly busy. I also felt like I never got a solid feel for her personality, one scene she was very smart and the next scene she was upset with everything, next scene she was pretty bossy, the scene after that was a little clueless. It was like that for Theo as well, it was hard to nail his personality down, it also felt like it was always changing. I do love this town though and I wish Colby beach was a real place for me to go visit.
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen my rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I ended up really enjoying this, I loved the pizza place and Mac’s family. It’s one that I don’t feel like I have much to say about it, yet I enjoyed it.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys my rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This was incredibly well done. Ruta’s writing style is fantastic, her characters are so fleshed out and flawed yet loveable. The way she writes history is better than any classroom I’ve ever sat in. Yet at the same time, this was heartwrenching! You can just feel and absorb the fear and desperation that everyone was feeling trying to flee from the threat of the Russian army, I was swept up with so many emotions. And to know that this was a real event that not many people know about! I was researching more about the history of this ship and was enraged to discover that all four captains survived the sinking. Absolutely enraged at that fact.
  The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen my rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was again very slow paced, I was drawing a lot of similarities between this and Saint Anything, they both have incredibly similar plot lines with grief, family drama, the main character feeling a need to fit herself into a mold, finding new friends that her family doesn’t approve of, and a guy that makes her feel safe and secure, also the main character doesn’t ever seem to stand up for herself. Seriously these plots are so similar.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams my rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Omg, this was so funny and I love how its written, it feels like a friend is telling you about their day. Loved all the commentary, I just didn’t particularly like any of the characters. Except for Marvin, Marvin is everything.
Favorite book of the Month: Moxie Least favorite: Anna Karenina
Did we read any of the same books over the month?
July 2018 Wrap Up I am surprised by how much I actually read this month, thinking back on the month I don't feel like I read a lot but as I was counting through this book, no I did read a lot.
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Alex Recommends: March Books
Well, I can safely say that I have had a very tricky, stressful and tiring month. Particularly over the last couple of weeks, my freelance work has been busier than ever. It’s great from a financial point of view (although I’d still like to earn more!) but it has meant that I’ve been working some quite crazy hours. This has resulted in a few migraines and anxiety attacks that I could have done without but I’m lucky that I have Mark to cuddle when things get too bad.
I think I’m so tired of this lockdown nonsense now. I really miss being able to see the people I love whenever I want to. In fact, I’m even getting a little bit worried about how I’ll cope when big gatherings start again. Going straight from spending all day every day in one house to being surrounded by people and noise again might be a bit overwhelming. I’m sure I’ll get used to it eventually but I know that will take a while to ease back into.
I have read a lot this month and it has been a nice variety too. There are some fantastic books coming our way in April and I can’t wait to get reviews up for them. I hope you’re all doing ok and still managing to stay safe! -Love, Alex x
FICTION: The Divines by Ellie Eaton.
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At the elite boarding school, St John the Divine, the Divines were known for being sassy, confident and popular. 20 years later, Sephine now lives in LA with her handsome husband and she hasn’t revisited her past for years. But on a brief visit to the school while on honeymoon, memories of her eventful final days as a Divine re-surface. The Divines has a slight dark academia feel to it in the vein of The Secret History or Heathers. It deals with typical teen girl clique issues in a rather chilling manner with class clashes also at play. I found that I kept turning the pages and became thoroughly absorbed in this unsettling, nostalgic haze of a novel.
NON-FICTION: Group by Christie Tate.
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Despite being in recovery for bulimia and coming top of her law class, Christie Tate still fantasises about dying on a regular basis. So, she begins visiting Dr Rosen, an eccentric therapist who assures her that one of his groups is exactly what Christie needs. This honest, witty memoir celebrates the unique bonds that are formed within a therapy group between members and their therapist. Having some experience of this myself, I can certainly testify as to the one-of-a-kind relationships that are built through therapy groups. When everyone in the circle is completely open about the darkest parts of their souls, how can those special connections not happen? Group explores the rollercoaster that is therapy in a very funny, relatable voice.
MIDDLE-GRADE: The Weather Weaver by Tamsin Mori.
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Stella is back on Shetland to stay with her grandfather while her parents are working away. But now that her grandmother has gone, her grandfather seems distant and the island is nothing like she remembers. Then she meets a mysterious old woman named Tamar, who can apparently control the weather. This is a lovely, whimsical tale which weaves a sweet family story in with a unique magic system. Stella is a very plucky protagonist and the ethereal nature of the island fitted the book perfectly. I loved the mythological elements and had never realised that clouds could be so cute!
