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asleepinawell · 3 years

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Book Recs

I was gonna do one of these at the end of the year, but I’ve somehow managed to read 26 books this year already (12 novellas, 14 novels), almost all featuring queer authors and/or characters so this is already a long list.

Note: There’s a few on here I was kind of meh about, but in most of those cases it was a ‘book might be good but it’s not for me so i’ll mention it to put it on people’s radar anyway’ type of thing. Insert the usual necessary tumblr disclaimer about all of this being only my opinion and your opinions are valid too etc etc.

In order of when I read them:

Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir - Fantasy novella from the author of gideon the ninth that’s a twist on the classic princess trapped in a tower waiting for a prince story. Quite fun. (novella)

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht - Dark fantasy about revenge and magic. m/m couple but like I said it’s pretty dark and twisted all around so definitely not a happy queer romantic story. My opinion was interesting premise that could have been executed better and probably should have been a full novel to embellish on the world building potential. (novella)

A Memory Called Empire & A Desolation Called Peace - Arkady Martine - Probably tied with murderbot as the best things I read this year. Scifi, f/f couple, wonderfully done exploration of what it means to fall in love with a culture that is destroying your own. More of the many queer anti-imperialist books that have come out recently and certainly some of the best. The second one is a direct continuation of the first. (2 novels)

The Tyrant Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson - This is the third in the Baru Cormorant series (The Masquerade) and was my favorite so far. The second and third book were originally one book that got split I believe and the second book didn’t stand alone as well (though was still great), but the third book really made up for that. Dark fantasy world starring a queer woc whose country and culture is destroyed by the imperial forces of that world colonizing and assimilating them. She vows revenge and decides to work her way up within her enemy’s ranks to enact it from within and bring an empire to ruins. Really really fascinating study of so many different aspects of our own world and the systems which enable and allow bigotry and how bigoted and violent narratives are used to control minorities. This is definitely a darker series and I was particularly impressed with some of the commentary on the racism prevalent in non-intersectional feminism as depicted through a fantasy world. Can’t wait for the last one to come out! (3 novels, 1 forthcoming)

The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells - There’s six of them--5 novella and a novel--and the first is All Systems Red. Told from the point of view of a self-aware droid/android that is rented out by a corporation to provide protection in a dystopian capitalist hellhole future that isn’t that unlike our current capitalist dystopia but is in space. Muderbot hacked the chip that controlled it and instead of going rogue just wants to be left alone to watch its favorite tv shows. Murderbot is painfully relatable and the books are both funny and poignant. Highly recommended. (5 novellas and a novel).

Winter’s Orbit - Everina Maxwell - This was a m/m romance novel with a scifi backdrop of royal intrigue. Generally I’m more into scifi with a queer relationship in the background than vice versa, so it wasn’t my favorite, BUT I think it was still well written and someone looking for more of the romance angle would enjoy it. Has all your favorite romance tropes in it, especially the yearning. (novel)

The Divine Cities - Robert Jackson Bennett - Three book series. I’m very conflicted about this one. Set in a fantasy world where an enslaved nation overthrew the country enslaving them and now rules over them. It’s a story of what happens after the triumphant victory and within that it’s also a murder mystery tied into the dying magic of the conquered nation. It also has a six foot something naked oily viking man fist fight a cthulhu in a frozen river. The second book was by far my favorite, mostly due to the main character being brilliant. My conflict comes from the fact I don’t feel like the story treated its women and queer characters well. Like it had really great characters but it didn’t do great by them overall. That and the third book didn’t live up to the first two. But still definitely worth a read, can’t stress enough how cool some of the world building was. (3 novels)

Into the Drowning Deep - Mira Grant - This might be the only one on here I disliked. It’s got a doomed boat voyage and creepy underwater terror and monsters and a super diverse cast of characters, but I just didn’t enjoy the writing style. While having a diverse cast is great, there were a lot of moments where it felt like characters were pausing to explain things about themselves that felt like a tumblr post rather than a normal conversation you might have while actively being hunted by monsters. I also bounced off all the characters. But a lot of people seem to have liked it so if you’re into horror and want a book with a f/f main couple then maybe you’ll enjoy it. (novel)

Dead Djinn Universe - P. Djèlí Clark - Around the early 1900′s, a man in Egypt discovers a way to access another world and bring Djinn and mysterious clockwork beings called Angels through. As a result, Egypt tells the British to get fucked and Cairo becomes one of the most powerful cities in the world. So Egypt, magic, djinn, a steampunk-ish vibe, oh and the main character is a butch queer woman who enjoys wearing dapper suits and looking fabulous while she investigates supernatural events. Her girlfriend is also mysterious and badass. And she has a cat. There’s three novella (one of which technically might be considered a short story) and then the first novel. You should absolutely read the novellas first (A Dead Djinn in Cairo, The Angel of Khan el-Khalili, The Haunting of Tram Car 015). Super fun and imaginative series. (3 novellas and a novel, more forthcoming)

River of Teeth & Taste of Marrow - Sarah Gailey - From the book description

“In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true. Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two. This was a terrible plan.”

Queer hippo riders!!!! Very much a western but with hippos. Main couple included a non-binary character. Loved the first one. The second one I was more meh about due to one of the characters I was supposed to like having obnoxious man pain that a woman had to take the brunt of the whole time. Also there were less hippos. But queer hippo riders! Definitely read the first one, and they’re both novellas so no reason not to read the second as well. (2 novellas)

A Psalm for the Wild-Built - Becky Chambers - I may be the only person who hasn’t read the long way to a small angry planet at this point, but I did grab her new novella and I loved it. It made me want to go sit out in the woods and feel peaceful. The world it’s set in feels like a peaceful post-apocalypse...or diverted apocalypse maybe. Humans built robots and robots gained sentience, but instead of rebelling they just up and left and went into the wilderness with a promise that the humans wouldn’t follow them.The remaining human society reshaped itself into something new and peaceful. It’s the story of a monk who leaves their habitual monking duties to go be a tea monk and then later wanders into the wilderness and becomes the first human in ages to meet a robot. Very sad there’s no fan art yet. (novella, more forthcoming)

The March North - Graydon Saunders - This was such a weird book that I’m not sure how to explain it. The prose style is hard to get used to and I suspect a lot of people will bounce off it in the first chapter. There’s no third person pronouns used at all and important events get mentioned once in passing and if you blink you’ll miss them. Set on a world where magic is extremely common to the point that rivers sometimes run with blood or fire and the local weeds are something out of a horror movie and most of the world is run by powerful sorcerer dictators, one country banded together (with the help of a few powerful sorcerers who were tired of all the bullshit) to form a free country where powerful sorcerers wouldn’t rule and the small magics of every day folks could be combined to work together. The story revolves around a Captain of the military force on the border who one day has three very powerful sorcerers sent to them by the main government with the hint that just maybe there’s about to be a big invasion (there is) with the implication of take these guys and go deal with this. The world building is extremely complex and very cool...when you can actually understand what the fuck is going on. There is also a murder sheep named Eustace who breathes fire and eats just about everything and is a Very Good Boy and belongs to the most terrifying sorcerer in the world who appears as a little old grandma with knitting. It had one of the most epic badass and wonderfully grotesque battles I’ve ever read. But yeah, it is not what I would call easy reading. Opinions may vary wildly. I did also read the second one (A Succession of Bad Days) in the series which was easier to follow and had a lot more details about the world, but overall I was more meh about it despite some cool aspects. The chapters and chapters of the extreme details of building a house that made up half the novel just weren’t my thing. (novels).

