#a rook reading books

[corvid-language-library]

I finished The Graveyard Book and I loved it but

I have questions about the ending??? Like they just gave this 15-year-old kid some money and a passport and were like "right off you fuck then"????? He grew up in a fucking graveyard and has barely been out in the real world and Silas is seriously just like "k see ya then"??? Like where is he gonna go? What is he gonna do? Is he just gonna sleep outside? I doubt he knows how to find accommodation or how getting a job works or anything. I can almost guarantee he doesn't know how to budget properly.

I'm so fucking worried about this kid jfc

#a rook reading books #the graveyard book #spoilers

[lovelyjasmari]

Twisted Wonderland Reaction Part 17 ~ Special Edition

Hello everyone! 

So…it’s been a while since I’ve made one of these. Almost 2 years to be exact. But after book 5 forever changed how I engage with twst (for better and worse), I haven’t really been up to doing reaction posts anymore. Also after book 5 I actually began focusing more on the jp server since there were many things in the official translation that I found…lacking to say the least. 

But when twst jp released this mv on April fools day, I just knew I HAD to talk about it! I’m actually surprised more people aren’t. Probably the biggest thing about this mv is that in a lot of ways the narrative of book 5’s ending has changed now we have context to how NRC Tribe performed. I’ve seen a lot of posts on the bird app saying things like it makes sense now why they lost the VDC. 

I will say, this is definitely NOT a perfect performance. But as a former dancer with WAY too much time on their hands, I decided to analyze this. So for context, I did a mix of ballet and jazz for eleven years and in 2017 I decided to return to dance and have been dancing consistently ever since. To judge this fairly, I watched the MV several times, four times per member, (do the math and feel free to judge me). And with that, here are the things that stuck out to me the most. 

He is beauty, he is grace, HOW HE HELL DID HE NOT KICK EPEL IN THE FACE?!

Synchronization/symmetry 

The lack of synchronization was the first thing I noticed, ESPECIALLY in the first 30 seconds. The footwork is sloppy and Deuce and Ace in particular aren't as sharp with their moves as the other five. Rook seems to be the only one doing the choreography correctly because one point at 0:25 (and again at 3:31) where he bends his knee higher than the others and thanks to those fuckass uggs standing out so much, I couldn’t unsee it. At 1:03, 1:07, 2:07, and 3:00 Ace’s form is noticeably off as well.

And this may just be a personal hangup of mine but I found lack of symmetry between the boys at 1:14 very odd. Like, I don’t know how I can describe it but the way Epel tried to take center stage during his and Vil’s duet gave me the impression that wasn’t originally in the routine. At 1:13 there’s a split second where you can actually see Vil looking down at Epel like “...wut?” I immediately thought about that moment right before they go on stage where Epel offers to take on Vil’s solo’s because he looks so weak but Vil refuses. I wonder if Epel trying to take center like that is a callback to that exchange. Unfortunately, since the boys were perfectly symmetrical for the rest of the song, it stands out as awkward all the more. 

Kalim and Jamil

Lowkey, Kalim and Jamil both carried this performance after Vil. The little magic with the mic was a super nice touch and Kalim shines the most during the dance break. He seems to be having fun with it despite being in agony. What’s interesting is that after Ace and Deuce, Kalim is the most out of sync but he pulls it off well since I can tell he’s been on the stage before. Both he and Jamil are natural performers. 

Vil’s movements

So, this has been something of a headcanon of mine but it seems to have been proven correct with this mv. Vil has always struck me as someone who probably has a lot of classical dance training but little training in other styles like hip-hop or jazz. His movements are very graceful and elegant but almost…too elegant? I don’t know if that makes sense but they seem very smooth for this style of choreography.

AND THAT FUCKING GRAND JETE!!! Absolutely flawless but it feels SO out of place here! I will give him credit though, that is one of the most difficult jumps to pull off in ballet, and the fact he did that in fucking 5-inch heels right after the most mentally and physically traumatic episode of his life, it’s beyond impressive. And the fact he landed perfectly and so seamlessly moved into his final solo is even more remarkable. Still, that was the most jarring element of this choreography and I think it would still be out of place even if this was a “perfect” performance. 