YA: Mina and the Undead by Amy McCaw.
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Horror fan Mina is staying with her sister Libby in New Orleans for the summer. Their mother recently left them and Mina is looking forward to spending time with her sister in a town riddled with spooky history. It gets even better when she gets a part time job at a haunted mansion attraction and meets the gorgeous Jared, Libby’s housemate. But the real horrors of New Orleans are yet to reveal themselves. I have been to New Orleans and this book definitely made me want to go back and hunt vampires! With a cast of loveable, easy to root for characters and a plot that keeps the twists coming, Mina and the Undead is a quick, chilling read for fans of 80s and 90s spooky classics. Incredibly absorbing, fantastically nostalgic and the perfect bloodthirsty YA horror book.
THRILLER: The Castaways by Lucy Clarke.
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Sisters Lori and Erin came to Fiji together for a relaxing getaway but only Lori makes the connecting flight to a remote stretch off the mainland. That plane ends up disappearing and Erin flies back to London devastated to have lost her sister. Two years later, the pilot of the plane turns up alive in hospital and it appears that what actually happened on that missing flight is about to be revealed. This very chilling novel felt so realistic and I think that’s why it affected me as much as it did. The beautiful setting of Fiji against such a horrific plot provided the perfect juxtaposition. As well as being a story of sisterhood, The Castaways is a suspenseful thriller that keeps twisting and turning towards an unpredictable but satisfying end.
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mustlovemustypages · 7 years
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2017 Yuletide Letter
Hello Yuletider!
I’m glad you’re here and reading this letter. Please know that I am extremely grateful for your time and all of the effort you will be making to write the best story (or stories) possible. Listed below are some of my favorite “small” fandoms and the ships that I adore in each. Most of these fandoms are ones that I think ended too soon or there wasn’t as much exploration of the ships as I would have liked.
Please don’t feel boxed in by my requests. At the very bottom, I’ve tried to explain what I do/don’t like in the most concise way possible. Don’t stress too much about your writing as I’m sure whatever you create will be fantastic... if you love these fandoms enough to write about them, you’re my favorite kind of person.
**Edited: Thanks to a coalie for pointing out that I hadn’t actually specified which characters I am requesting... my bad!**
Pitch:
Characters: Ginny Baker and Mike Lawson
I was in a rut for days after finding out that Pitch was canceled. There was so much left unresolved!
Mike/Ginny are it for me and this show, although Blip/Evelyn are pretty great too and if they were a side couple I wouldn’t complain.
My main request is that you fix it so Ginny and Mike are together. I don’t care if you have this happen after canon in a “Season 2” sort of way, or if you twist some of the storylines around so that they get together earlier. I just want to read about it happening so that I smile a ton and forget about the tragedy that is this show’s cancellation.
A few ideas:
Hurt/Comfort in dealing with Ginny’s anxiety/panic attack or some lingering PTSD with the car accident.
The team and the media having fun and talking about how Ginny and Mike are perfect for each other and how they know every single thing about each other while remaining completely oblivious to the fact.
The Darkest Minds:
Characters: Ruby Daly and Liam Stewart
X-Men was my jam when I was younger, and The Darkest Minds is basically X-Men set in a dystopian world with really loveable characters.
Liam is such a sweetheart. Book 2 when he gets his memories back had me literally crying. Ruby is a precious gem that needs to be protected at all costs, even if it’s from herself. Chubs and Zhu are amazing, and I love the little family the four of them made together. Vida was also really great, and so was Cole… and you get the point. I loved them all.
Story ideas:
Reunions are the best. Write how you would have liked the Liam and Ruby reunion in Book 2 to have played out or expand on canon to bring on even more feels. Other character reunions are also welcome.
Show Ruby’s struggle with her abilities and how she copes in healthy/unhealthy ways.
I wish there were more scenes exploring the dynamics of Cole, Liam, and Ruby (not in an OT3 sort of way). Writing an extension of the scene that took place in the shower with Ruby and Cole where they talk more about their respective relationships with Liam and their powers would be interesting.
Write a “scene between scenes” dealing with some of your favorite dramatic moments of the book series.
Tru Calling:
Characters: Tru Davies (and Davis if desired)
THIS SHOW… It’s been over a decade and I’m still not over its cancellation. I’m really open with what you write for this fandom since there is such a lack of fics.
I only care about Tru being the main character. Including Davis is optional, although I really did enjoy the friendship between him and Tru on the show. Tru/Jack is my favorite ship, but I know Jack is not in the tagset (because I was an idiot and messed up my nominations) so I can’t specifically request him. If you do include Jack, that would be amazing, but don’t feel pressured to do so. 