The Space Between Worlds - Micaiah Johnson - In this world parallels universes exist and we’ve discovered how to travel between them, but the catch is you can only go to worlds where the ‘you’ there is already dead. This turns into an uncomfortable look at who would be the people most likely to have died on many worlds and how things like class and race would fit into that and what we would actually use this ability for (if you guessed stealing resources and the stock market you’d be correct). The main character is a queer woc who travels between worlds with the assistance of her handler (another queer woc) who she has the hots for. She accidentally stumbles on a whole lot of mess and conspiracy and gets swept up in that. Really enjoyed it. (novel)

Witchmark - C.L. Polk - Fantasy world reminiscent of Victorian England (I think?) where a young man with magical gifts runs away from his powerful family to avoid being exploited by them. He joins the army and fights in a war and comes home to try and live a quiet life as a doctor, but a murder pulls him into a larger mystery that upturns his life. Also he’s extremely gay and there’s a prevalent m/m romance. This one was a fun-but-not-mind-blowing one for me. (novel, 2 more in the series I haven’t read)

The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon - This was one of those that everyone loved but I couldn’t get into for some reason. I tried twice and only got about halfway through the second time. It’s got dragons and queer ladies and fantasy world and all the things I like, but I wasn’t that invested in the main story (which included the f/f couple) and was more interested in the smaller story about a woman trying to become a dragon rider. There are few things that beat out a lady and her dragon friend story for me and that was the storyline that felt neglected and took a different turn right when we got to the part I’d been waiting for. But, I know a lot of people whose reading opinions I respect who loved it, and if you like epic fantasy with dragons and queens and treachery and pirates and queer characters then I’d say you should definitely give it a try. (novel)

Bonus: I didn’t read these series this year, but if you haven’t read them yet, you should.

Imperial Radch (Ancillary Justice) - Ann Leckie - Spaceship AI stuck in a human body out for revenge for their former captain, but that summary does not come close to doing it justice. Another one examining imperialism and also gender and race.(3 novels)

Kushiel's Legacy Series - Jacqueline Carey - This is two series, six books total, and starts with Kushiel's Dart. Alternate universe Renaissance-y Europe in a fantastical world where sex isn't shameful and sex workers are respected and prized. Lots of political intrigue and mystery. A lot of BDSM and kinky stuff too (the main character is a sexual masochist, oh and also bi!). I first read this series when I was fifteen or sixteen and it definitely made a big impression on me. Same author also wrote the Santa Olivia series which I’d also recommend. (6 novels)

The Locked Tomb (Gideon the Ninth) - Tamsyn Muir - I mean, if you follow me, you know. If you don’t follow me you still probably know. I’d have felt remiss to have left them off though. Lesbian Necormancers in Space. Memes! Skeletons! Biceps! Go read them. (2 novels, 2 forthcoming, 1 short story)

Books On My To Read List:

Fireheart Tiger - Aliette de Bodard

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water - Zen Cho

Black Sun - Rebecca Roanhorse

This Is How You Lose the TIme War - Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Ninefox Gambit - Yoon Ha Lee

Also, if anyone has any recs for scifi/fantasy books starring queer men (not necessarily having to do with a queer relationship) and written by queer men I’d love them. There’s a lot written by women, and some of them are great, but I’d love to read a story about queer men from their own perspective.

#book recs #books #mp

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twopoppies · 4 years

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Hi I was wondering if you have any fics where there's a twist in the plot? Like it kinda surprises you with things you didn't expect? I hope you have a nice day!

Hi sugar. I love that question. I feel as though there must be more, but this is what’s coming to mind!

just a flicker in the dark by @falsegoodnight (E, 57K) I just finished this one last night and it was so good! The super original story and great pacing definitely had me on the edge of my seat. It had everything in it: hate to love, exes to lovers, scary supernatural elements, warm friendships, plus a sexy and emotional smut scene. Highly recommend it!

gathered on wings by Brooklyn_Babylon / @twopoppies (E, 33K) This one is mine, so here’s the summary since I can’t review it:

What Harry Styles wanted was to be taken seriously as an artist.

What he needed was a new sugar daddy to pave the way.

Louis Tomlinson is an artist who isn’t what Harry is looking for.

Somehow he still manages to turn Harry's world upside down.

Tied Down by HamPalpert / @ham-palpert (E, 49K - detectives) Harry and Louis are criminals in this one, the other boys are the detectives, and I really liked how original and layered this one was. If the tags concern you, contact the author (or me) –– the fic is a wild ride, but so worth the read!

Nothing But You On My Mind by nonsensedarling / @absoloutenonsense (E, 84K) I couldn’t put this down from the minute I started. Everything about it was such fun. Terrific banter, great chemistry, unique story, beautiful writing. I literally read the first 9 chapters in one sitting – starting at 1:30 in the morning (like an idiot).

The Second Hand Unwinds by kingsofeverything (FullOnLarrie) / @kingsofeverything (E, 52K) Also known as “the NASA fic”. This one has such a unique and well thought-out storyline. Add in time travel, exes to lovers, ot5, and excellent pacing….you’ve got yourself a great fic!

Black With Autumn Rain by Whimsicule (T, 93K) This writer is a favorite. If you like intense, creative stories, with complex characters and tight dialogue, you should read all of their fics. This one has the flavor of a Daphne du Maurier novel – dark, creepy, and moodily romantic. Plus a supernatural edge. It’s so good.

hot, sticky sweet by Awriterwrites / @a-writerwrites (E, 6K) Just flirty, sexy, summertime smut with Harry in roller skates and hot pants.

Victorian Boy by audreyhheart For anyone that hasn’t read this yet, it’s delightfully unique and layered with a little of everything – hate to love, romance, intrigue, action, betrayal, sex, and more. It’s well written, sexy – in a wonderfully Victorian way, and keeps you guessing.

for neither never nor ever by fairytalelights / @lookslikefairytale (E, 29K) This is based on a TV show I’ve never seen, but it is such a unique and layered time travel story. I was captivated by the twists and turns. Yes, it’s ultimately a love story, but it’s so much more as well.

Howls Like A Beast (You Flower, You Feast) by @indiaalphawhiskey (E, 17K) This author’s writing is poetic without being too precious, descriptive in a way that paints a gorgeous portrait without piling on unimportant detail, and their smut is sexy af. I love all of their fics, but this is a personal favorite because it combines so many things I love (supernatural elements, Versailles, Larry, and smut…what more could you want? LOL).

Soul of the Sea by vurdoc (E, 33K) A gothic romance set in a small Scottish village. Mysterious, melancholy, tender, and such a pleasure to read.

Don’t Let the Tide Come and Take Me by @kiwikero (M, 29K) One of my favorite mermaid fics, this author just really knows how to craft a great story. This one was so moving, suspenseful, and has some great twists.

Until You Remember by Throwthemflowers / @hazzabeeforlou (E, 21K) This is just a lovely fic full of music and beauty and it made me cry. I really need to read it again, actually!

Loyal Knight and True by rainbowninja167 / @rainbowninja (E, 52K) Just lovely writing, unique story, twists and turns, and a lot of fun to read.

Through Eerie Chaos by mediawhore / @mediawhorefics (GA, 102K) This is such a unique and compelling story, the writing is beautiful, the characters are wonderfully realized, and I ugly cried for realz. Such a good fic.