Now here’s where I potentially piss people off

All in all this is a perfectly imperfect performance. Being completely objective and not taking my love for these characters into account, I honestly still don’t see how they lost. Well, I understand why but it still is fucked to me. I can understand Vil feeling like NRC Tribe didn’t perform their best since they were exhausted and hurting from dealing with his overblot. I can also understand that they were probably a lot more polished in rehearsal. But here’s the thing,  for a group of amateurs, I would probably expect this quality of performance even if they hadn’t had to deal with Vil’s overblot.

First off, the choreography is rather complex for beginners and requires a lot of synchronization to look correct. But perfecting synchronization alone can take months and, in larger groups, sometimes even longer. If NRC Tribe can look like this after only ONE MONTH of training, that’s extremely impressive.

To give an example, last year at my dance school for our end of the year showcase, the K-pop class did a cover of TWICE's Can't Stop Me. It took us the better part of eight months to learn, and we had to learn everything in groups of three before we could learn and practice together. And even then, we still fucked up a lot because, again, none of us are professionals. Look at this video and tell me if you could learn this in only ONE month. Vil, can you train me please?? XD

As for having to perform right after beating OB Vil’s ass, again I was expecting to see A LOT more noticeable errors. And knowing what they all just went through honestly makes me admire this all the more. The thing is, it’s easy to be beautiful when everything is right and perfect in your world. But being able to smile even when you’re struggling and your heart is breaking is even more beautiful still. Personally, I don’t think I could perform even half as well if it were me. 

It’s unfortunate that we don’t have a MV of Neige’s performance so I could do a fully fair analysis. But if we look at all the evidence, it seems to me that NRC Tribe still gave a better performance. And I think the true tragedy here isn’t even that NRC Tribe lost since I think that was always a given considering the dynamic NRC and RSA has.

The true tragedy, I think, is that Vil could be convinced that this perfectly imperfect performance was still inferior to Neige’s. But I’ll leave that for another time. 

#twisted wonderland #jas reads twst #twst book 5 #twst book 5 spoilers #nrc tribe #vil schoenheit #epel felmier #jamil viper #kalim al asim #ace trappola #deuce spade #rook hunt #shut up jas

[art-question-mark]

“Bodhi leaned forward in his seat, fully intent on Jyn. "You're Galen's daughter?" he asked.

He looked like he hadn't slept in days. He looked almost as pathetic as she did.

"You know him?" she asked.

What did he think of the stranger in her hologram?

"Yes."”

—Rogue One Novelisation by Alexander Freed

#ok you guys know that bts picture of felicity yeah i just changed it so it’s jyn and bodhi #sorry for always putting the most devastating quotes i’m my defense mr freed only gives us trauma with this book #i had to edit the quote a little bc it was so long so … go read the full thing #once again spreading the jyn and bodhi siblings agenda #i mean come on galen basically adopted bodhi #galens kids !! #rogue one #rogue one a star wars story #star wars #bodhi rook #jyn erso

[twistsandturnsroundwonderland]

Some memes because how else am I supposed to handle waiting for the second half of book 6. Thank you, Rook, for being so memeable.

Love and beauty? Hm, sounds familiar but I can’t quite place it.

Hello???? HELLO???? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE VIL PLEASE

…bonjour

Oh, CAN’T I?

#rook hunt #epel felmier #idia shroud #twst yuu #twst mc #twisted wonderland #twst #twst book 6 #twst book 6 spoilers #book 6 spoilers #do I know everything is going to be okay yes am I still worried about the boys also yes #I’ve not read it through jpn so please do not tell me #twsted threads

[noahhawthorneauthor]

There's something about queer cozy reads that soothes the soul. Speaking of, I'm hosting a Read-Along for Phantom and Rook on Halloween!

I've partnered up with Fable to give away ebooks to those who join the book club, and if you'd like to participate but prefer audiobooks, let me know! I still have some Spotify codes that I'd be happy to giveaway.

The book club is already set up, link is here. I'll also be creating a Storygraph challenge, and sharing updates on here for those of you who like to quietly participate. It's a great way to celebrate PAR's book birthday, and to prepare for the sequel coming out in a couple months!

Blurb:

Arlo Rook has decided it’s time to move out of Garren Castle, home for orphans of all races, magical or not, at 100 years old.

It’s not the first time he’s left home, but after a setback that landed the Hedge Witch in the hospital a year ago, he ended up right back at square one. But now he’s ready to strike out on his own, despite his friend’s worries that he’s not ready for the ‘real world.’