Story ideas:
Continue the story. This can be your own headcanon of what would have happened, or what the various cast/crew members revealed would have happened (basically the show was going to revolve around the mythology of two opposing forces in the world that balanced each other out in terms of life/death).
Write an episode-like story where Tru gets the traditional “save me” in the morgue and goes back in time to save their life. 
Show the toll that all of Tru’s dealings with death are having on her, and how certain people in her life help her cope (i.e. Jack, Davis…)
Flash forward into the future where Tru and Jack (or an original male character that has the same abilities as Tru) have become reluctant friends (or more?) and Davis is simultaneously appalled by the idea and also like “I knew this was going to happen all along.” (REMEMBER: No pressure to include Jack - I think it’s hard to continue canon without him, but I know there were some that weren’t his fans)
The Defenders:
Characters: Jessica Jones and Luke Cage OR Matt Murdock
First and foremost, I want to put it out there that I was hardcore Luke/Jessica even before the tv show came out. I thought they were great in Jessica Jones, I was disappointed that there wasn’t really anything about them in Luke Cage, and the small moments between them in The Defenders were like little bursts of hope for me.
That said, I totally get the appeal of Jessica/Matt, so a fic with them as the pairing would be okay with me as well. Please don’t do OT3s with Jessica/Matt/Luke (or any other characters for that matter). I would prefer gen between all of the Defenders rather than putting more than two of them in a romantic relationship.
Story ideas:
Luke and Jessica learning to trust each other again amongst the events of The Defenders, and Jessica sharing a bit more of her past with Kilgrave to help Luke understand what exactly she went through.
Jessica Jones is a walking poster child for PTSD and I would really like to see this explored more. Recovery isn’t necessary, but having at least someone else realize her suffering (Luke, Matt, etc.) and talking it out a little would be great.
Out of all of the relationships in The Defenders, I think Matt and Jessica’s was the most interesting. They had a natural chemistry and seemed to form a bond rather quickly. An exploration of their burgeoning relationship through the eyes of others would be fascinating.
Chicago PD:
Characters: Erin Lindsay and Jay Halstead
Sophia Bush leaving Chicago PD hurts my soul. Please give me some Linstead to fix this giant, gaping hole in my life.
Story ideas:
Write the car trip episode that was written and never made it to air. From the sound of it, the episode was going to be extremely shippy and tell us a lot about the characters’ pasts.
After a rough case, Jay is wondering why Erin is reacting so badly and she ends up revealing parts of her childhood/life before living with Voight.
Linstead through the eyes of their team.
Things I don’t like:
Alternate Universes – For the specific fandoms that I picked, I really like the universes as they are. I’m definitely okay with deviations from canon, but please don’t make Chicago PD/Pitch into a supernatural werewolf story or The Darkest Minds/The Defenders take place in a mundane coffee shop setting. (I don’t mind Soulmate AUs because those can be incorporated into canon with little change to worldbuilding)
Non-Con/Rape/BDSM/Sexual Violence/Graphic Sex – I like my characters to be happy and everything within shipsto be 100% consensual, no question about it (mentions of non-con if it occurred in canon is fine). I also prefer plot over porn, especially with one-shots.
OT3s – Two people per relationship please. Any more than that makes me uncomfortable.
Character Bashing - Unless a character is a bad guy in canon, I don’t want to read hundreds of words about how awful they are, especially if they are one of the characters that I requested. Don’t take it out on the characters if you hate my pairings, just write gen. 
Things I love:
Hurt/Comfort – There is nothing I love more than one character comforting another. The hurt can be physical, psychological, or both.  
Happy Endings – I’m all for the realistic endings… but if they could be plausible AND happy-ish, that would be amazing.
Expanded Scenes/Contorting Canon – Feel free to expand scenes and change up canon to your heart’s content as long as it makes logical sense.
Humor/Banter/Snark – I thrive on this stuff.
Bonding/Building Relationships – Whether it be a friendship or a romantic relationship, I adore reading about two people coming closer together. When characters know each other so well that they can have conversations with just their eyes or anticipate the person’s next move (especially if it’s to the surprise/confusion of everyone around them), my shipper heart is thrilled.
Dark to Light – Seeing a character come out of a bad mindset/situation and get better is so satisfying.
Thanks again and happy writing!
- Maddy @mustlovemustypages (on Tumblr, Ao3 and FF.net)
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