#plot twist fics #my fic rec #larry fic rec #Anonymous

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whentheynameyoujoy · 3 years

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Women in SPN—Seasons 2 and 3

Previously on Joy Obsesses over a Show That Creatively Expired in 2010

Tessa

Introduced back when the Winchesters dodging the coffin actually qualified as an episode, she follows in Meg’s tracks by continuing to make monsters seem more approachable and less a malevolent force of nature. Starts off with a completely flat affect but gets annoyed with the Winchester bullshit real quick—a sure-fire sign of an SPN character with a brain. A powerful being capable of returning one’s memories by a smooch which is… convenient. As is the fact that bad guys keep using her for their ebul plans. Serves the typical secondary-character function of a springboard for a main guy’s development. Plants hints of the “natural order”, “destiny”, and “inevitability” which will become major themes down the road and be explored by characters with deeper writing.

Status: Alive as of s5

Importance: Minor, remembered primarily because she keeps popping up.

On her own: A nice addition to the lore.

Jo Harvelle

Originally Dean’s love interest until she got written out for the crime of having tits around the fandom’s husband. Driven by a wish to honor her dead father and become a hunter, she’s held back by the unfortunate fact of not being all that good at it. Cheerful, temperamental, and a pretty skilled hustler, she’s mortally wounded when charging in to protect Dean. Ends up sacrificing herself so that others can escape and attempt to end the Apocalypse.

Status: Dead as of s5, dragged back and disappeared again in s7

Importance: Major

On her own: A soldier going out in a blaze of glory. I bawl every time.

Ellen Harvelle

Unlike her daughter, very good at what she does. No-nonsense authority figure, she’s one of the few in the show to pull off a combination of a hand-wringing mama bear and a pro-active badass with a life outside her family. Not perceived as a threat because fans don’t know the meaning of MILF yet, and so is allowed to stick around for the season 2 finale. Dies to make Jo’s plan to obliterate Meg’s hellhounds work, though it’s strongly implied she mostly refuses to survive her kid.

Status: Dead

Importance: Major

On her own: SPN’s Molly Weasley, sullied by the implications of her death

Lenore

A head-strong leader of a nest of vegetarian vampires, she’s deliberately contrasted with Gordon’s Terminator schtick and to a lesser degree with Dean’s black-and-white monsters vs. humans kill-everything grief-cope in order to further cement SPN’s ongoing crusade of challenging who in fact is the monster around here. Has a crowning moment of awesome when she refuses to feed while covered in Sam’s blood. The entire point of her is her determination not to give up her humanity even when no longer human. Would be shame if the show decided to later abandon this essential part of her character and twist it for cheap drama…

Status: Alive as of s5, annihilated in every way in s6

Importance: Minor in the overall narrative, major in the episode and the boys’ development

On her own: An effective mirror to Dean’s stroll down the slippery slope

Diana Ballard

TheGoodCop manipulated by her professional and romantic partner, she has a surprisingly functional tension with Sam. Luckily for Linda Blair it goes unnoticed because the fandom doesn’t view older women as competition. Noteworthy mostly because she actively participates in uncovering the episode’s mystery which automatically elevates her above the standard clueless civilian, man or woman, who needs the duo to save them. Despite fewer appearances arguably more memorable than Henriksen, precisely because of her active involvement.

Status: Alive as of s5

Importance: Minor overall, a major player in the episode

On her own: Interesting take on the usual boilerplate cop

Ava Wilson

To present a very, very generous interpretation, she foreshadows Sam’s eventual turn to the dark side. Spirited, a little bit airheaded, and freaked about her Azazel-given powers, she gives enough of a damn to prevent her visions of people dying from coming true, though she clings to her intention to lead a normal civilian life. Does a complete switcheroo off-screen to become a villain because… power is awesome? Ends up the most advanced special child in season 2’s battle royale, the very concept of which is just… eh? Still gets dispatched no problem because… why not?

Status: Dead

Importance: Minor

On her own: A prime example of why the special children subplot is just…wot?

Molly McNamara

Memorable primarily because of the experimental (for SPN) narration which frames her as the duo’s partner when in fact she’s one of the things being hunted. For plot reasons spends her episode switching between being terrified, worried for her missing husband, and heartbroken. Can be somewhat tortuously argued to fit the theme of (not) overcoming grief and letting go, one of the few detectable threads in the directionless slog that’s season 2.

Status: Dead

Importance: Minor overall, major because she’s arguably the main character of her episode

On her own: Torture porny. Very torture porny.

Madison

Intelligent, educated, and with an endearing love of soaps, she’s responsible for one of the three watchable sex scenes in the entire show. Has a nice theme of personal growth and healing from trauma going on, although it’s cut short and undermined when she’s revealed as a werewolf and euthanized by none other than Sam himself. Her death is filmed as a narrative-changing tragedy before it goes on to become a joke in season 4.

Status: Dead

Importance: Major

On her own: No matter how you look at it, she’s a diseased dog that needs to be put down for her own good while the menz wallow in their manly manpain. A rare example of a storyline I don’t think can be tweaked to be even marginally less awful.

I believe maestro may have wanted to portray sadness here.

Tamara

Told to be an excellent hunter, she’s shown as needing to be saved in order not to end up like her husband who’s literally forced to gargle bleach. Introduces the notion of growing hostility against the Winchesters in the hunting community. Full of wrath to fit the episode’s one-off seven deadly sins schtick, she’s emphasized as emotional and not in control of herself to such a degree that it overshadows how she’s in fact fairly competent in the second half of the episode.

Status: Alive as of s5

Importance: Minor

On her own: Wouldn’t stand out this much if she weren’t one of the few POCs in the blinding whiteness that’s SPN’s Americana.

Ruby

Doesn’t have the most organic introduction (A cool intriguing sexy French fries loving not like other gurls sassy badass, with a superdooper special knife? How 2000s cringe can you get?) but quickly becomes one of the show’s most distinctive villains allies. She’s an ally. Totally. Don’t worry about it. A sarcastic smartass jerk who breathes lies and manipulation, she’s resourceful, thinks on her feet, and throws herself into the thick of action without hesitation—a trait that gets especially interesting in retrospect as it suggests a fanatic devotion to her real goal. Sadly, her motivation doesn’t get fleshed out beyond “she really likes Satan, I guess” (which, hey) as the writers prioritize the surprise of the revelation over her further character development. Has the second watchable sex scene in the entire show; the fandom weeps itself to sleep. Gets killed by her own weapon when the writers decide that a character who’s smarter than both protagonists combined could well do with a bit of the good ol’ lobotomizing.

Status: Dead

Importance: Supermegadoublemajor

On her own: The stupid nature of her demise and occasional wooden acting do their best but never overshadow the awesome that’s Ruby.

Lisa Braeden

Dean’s past fling who becomes a living symbol of his desire for the white-picket fence. Is implied to possess mad financial skills as she owns property on a yoga teacher’s salary while a single mom below the age of 30. A blank slate the likes of Cassie, she’s salvaged by better acting. Frequent frowning suggests the presence of an inner life though it doesn’t tend to manifest itself on screen or affect the plot. Her single established trait—blow-out assertiveness the moment things get too far—is exercised mostly in service to her son. Exists solely to give Dean something to pine for.

Status: Alive as of s5

Importance: Major

On her own: A tertiary character who so-so sustains her own episode.

Bela Talbot

The best expansion of the show’s lore after the host of heaven, she’s unequivocally a bad person who nevertheless evokes huge amounts of sympathy. A cynical self-serving dealer in supernatural objects who mirrors Dean’s cracking tough guy persona, due to her abuse and the resulting trauma she refuses to open up and rely on anyone out of principle, or be indebted to them. Her pride makes her clinically unable to ask for help until it’s too late, and even forego mentioning personal history when it’d actively benefit her by softening the horrible impression others have of her. Switching between being an antagonist and the duo’s reluctant ally, she manages to outwit them roughly 90% of time. The fact that she has sexual tension with Dean while Sam lusts after her to the point of literal drooling sends fans apoplectic.