Then, he crashes into a mess of copper curls and bright eyes, sending apothecary goods and his life into a chaotic mess. Thatch is a mysterious and incredibly wealthy benefactor of Levena, only spoken of but never seen. He requests a night of Arlo’s company and a tour of the city, which Arlo immediately declines.

But that’s not the last time they see each other, and it certainly wasn’t the first. Arlo doesn’t remember him, no one remembers Thatch after he visits, but Thatch never forgot the Witch with a familiar mark on his face.

Thatch Phantom is an immortal, the last of his kind and perpetually bored. When he’s not closing inter-dimensional rifts and corralling demons, he’s visiting his favorite city of all, Levena. Centuries ago, when life was particularly dull, he set up a scavenger hunt for a starving village, providing them with a year’s worth of supplies.

He anonymously returned year after year, upping the ante and providing less practical things, as the village had become a city and was wealthy beyond belief. Festivals were thrown in his honor, and have continued every year since. Hundreds of years later, The Game is still put on by the fabled ‘Scarlet Illusionist’, but no one has figured out who blesses them with the puzzles.

Once again, Thatch is listless and has decided to throw a wild card into this year’s Game. Whoever discovers him will win one wish of their choice, no restrictions. Aside from the obvious, such as no falling in love, murder or resurrection.

What he didn’t anticipate was crashing into the one person whose soul mark flares like a beacon when Thatch is around, teasing the immortal with the one thing he wants most.

Someone to call home.

🍁🎃🏳️‍🌈📚✨

Find Phantom and Rook here!

#aelina isaacs #phantom and rook #queer books #indie books #happy queers #gay books #cozy fantasy #cozy books #fall reads #fall books #fantasy author #indie author #writeblr #writers on tumblr #kit & basie #legends and lattes #the very secret society of irregular witches #silver in the wood #cursed cocktails #witchmark #a psalm for the wild built #letters to half moon street #soulmates #found family #mental health rep #forgotten memories #lgbtqia books #read along #fable book club

[eerna]

all of these shitty fantasy enemies to lovers wanna be them so bad (Jurdan)

#i LIKE trashy fantasy romance. i LOVE it in fact. but it needs to be done RIGHT it needs to have CHARACTER it needs to be BELIEVABLE #do you KNOW how much i am suffering because i can't just google ''books similar to tfota'' bc people just DONT GET THE APPEAL #cardan harrow and rook only bitchy bully royals who ever did it right </3 #tfota liveblog #dealing with violence's ''WAAA HE WANTS TO KILL MEEE BUT HE IS SO HOOOOOT'' like an adult (crying screaming wishing i was reading smth else

[kazz-brekker]

#pie says stuff #polls #rook and rose #mak carrick #books #the mask of mirrors #the liar's knot #labyrinth's heart #i suppose some of these are TECHNICALLY spoilers but they're so out of context #that i highly doubt they would make sense to you unless you've read the series #anyway i just finished this series and it was a wild ride so i am once again blogging about it #if you would like to know the context of these pleeeease read this trilogy it's so good

[jayreyen]

I wasn't planning on posting art here because this is a "writing" blog but here's my oc x Alex

#Jay draws #The land of stories #The land of stories fanart #Tlos #Tlos fanart #The land of stories oc #Tlos oc #Alex Bailey #“writing” blog but I haven't written anything lmao #If anyone has Alex writing prompts PLEASE give it to me #I think I'll just try to write an OC x Alex story #But I don't know what to do with the timeline and Rook #I'm thinking of placing it in the 3rd book but what do I do with Rook.. #I haven't thought much about my OC except that she's purple #And possible a witch.. I'm not sure </3 #I created my OC before I was done rereading the 2nd book and when I reread the 3rd book I realised my OC was basically Rook but a girl so #I have to change my OCs story now lol #I was thinking that someone unaware she's smart/the fairy godmother's granddaughter would be nice #And maybe they meet when Alex is granting wishes #Then I read the 3rd book and that's basically Rook 😭 #Also Alex what in the world is strawberry blond #Is this even strawberry blond?? Alex your hair color is sooo so confusing

[anonyanonymouse]