Status: Dead

Importance: Major

On her own: A complex character brought down by her own flaws.

Casey

A demon, she’s torn between wanting to enact the Apocalypse and just chilling with her soulmate. Definitely a fanfic reader because her idea of dealing with danger is to shut herself with her enemy in a room and have a lengthy theological debate. Very outspoken about humanity’s propensity for evil. Outcomplexes Lilith and to a lesser extent Ruby as she’s allowed to openly address her life philosophy. While the dialogue format of her scenes is designed to give Dean space to talk about his feelings regarding his impending demise, it’s more or less an equal push-pull exchange. She’s smart, captivating, capable, and in love, i.e. things SPN just isn’t interested in keeping around.

Status: Dead

Importance: Minor in the overall narrative, major in the episode and Dean’s development

On her own: Could have been so good if allowed to stick around

Gertrude Case

A rich elderly creep whose gropy ways are played for laughs because she’s a woman I guess. Either can’t read social cues or doesn’t give a fuck about people’s obvious discomfort. But don’t worry, it’s hilarious. She’s a woman, you see. What harm have those ever done.

Status: I’m going to assume dead by now, otherwise alive as of s5

Importance: A major figure in Sam’s life since she sexually assaulted him. Otherwise minor.

On her own: Sexual harassment is fun, kids

Lucy

Take Molly McNamara, strip her of any pretence at thematic relevance, minimize her importance while playing up her suffering, and then remove her like a broken Christmas decoration while making sassy remarks—voilà, you’ve ended up with the exact simplistic image that pops into one’s head when the words Supernatural and women are mentioned in a sentence.

Status: Dead

Importance: Non-existent

On her own: Just… why

Astaroth

Approaches awesomehood as her demonic business operation is built around preying on bored suburban hausfraus and taking their souls in exchange for magical powers, which they then use to secure benign materialistic keeping-up-with-the-joneses crap and devour one another like a bunch of assholes whose death you can’t help but eagerly anticipate. Srsly, eff those ladies. Stands out as the only (implied) lesbian in the Kripke arc.

Status: Dead

Importance: Minor, not even the real monster of the week when compared to the coven

On her own: There’s probably another discussion about Doylist sexism hidden around somewhere that I’m not really interested in having. Go Astaroth.

Nancy Fitzgerald

Sugar and spice and every other cliché about kindness combined in a pretty sweet package. Plot demands her to be a virgin for some reason, even though this aspect of her character doesn’t amount to anything in the story and only serves to contrast Nancy’s… purity with Ruby who we’re being constantly told is a “slut” and a “whore” and I have no idea how that’s supposed to work. Then again, Nancy’s virginity is framed as a valid personal choice in a rather empowering moment so that’s good. Has standards because even after deciding to let go of her chastity vow, she won’t settle for just any loser who happens to stand around converting oxygen into CO2. Her “cause manpain out of nowhere”-type death is one of the few of this category in the show which actually work because the cruel pointless nature of it is precisely the point (and at least she’s not the only one who doesn’t survive, please ignore how the episode literally says her demise is the most tragic because she never got laid, barfs).

Status: Dead

Importance: Minor

On their own: A textbook definition of a cinnamon

Lilith

An overarching menace that doesn’t spend too much time on screen, she’s a prop rather than her own person. This gets highlighted the moment the show stops casting her as a clichéd creepy child who likes to larp as that Twilight Zone kid, and turns her into the standard hawt chick in a will-they-won’t-they episode. No interiority as she goes along with a plan which requires her obliteration, without at least allowing her to explore her religious motivation. Ruby does all the heavy lifting in this partnership.

Status: Dead

Importance: Major

On her own: For the life of me I can’t make sense of her actions in s4. But the clichéd creepy kid is adorbs so points for memorability.

Maggie Zeddmore

The straight man to the Ghostfacers’ utterly delightful douchefacery. Manages to keep up with Harry and Ed in terms of hilarity because not only is she exactly as out of place as them, she decides to role-play her childhood-friends-to-lovers fanfic in the middle of a haunted house as the best sister that she is.

Status: Alive as of s5

Importance: Minor

On her own: Love at first geek

Next, season 4 and 5 before I try to figure out what this all adds up to.

#spn #spn critical #supernatural #supernatural critical #sexist writing #tessa #jo harvelle #ellen harvelle #madison #ruby #bela talbot #lisa braeden #nancy fitzgerald #lilith

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otherworldlybooksgoddess · 3 years

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Five Exceptional Fantasy Books Based in Non-European Myth

Photo by Josh Hild

Don’t misunderstand me: I love reading well-written fantasy with roots in the familiar Celtic and English folklore of my childhood, but with the vast majority of High Fantasy being set in worlds closely akin to Medieval Europe, and a large amount of of Mythic Fiction drawing on legends of similar origin, sometimes the ground begins to feel too well trodden. There is, after all, an entire world of lore out there to draw from. That’s why I’m always thrilled to find excellent works of what I call “the Realistic Sub-Genres of Fantasy” based in or inspired by myths from other cultures. Such books not only support inclusiveness, but also expand readers’ experiences with lore and provide a wide range of new, exciting realities to explore. So, if you are looking for something different in the realm of Fantasy, the following novels will provide a breath of fresh air.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wrecker

In this beautifully written novel, Wrecker draws on both Middle-Eastern and Jewish mythology to tell the stories of two unwilling immigrants in Edwardian New York and the unlikely friendship that springs up between them. Chava, an unusually lifelike golem created for peculiar purposes, has only days worth of memories and is practically childlike in her innocence. Ahmad the Jinni has lived for centuries, but is trying to reclaim his forgotten past. The former is as steady and calm as the earth she’s made from while the latter is as volatile and free-spirited as the fire within him. Both must learn to live in an unfamiliar new culture and find their places in a city too modern for myths even as they hide their true natures. It’s a wonderful metaphor for the experiences of immigrants everywhere, who often find themselves feeling like outsiders—isolated and even overwhelmed— as they struggle to adapt to life in an alien society.

Full of memorable characters, vivid descriptions, and interesting twists, The Golem and the Jinni takes readers on a journey that is driven as much by internal conflict as external action. The setting of 1900’s Manhattan is well-researched and spectacular in its detail. Wrecker blends two old-world mythologies into the relatively modern Edwardian world with a deft hand. The result is not only fascinating, but also serves to illustrate the common early-twentieth-century experience of an immigrant past colliding with an American future.

The Tail of the Blue Bird by Nii Ayikwei Parkes

One part Detective Mystery and one part Magical Realism, this novel invites readers to experience modern-day Ghana in a way that is both authentic and profound. When Kayo, a forensic pathologist just beginning his career, is pushed into investigating a suspected murder in the rural village of Sonokrom, the last thing he expects is to have a life-changing experience. Soon, however, he gets the acute sense that the villagers may know more than they’re letting on. When all of the latest scientific and investigative techniques fail him, even as odd occurrences keep dogging his steps, Kayo is finally forced to accept that there is something stranger than he thought about this case. Solving the crime will require more than intelligence and deduction; it will require setting his disbelief aside and taking the traditional tales and folklore of an old hunter seriously. Because whatever is happening in Sonokrom, it isn’t entirely natural.