I need a minute. to process the update

#I'm sososososoos sleepy it is overwhelming SORRY #I know I'm going to be killed every time I stay up to read the update and I knew I had a rough shift at work ahead of me but alas #I feel like I run out of things to say about the updates when they're not so directly about the 4 dia boys anymore </3 #twst spoilers #I love rook though. he was so real for.... all of that #the reminder that Vil's overblot hurt Rook more than anyone else #that he trusted Vil more than anyone else and wanted to believe he wouldn't be willing to stoop so low #he was willing to die if it meant everyone else got along.... rook ily #and dear god they actually showed Neige's dead body... Not knocked out or in a coma #straight lined vitals and cold body #the dwarves begging him to stop being lazy and wake up... #(foreshadowing pleas e please please pleas pla plsplspslpslspl be foreshadowing for silver please I'll cry) #and the cut to Vil celebrating is ''victory'' at VDC after killing Neige.. it all felt so dark #even after what they pulled with Ortho in the last book I'm still surprised when they directly address characters dying and being dead #anyway very good update I had a good time #Idia's dumb fucking video was so cute and silly

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Who's is That Face in the Mask?

So, it's rare when I pick up a book on the strength of a YouTube video, and honestly even rarer that I enjoy books selected based on that criteria. However, since Marie Brennan is one half of MA Carrick and the book is often described via *that* quote from The Princess Bride (and no, I'm not specifying even though Princess Bride is all *that* quote depending on context), I had hope. After all, I loved the Lady Trent memoirs and The Princess Bride. And folks, this book did not disappoint. Let's talk The Mask of Mirrors.

What do you get when hundreds of years of colonization mixes with a rogue vigilante for the oppressed population and a con woman who sets out for money but comes up with found family? Youu get some stunningly well written characters, intrigue that I frankly preferred to A Song of Ice and Fire, and just beautifully nuanced worldbuilding.

Ren--or Renata Viraudax or Arenza, depending on the day and location--grew up as a dirt-poor half-Vrazenian kid who was completely disconnected from her mother's people in a city colonized by the Liganti. She was a gang member under the objectively abusive Ondrakja until she watched Ondrakja beat her brother to death. Next thing we know, Ren has poisoned her Fagin and made off for another country with her sister, Tess. They end up serving in the household of Letilia--a disgraced member of House Traemantis.

Fast forward a few years, and Letilia being an absolutely irredeemable human gives Ren the idea to con the remaining members of House Traemantis in Nadezera. Mother and daughter are sufficiently estranged that Letilia won't out Ren, but other actors in the city might.

Those actors include Grey Serrado, captain of the Vigil (read police force) and Vrazenian slip-knot (read traitor to his people because he assimilated into Liganti society. He is running himself ragged trying to sort out why street kids keep dying of insomnia, track down the mysterious Rook, and running petty errands for the Liganti nobility. He does not get help from the rampant vanity and nepotism in the Vigil ranks, nor the racism of most Liganti hawks. Add to that his deep grief for his brother's recent murder and Grey needs a hug and a paid vacation.

Then there is Vargo Derossi, crime lord extraordinaire with an eye toward becoming too powerful to be ignored and choosing to pretend to go legitimate to achieve the dream. He is charming and deadly all at once, has someone else in his head, has a pet spider named Peabody, and some serious germophobia. Whether he is caught in Ren's con or she is caught in his web is an open question for most of this book. Vargo is 100% unanswered questions, and every single one is dangerous to ask and even more dangerous not to know the answer to. Especially since he is also SUSPICIOUSLY competent at numinatria...

We of course cannot neglect Donaia, Leato, and Giuna Tremantis. This remnant of a once proud family are an unusual bunch, but they're also different enough that watching their personalities mesh and clas ended up being one of my favorite things about this book.

Beyond the character work, the worldbuilding in this book is first-class. The Vrazenians and Liganti are culturally and visually distinct at a glance, and then for those who care to stay and look harder, there is depth and nuance. Both cultures feel real and vibrant, which makes the all-too-clear harms of oppression and colonization, as well as the messiness of navigating mixed-heritage identities, all the sharper.

It also highlights the different magic systems, religions, and ways of knowing and relating to your community based on those cultural differences. Patterning and numinatria are both valid, but neither quite likes the other and thy don't cross cultural lines. The Rook is a folk hero to the Vrazenians and a half-mythical, pain-in-the-ass vigilante to the Liganti. Even fashion is sharply divided.

Overall, the Princess Bride comparison is apt, but perhaps also mixed with some Leverage and some Batman. I loved this book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next two.