This novel is brilliant not only because of its deep understanding of Ghanaian society and realistic setting, but also because of Parkes writing style. The narrative is gorgeously lyrical and everything within it is described with a keen, insightful eye. The dialogue is full of local color, and while some may find the pidgin English and native colloquialisms difficult to follow, I found that the context was usually enough to explain any unfamiliar terms. Sometimes the narrative feels a little dreamlike, but that is exactly the way great Magical Realism should be. The Tail of the Blue Bird insistently tugs readers to a place where reality intertwines with myth and magic, all while providing an authentic taste of Ghanaian culture.

The Deer and the Cauldron by Jin Yong

During the reign of Manchu Emperor Kang Xi, China is in a state of barely-controlled sociopolitical unrest. Many of the older generation remember the previous dynasty, and there still remain vestiges of a resistance movement hidden among the populace. As his forces continue to hunt down the malefactors, called the Triad Societies, the boy-emperor turns to his unlikely friend and ally: a young rascal known only as Trinket. This protagonist is a study in contrasts: lazy yet ambitious, cunning yet humorous, roguish yet likable, foul-mouthed yet persuasive. Born in a brothel, Trinket has made his way by his wits alone. At age twelve, he accidentally sneaked into the Forbidden City—a bizarre occurrence in itself—afterward befriending Kang Xi. Now, rising quickly through the ranks, he is on a mission to (ostensibly) find and weed out the Triad Societies, and he uses the opportunity to infiltrate various organizations, playing their leaders against one another for his own gain. With a dangerous conspiracy brewing in the Forbidden City itself, however, he is forced to choose sides and decide what is most important to him: friendship, fortune, or freedom. Supernatural occurrences, daring escapades, and moments of deep introspection abound as Trinket struggles to navigate the perilous maze his life has become.

This novel is like a gemstone: bright, alluring, and many faceted. At times it may seem somewhat simple on the surface, but looking closer reveals new depths and multiple layers. Full of intrigue, action, horror, and even laughs, The Deer and the Cauldron mirrors not only the complexities of its setting, but those of the China the author himself knew during the Communist revolution. By blending together history, fantasy, realism, humor, and subtle political commentary, Yong not only beautifully captures these social intricacies but also creates a narrative that is as thoroughly engaging as it is unapologetically unique.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Magical realism related to food has almost become a movement in itself, with novels like Aimee Bender’s The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Joanne Harris’ Chocolat, and Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells all finding their places in readers’ hearts. Originally published in 1992, Like Water for Chocolate helped create this fascinating trend, and it has become something of a modern classic in the fantasy genre.

The narrative centers around Tita de la Garza, a mid-twentieth century Mexican woman possessing deep sensitivity, a strong will, and a special talent for cooking. Born prematurely, Tita arrived in her family’s kitchen, tears already in her eyes. It is in that room where she spends most of her childhood, being nurtured and taught by the elderly cook, Nacha. The relationship that flourishes between Tita and her caregiver is a special gift, as it provides the girl not only with the compassion and support her own mother denies, but also with a passion and skill for creating incredible, mouth-watering dishes. At Nacha’s side, Tita learns the secrets of life and cookery, but she also learns one terrible fact: thanks to a family tradition, she is destined never to have love, marriage, or a child of her own. Her fate, rather, is to care for her tyrannical widowed mother, Mama Elena, until the day the older woman dies. With a vibrant, independent spirit, sixteen-year-old Tita flouts this rule, falling deeply in love with a man named Pedro who asks for, and is denied, her hand in marriage. Undaunted, the young man agrees to wed one of Tita’s older sisters, Rosaura, instead, as he believes this to be the only way he can be close to the woman he loves. Thus begins a life-long struggle between freedom and tradition, love and duty, which is peppered throughout with supernatural events and delicious cuisine. So great is her skill in cooking that the meals Tita prepares take on magical qualities all their own, reflecting and amplifying her emotions upon everyone who enjoys them. Controlled and confined for much of her existence, food becomes her outlet for all the things she cannot say or do. The narrative itself echoes this, by turns as spicy, sweet, and bitter as the flavors Tita combines. At its heart, this is as much a tale about how important the simple things, like a good meal, can be as it is a story about a woman determined to be her own person and choose her own fate.

Cuisine is fundamental to this novel, with recipes woven throughout the narrative, but that is only a part of its charm. In the English translation, the language is beautiful in its simplicity. The characters often reveal hidden depths, especially as Tita grows up and is able to better understand the people around her. Heartfelt in its joys and sorrows, Like Water for Chocolate glows with cultural flavor and a sense of wonder. It’s a feast for the spirit, and like an exquisite meal, it never fails to surprise those who enjoy it.

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty

When I first read this novel, I found the early chapters enjoyable and engaging, but felt the story was no more than a typical, if especially well-written, work of mythic fiction. The deeper I got into the narrative, however, the more wrong I was proven. The City of Brass is anything but ordinary. While basing her work in Middle-Eastern lore and history, Chakraborty nonetheless manages to create a setting and story that are both wonderfully unique. Lush, detailed, and bursting with magic and intrigue, this book spans the lines between several sub-genres of fantasy without ever losing its balance.

Beginning in eighteenth-century Egypt, the narrative follows a quick-witted antiheroine. Nahri doesn’t live by the rules of her society. She doesn’t believe in magic or fate or even religion. Orphaned for most of her life, survival has required her to become a con artist and a thief. As a result, she is practical and pragmatic, a realist who has never even considered donning rose-colored glasses, and the last person who would ever expect anything supernatural to occur. Which, of course, means that it does, but the way in which it is handled is intricate and interesting enough not to feel trite. When Nahri’s latest con—a ceremony she is pretending to perform and doesn’t believe in even slightly—goes awry, and the cynical young woman finds herself face to face with a Daeva. Magical beings, it transpires, are real after all, and this one is furious. To both of their dismay, he’s also bound to Nahri, who soon realizes that he has an agenda of his own. In return for rescuing her (and refraining from killing her himself) Dara, the Daeva warrior Nahri accidentally summoned, wants her to pull of the biggest con of her life: pretending to be the half-human heir to the throne of his people. Worse still, she soon realizes that Dara, whose mentality sometimes seems a little less-than-stable, actually believes she may be exactly who he claims. He has something planned, and his intentions may not be in her best interest. Dragged unwillingly into a strange world of court intrigue, danger, social upheaval, and magic, Nahri quickly discovers that some things remain familiar. People are ruled by prejudices, the strong prey on the weak, and she can’t fully trust anyone. The stakes, however, are higher than ever, and Nahri will need all of her wits, cunning, and audacity if she wants to survive.

This novel was thoroughly enjoyable, and in fact prompted me to buy the following books in the trilogy as they became available. Chakraborty’s style is lyrical, her world building is superb, her plot is intricate, and her characters are well-developed. She not only frames unfamiliar words and ideas is easily-comprehensible contexts, but weaves those explanations smoothly into the narrative. The culture, mythology, and history surrounding her tale are all carefully researched, but the tale itself is nonetheless unique. What begins feeling like a fairly ordinary mythic fiction novel will pleasantly exceed readers’ expectations.

So, while we, as fantasy readers, love the works of authors like J. R. R. Tolkien, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and Charles de Lint, there is also a plethora of other enchanting books to enjoy. Exploring magical realism and mythic fiction based in cultures and folklore from all around the globe ensures that our to-read lists will always hold something unexpected and exciting to surprise us. So, if you’re starting to feel like you’re in a bit of a reading rut, or if you’re simply looking to expand your horizons, open up new realms of imagination by opening up one of the novels above. Who knows see where it will lead you? You may just discover a new favorite to add to your bookshelf. Happy reading!

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mysterylover123 · 6 years

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My Top 10 Favorite Series of All Time

Mysterylover123, to my followers.

This list, of course, could change. At some point in the future, I could always discover a new series that topples the competition - but for the moment, here they are. My top 10 favorite series of all time - mostly comics or television, but also film, and a few novel series made the honorable mentions list.

Of course, these are all just my personal favorites - that’s the key word. While I did consider objective quality when making the call, I mostly went with my gut and listed series I love for whatever reason - maybe sentimental value, pushing my personal buttons, or just characters I adored. I also made myself list the things I don’t like about the series as well, just to avoid gushing too much and remember that all but one (my #1) series out there are at least, a little, flawed, but nonetheless still lovable. With that in mind, here they are:

#10. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2015)

Type: Live-Action TV show

Genre: Crime/Mystery; forensic drama, police procedural

Favorite character: Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger)

Favorite episode: “Grave Danger”, Parts 1 & 2 (Season 5 finale)

Favorite Season: 7

Favorite villain: The Miniature Killer/Natalie Davis

Bad points: Weak later seasons, forced romance subplot, copious amounts of filler

Why it’s here: CSI is nostalgic for me. I watched it during my early crime drama loving years, and found out that as much as I liked the premise, what made the show for me was the cast. That was the first time I realized how essential characters are to creating intriguing drama. CSI is still my favorite traditional crime/mystery show, since in seasons 1-8, it maintained a good balance of character drama and mystery-of-the-week. Season 7 is a high point, balancing an ongoing story with lots of fun one-offs and an emotionally explosive payoff. Later seasons, however, wear down the show’s quality for me. Too many beloved characters left and the series becomes too reliant on filler, ending with a thud that is the series finale. But the best of CSI is still enough to land it here for me.

(Just to clarify, I mean Las Vegas)

#9. Futurama (1999-2003; 2008-2013)

Type: Animated TV Show + movies

Genre: Sci Fi Dramedy

Favorite character: Philip J Fry (Billy West)

Favorite episode: “Jurassic Bark”

Favorite season: 4

Favorite villain: Bender

Bad points: Sexism, weak later seasons, bad 2nd movie

Why it’s here: Futurama came to me during a phase of depression in my life, and the show’s combination of humor and cry-your-eyes out tragedy kept me going. I’ve seen it through five times, and it’s always a blast. To me, Futurama is better than The Simpsons. Simpsons is funnier, but only for seven years or so. Following those seven years are 21 of mediocrity, whereas Futurama thankfully cuts it short. While some of the later seasons are weaker than the early Fox years, they still have quality gems and the show’s unique flavor. The series speaks to me so much; it’s a mix of hilarious comedy, serious character drama, and high sci-fi concepts that all mesh together in a unique experience. This is a series that’s not afraid to try new things, to experiment and let the characters age and grow. My personal favorite part of the series is the friendship between the core trio, Fry, Bender and Leela. Any episode starring them is a-ok by me.

Favorite memories: Binge-watching the series during a period of unemployment.

#8. Death Note (2003-2004; 2006-2007)

Type of series: Manga/Anime

Genre: Supernatural Crime Thriller

Favorite Character: L Lawliet (Alessandro Juliani)

Favorite Episode: Episode 2, “Confrontation”

Favorite Arc: The first one

Favorite villain: Light Yagami (Brad Swaile)

Bad points: Weak second half, so-so character development

Why it’s here: Death Note is a dark, twisted, engrossing thriller, which under normal circumstances shouldn’t be re-watchable. But I keep coming back to it, regardless of how many times I’ve seen it before. It’s a digestible 37 episodes and 108 chapters, for one thing. It introduced me to two characters that endlessly fascinate and frustrate my analytical brain. The antagonists, Light and L, are two of the most brilliant characters I’ve come across in fiction, and their dynamic with each other is endlessly engaging. Well, it should have been through the whole series…if not for certain incidents. But no matter; we have what we have. Flawed, yes. Terrifying, certainly. Death Note scares me like no other story. But what frightens me in DN isn’t so much there gruesome deaths, but how effortlessly it portrays the banality of evil.

Favorite memories: Watching the show during the winter holidays while on vacation, and contemplating the series during the drive home.

#7. Spider-Man (1962-)

Type: Comic book; various mediums of adaptation

Genre: Superhero

Favorite character: Mary Jane Watson

Favorite Storyline: The Night Gwen Stacy Died, #121-122

Favorite villain: The Green Goblin

Bad points: Weak later issues, lots of filler, “One More Day”

Why it’s here: Spidey is still my favorite superhero. He was me in high school (I got into Spider-Man in high school, incidentally), the everyman, the representation of my nerdy outcast struggle and need to both escapism and greater responsibility. But what really drew me to the comic, and still does, was the vast and multifaceted supporting cast. In the great eras of Spidey (Ditko, Romita, Conway, and late 1980s), the supporting cast make the series. Whether it’s Peter’s various complex lady loves, the endless cavalcade of memorable villains, supporting dude-friends like Flash and Harry or my personal favorite, mainstay Mary Jane “you just hit the jackpot” Watson, the cast of Spidey was majorly influential with good reason. The series loses it’s skill in the 1990s, thanks to the Clone Saga and general 90s comic badness, and plummets into an irretrievable black hole in 2007, never to return. But fortunately, there’s still thirty years’ worthy of fascinating comics to draw from before that insanity begins. And those stories have in turn fed fantastic adaptations, whether it be the sentimental 90s animated show, a few of the films, or the superlative Spectacular cartoon.

Favorite memories: Reading Spider-Man comics after high school, while waiting to get picked up. Also, watching the 90s show as a little kid, even if those are kinda dim.

#6. Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

Type of series: Animated TV Show

Genre: Supernatural

Favorite character: Mabel Pines (Kirsten Schaal)

Favorite season: 2

Favorite episode: “Not What he Seems”

Favorite Villain: Bill Cipher

Bad points: A few filler episodes, some odd messages, so-so ending

Why it’s here: I love a good spooky story. Gravity Falls caught my attention around Halloween in 2016, 8 months after the series finale; I binged the whole series through in a weekend. The series remains one of the all-time best I’ve ever watched. With one or two exceptions, there are no outright bad episodes. Everything is either entertaining or incredibly entertaining. The characters feel real, the messages really hit home, and the creativity on display is astounding. Gravity Falls has something in every corner - great character development, compelling drama, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a truly engaging mystery that doesn’t disappoint. I wish the franchise ran a little longer, but I’ll give it props that unlike nearly every other show on this list, Gravity Falls doesn’t over-stay its welcome. Two seasons of brilliance, wrapping up with a strong, though not perfect, finale, before the series had a chance to go on too long or burn out the creators. It’s a welcome treat to watch again, and again, and again. It’s mostly low on this list, not because of the few weak points, but because I don’t have as much emotional attachment to the series as I do to my top 5 pics.

Favorite memories: Watching the show with my dad and brother on vacation. Both of them are very surly and nit-picky, so presenting them with a show this good meant no cause to complain.