#ma carrick #the mask of mirrors #adult fantasy novel #adult fantasy #adult fiction #rook and rose #books and reading #books & libraries #books and novels #books #book recommendations

[corvid-language-library]

Ngl The Poppy War is hard reading. It's fiction and yet it's not. It describes genocide and utterly barbaric behaviour and I can't even dissociate myself from it because I know this kind of shit has happened in the world, is happening right now. It's so awful and grotesque and I have no doubt that every single horrific act that Kuang's describing is something that human beings have done to each other, are probably doing to each other somewhere in the world and will likely do to each other in the future.

I'll make it to the end (I'm about 80% through) but idk if I'm gonna read the rest of the series. I want to because I like the premise, but reading's escapism for me and I don't know if I can handle seeing genocide in the news and then reading about the intricacies of it in my down time.

#a rook reading books #the poppy war #rf kuang #not saying people shouldn't write about this kind of thing but it's a bit heavy for me #anyway if you've read the rest of the series lmk if it gets better or worse

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

The Liar’s Knot & Labyrinth’s Heart

books 2&3 in a fantasy trilogy set in a Venetian inspired city full of political intrigue

follows a young woman who conned her way into a noble family, a masked vigilante, and a crime boss, who eventually become allies while juggling multiple identities

and trying to save their people and city by joining a secret society to find origins of a corrupting curse, to eventually destroy the powerful magical objects at the heart of it

tarot magic & sigil/geometry magic, dreamworlds, sentient magical disguises

#the liar's knot #labyrinth's heart #rook and rose #aroaessidhe 2024 reads #the summaries at the start are helpful. bc I forgot what happened in book one lol #I enjoyed these better - I think listening to the audiobooks helped with that a lot. They’re quite long books! #the accents in the audiobooks also enhance it a lot #I def enjoyed the series overall & listening to a whole book in a day or 2 (rather than dragging out if i did text format) is better #the overall plot and magic stuff. im not gonna lie and say i understood it all LMAO but I thought it was pretty good & def some great char #don’t super care about romance. like I don’t dislike it - & much prefer the slow burn to instalove that's everywhere - but also eh whateve #also not to be like miraculous ladybug but high fantasy. but #yeah of course the aromantic crime boss w a telepathically linked spider hosting the ghost of a dead guy as his closest companion is my fav #yeah i cried. im tearing up thinking about it now. they’re so good #his little spider gloves for his spider feet? #there's a good amount of queer characters scattered around #(vargo's aromanticism is hinted a few times; and it's pretty clear imo if you're looking; but not explicit) #i see there’s tons of people shipping him/disappointed it wasn’t polyam...I wish it was clearer bc of that. but otherwise it was fine #like. solidly developed in depth character is just as/more important to me overall #but also why'd [redacted] have to leave....nooo :( #also spider on the cover!!! i only noticed that at the end of that book sjdghsf #queer books #aromantic books #bisexual books

[dannydoteggg]

The Autumn Prince from Margaret Rogerson's An Enchantment of Ravens

#this is my hot take on Rook #just read the book #and i loved it so much #it was so creepy hihi #an enchantment of ravens #an enchantment of ravens rook #an enchantment of ravens fanart #fantasy #fae folk #fae art #fanart #margaret rogerson #my art #i know it isnt very close to the book description but this is my vision

[rook-hunt-chasseur-damour]

force feeds u books :3

Reading or actually eating them?

#rook chats #bonjour anon ^^ #rook: if you're reading them to me or recommending them I'll gladly read them ^^ #admin: and what if they actually feed you books? #rook: i'll eat paper then ^^

[noahhawthorneauthor]

#aelina isaacs #phantom and rook #queer books #indie books #wayward son #legends and lattes #cozy books #retired hero #chosen family #mental health rep #urban fantasy books #queer urban fantasy #if you like this read this #book recommendations #noahs book recs

[hapalopus]

The fun thing about Rook being courted by every girl in the region is that Rook is very physically attractive and also very very autistic. Which means that people who don't know him instantly try to pick him up, but people who do know him are completely uninterested and literally cannot be in a relationship with him unless they're on the exact same ND wavelength as him. Which is something I strongly relate to, as a hot autist.

#ben 10 #sorry for humblebragging but i regularly get pick-up artists coming up to me purely based on my looks #and they're instantly scared off when i start talking #because all i'm able to talk about is b10 lore and arthropod behavior and folklore. and sometimes the book i'm reading #i understand rook blonko on an intrinsic level