#5. Frasier (1993-2004)

Type: Live Action TV series

Genre: Sitcom

Favorite character: Niles Crane (David Hyde-Pierce)

Favorite season: 4

Favorite episode: “Something Borrowed, Something Blue”

Bad points: Weaker later/early seasons, sometimes annoying

Why it’s here: Frasier has a record for the most Emmy awards won by a single show. And rightly so, in my opinion. This is one of those series with astonishingly top-notch writing all around. It’s a sitcom that banks it’s humor on taking down pretentious snobs and prejudiced jerks; the jokes stay funny because, like all good humor, they stay relevant. This series feels kind of timeless; despite coming out in the instantly dated 90s, the characters’ fashions, mindsets, and relationships feel like they could be written today or twenty-forty years earlier. My heart belongs to the series’ ongoing love story between uptight, snippy Niles and eccentric, lovable Daphne (Jane Leeves). I have yet to see a better executed TV romance, one that pulls out all the stops like this one does. If I were to compare Frasier to anything, it would be to a Jane Austen novel. It has the same social satire, the same sardonic humor, the same understanding of romance and human psychology. That, to me, is what makes a great comedy.

Favorite memories: Discovering Frasier out of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons - and coming to realize which of the two is truly the better comedy. (Sorry to take another potshot at Simpsons; I do like the early seasons, I just think the show is overrated).

#4. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)

Series type: Live Action films and TV

Genre: Superhero

Favorite characters: Tie: Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston)

Favorite film: Captain America the Winter Soldier (2014)

Favorite phase: Phase 3 (so far)

Bad points: Occasional weak/so-so film, lack of representation

Why it’s here: I first watched only a handful of MCU films; after Avengers, I gave it up and focused on other things. I loved it the first time, but when I came back and screened every picture in the lineup till the present, that is when I fell in love with the franchise. I was missing out on some of the series’ best characters. And that’s what makes the MCU special to so many people: the characterization. The series is at it’s best when it’s giving it’s multi-layered cast focus and development. Marvel comics have always been a favorite of mine, so naturally their best known adaptation is one of my favorites in general. I’ve found something to enjoy in just about every film in the franchise. The biggest surprise hit for me was the Captain America films - a part of the franchise I never dreamed I’d love, but which won me over with the stellar writing in the 2011 film, the indelible Winter Soldier, and the stunning, heartbreaking Civil War. I’m almost afraid of what will come next, as the franchise is heading towards a finale.

Favorite memories: Watching the films over a long, bitter summer, as my only source of joy while working a thankless job and living in a place with bad internet reception.

#3. The Buffy-verse (1997-2004) Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Angel

Type of series: Live-Action TV shows

Genre: Supernatural

Favorite characters: Buffy, Cordelia, and Spike

Favorite season: Season 5 of Buffy, Season 2 of Angel

Favorite episodes: “Once More with Feeling” Buffy, “You’re Welcome” Angel

Bad points: Weak later seasons, Season 6, some bad filler

Why it’s here: If I was going on sentimental fandom value alone, the Buffy-verse would be number one. I still squee over this franchise years after I first discovered it; the characters have that special Joss Whedon flair that makes them stand out over the crowd, the series’ core relationships are so fascinating I’m tempted to write fanfic about them, and the philosophies and emotional moments in the series have shaped my life. I would never have known what existentialism was, for instance, if not for Whedon’s show. Angel’s line about “ all that matters is what we do” has helped motivate me ever since I heard it. But looking at the series’ quality (and diversity), I will admit that out of my top 3 favorites, it has the most problems. Both shows have one season I can cheerfully proclaim to be outright terrible, (Season 4 for Angel, Season 6 for Buffy), and very shaky first seasons that take a while to find their feet. There are some plot decisions I just can’t forgive, and some truly weak arc villains. But there is also so much that this franchise does so well, whether it be stellar standalones, bold plot moves, and of course, the character arcs.

Favorite memories: Rewatching the show on vacation in France.

#2. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Type: Animated TV series

Genre: Fantasy Steampunk

Favorite characters: Zuko, Azula and Sokka

Favorite season: 2

Favorite episode: “The Guru”

Bad points: Forced romantic subplots, The Great Divide, odd conclusion

Why it’s here: You may have heard, if you’ve spent any time on the internet, what a fantastic series ATLA is. I try to avoid such phrases when attempting to sell the show to people, because describing a series that way is usually a bad move. But rest assured, it’s warranted. Avatar The Last Airbender is a stellar show in every possible way. Aside from the few bad points I mentioned above, ATLA does everything right. It has the best world building I’ve ever encountered. The animation, storytelling, emotions, messages (sometimes), plot points, philosophies, individual episodes, comedy, drama, action, epic sweep, surprise reveals…(several hours of listing things later) all of these things are pitch perfect. But as always, what makes this show is the cast. My lord, what a cast. These characters are so embedded in my mind, their arcs, personalities, development and entertainment value all stand out a cut above the rest. ATLA is a stunning masterpiece, one that no adaptation could capture, and that even it’s own creators have yet to follow up on, with either the sequel or the comics. But no matter. The original is there, it always will be, and more people discover it every day.

Favorite memories: Nothing quite compares to seeing ATLA for the first time. I saw it in 2014, one of the worst years of my life. Once again, my miserable experience was improved by a fantastic story.

Before #1: The Runners-up.

Game of Thrones: I used to adore GOT, but it started losing me after season 3; I lost respect for the show in season 5. still, those early seasons are still crucial parts of our culture and should be remembered.

Harry Potter: I grew up with these books and I still enjoy parts of them; overall, however, they strike me as being just a little less than they could have been.

Percy Jackson: I binged through the whole first book in a few hours, and loved these novels as a teen. As an adult, they don’t hold up as well, but I still appreciate the things they do right.

The Legend of Korra: The sequel to ATLA is spotty in many ways, but contains enough moments I absolutely love to make it at least a runner up.

South Park: Another series that got me through a bad time in my life and helped me deal with certain aspects of myself (especially episode 1507.) However, the early and late seasons are pretty bad, and the show doesn’t age very well.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: A bizarre little anime that nonetheless really stands out to me for how crazy it gets and how unique the story is.

Hannibal: A guilty pleasure - definitely a show that gets too far up it’s own butt in later episodes, but nonetehless appealing and interesting in the subjects it’s willing to tackle.

Parks and Recreation: My other favorite TV sitcom besides Fraser - it’s a strong runner up for the list but not quite sentimental enough.

Steven Universe: 3 great seasons, followed by a lot of recent mediocrity. Great when it’s great, bad when it’s not.

Code Geass: an immensely ambitious series, that doesn’t quite realize it’s goals but god damn if it isn’t a beautiful try.

Daria: Another show that really spoke to me in high school

Firefly: This was the biggest runner-up for the list. Firefly is 14 amazing episodes of television cut short too soon, giving us amazing characters and great world building in a short amount of time. The series has some bits that haven’t aged well, and those were enough to keep it off my top 10.

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…

#1. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (manga: 2001-2010, anime 2009-2010)

Series type: Anime/Manga

Genre: Sci Fi (I think)

Favorite character: Edward Elric

Favorite episodes: “Flame of Vengeance”; “Backs in the Distance”

Bad points: None

Why it’s here: I’m gonna be brutally honest: FMAB is here because I can’t find anything wrong with it. It is, without question, the single most perfect piece of fiction I’ve ever come across. It almost frightened me when I first finished the series. Surely there must be some major, glaring flaw, some bad installment or weak character, that I could point to and say Look! Here’s the flaw! This was made by human hands after all! But nope. Many, many rereads through, and I still haven’t found one. FMAB stands supreme. This series has everything. The most fleshed out and real-feeling cast of characters I’ve ever come across (even minor background characters have spectacular arcs and feel like real people). The best pacing and plotting of an overall story arc. The best world building, aside from ATLA. The best exploration of social issues, the best feminism, the best use of mature storytelling. Everything comes back around. The themes, the mystery, the overall tone and story structure. I feel like an engineer gushing over the most perfectly calibrated car ever made each time I watch it. But Fullmetal is even more than just expertly made. It’s appealing. It’s popular. It’s the kind of story you can write essays on or write fanfic for. FMAB can be enjoyed in every capacity. I recommend taking the time to read the Manga first (that’s what I did), then watch Brotherhood. There really is nothing quite like FMAB. (oh, BTW, it has the best series finale of anything e ver. Period.)

Best memories: Watching Fullmetal while coping with death for the first time in my life. There is no better series when it comes to dealing with this subject.

#top ten list #CSI: Crime Scene Investigation #tv show #futurama #Death Note #L Lawliet #spiderman #gravity falls #frasier #marvel cinematic universe #Buffyverse #Avatar The Last Airbender #Fullmetal Alchemist

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stilessdylanobae-ddixonlove · 6 years

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Some of us are Human - Beacon Hills and Mason’s House (Chapter 3)

Author: what_the_hell_is_a_stiles826

Characters: Stiles Stilinski, Scott McCall, Lydia Martin, Malia Tate/Hale, Issac Lahey, Liam Dunbar, Mason Hewitt, Rhiannon King, Olivia Hansen, Nicole Y/L/N & Reader

Summary: You and Stiles visit your new apartment where you meet up with Olivia to talk to her about the mysterious woman. Later, the group returns to Beacon Hills during Spring break where you all end up at a party at Mason’s house and a friend disappears.

Note: Cali’s Coffee is just a place I made up, I could’ve written about a coffee place near Stanford but this was more fun, so yeah. Also, y/n means your name, y/h/c means your hair color, y/e/c means your eye color, y/f/i means your first initial and Y/l/n means your last name.

Warning: Cursing, Fluff and Sexual Content.

Chapter Three - Chapter Four

Stiles made his way around the library and to the side of the brick building, away from the traffic going in and out. He stopped and turned, the girl he once loved stood in front of him. Her eyes were red and puffy, her strawberry blonde hair messily thrown into a bun on top of her head. She had her arms crossed, as if to shield herself from the hurt of whatever he might say to her next. She had broke up with him but in that moment, he felt more guilty than ever.

“Lydia...” Stiles began, trying to find the right words. She shook her head, embarrassed and angry.

“Of course she’s here.” She quivered. Stiles dropped his hands to his sides is utter defeat.

“Y/n?” He asked, she turned away from him and looked to the green field beside her. A gust of wind flattening the grass for a moment. “She’s been here for months, Scott and I had no idea. We ran into her last night.” He explained. She pressed her lips together in agony and didn’t speak for a moment.

“Why did you make me come here?” She finally asked.

“Because I think something supernatural is going on here and we could use your help. I could use your help.” He told her. She raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

“I’m surprised you called at all.” She paused. “And then I realized she was here. Why would you do that to me?” She angrily questioned her former love.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He spoke irritably. Lydia huffed as her swollen eyes met his again.

“You never denied anything I said to you. You didn’t even fight it.” She admitted, regretfully. His heart sank. She was right, he left because she asked him to. He didn’t deny anything and he didn’t fight for her. Deep down he knew why. He tried to reach out to her, he tried to comfort her but she backed up and pulled away. “Don’t.” She sniffled. “Is there something you wanted to say to me out here?” She asked.

“Yeah, I wanted to apologize. And I wanted to explain before you assumed the wrong thing. Y/n will barely talk to me either.” He sadly admitted.

“I just need some time.” She stated. “So, if we’re going to do this, let me do my thing. Alone. Or with Scott. Okay?” She pleaded. Stiles sighed, but ultimately agreed.

“You’re sure she’s coming?” Stiles asked you, leaning against his Jeep in the parking lot. You watched Lydia and Scott exit the campus courtyard. Scott grinned and nodded in your direction and you all but rolled your eyes back at him.

“Yes, Stiles. She’s in my psych class. I told her I could use some help with our latest assignment.” You reassured the anxious, yet obscenely handsome young man standing in front of you. “So, you ready?” You asked. He nodded and stood up straight, his body weight making the side of his Jeep move backwards slightly as he came forward.

“Yup.” He walked to the driver side and pulled at the rickety handle. You both got inside and Stiles started the engine. “Alright, where am I going?” He asked. You glanced his direction and flipped on the radio, refusing to sit in awkward silence.

“You know where Cali’s Coffee Shop is?” You asked. “It’s right down the road. Where we’re going is across the street from there.” Stiles began pulling out of the parking lot, exiting campus for the first time since arriving. You began bobbing your head as ‘Closer’ by the Chainsmokers poured through Stiles’ speakers. You sang loudly and on point. Music helped you focus. It kept your mind from racing in a million different directions, which it normally would do. Your hair blew lightly in the California air that came through your passenger side window. “So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover, that I know you can’t afford, bite that tattoo on your shoulder...” You sang. Stiles couldn’t help but smile at you. You were completely in your own world. He just wanted to be by your side, all through out the day and it hurt that you shut him out. He just wanted to know why.

A couple short minutes later, you directed Stiles to pull in to an apartment complex. “B8.” You told him which parking spot to pull into. You looked over at him as he took the keys out of the ignition.

“Where are we?” He asked you. You opened his noisy car door and closed it behind you, the window still down.

“My new place.” You said. Stiles couldn’t help but frown. This would mean he’d be much less likely to run into you around campus. He didn’t want you to live anywhere else. He had to fix things with you, soon. Or he might lose his chance.

“That’s awesome!” He lied. “I’m a little jealous. Will it just be you?” He asked. Up until that moment he hadn’t thought about the possibility of you actually being with someone but with the idea now popped into his mind, it surprised him how much it seemed to break his spirit.

“No.” You said simply. His sad eyes looked at you, waiting for more. He needed more; he needed to know. Who was he, what did he do, how old is he, how long have you known him, did he treat you well, what’s his name, birthday, favorite color, everything! “Rhiannon. My friend from the other night.” You finally added and Stiles felt like he was able to catch his breath again. “Plus, her parents sort of help.” You returned his smile genuinely for the first time since he came back into your life. “Come on, let’s go inside. Olivia should be here soon. I sent her the address.” You told him. You walked up the small flight of stairs to your second story apartment and up to your new front door, Stiles followed you inside. It was simple, yet very nice. Light colored carpets, a back door in the kitchen that lead straight to the outside patio and a large window in the almost empty living room. You had a couch and a flat screen above the fireplace and that was it.

“Nice.” Stiles said simply. You opened the fridge, it was mostly empty still as well. A few sodas, bottled water and some yogurt. You grabbed a bottle of water and sat at the counter.

“Thanks. You want anything?” You asked, politely. He shook his head and sat down next to you. He patted the granite counter top and tried to think of a new conversation starter. He hated sitting in silence with you, it was agonizing. You hopped up and walked back around into the kitchen. “I’m hungry.” You said, opening the pantry next to your fridge. It was full of potato chips and other snack items. Stiles smiled remembering how bad of a cook you are. He used to tease you saying you could some how manage to burn water. You grabbed a bag of Lays and opened it on the counter across from where Stiles sat.

“I missed you.” He said, before he could stop himself. You paused and snatched a chip, placing it in your mouth. You cringed as you crunched down on it, not knowing what to say back. You missed him too, desperately. And sometimes you felt stupid for leaving in the first place, but when it happened...when they got together you couldn’t handle it after everything else. You understood, sort of. But you weren’t strong enough to be around it yet. You cleared your throat after swallowing.

“Do you think Scott will be able to catch a scent?” You changed the subject. Stiles kept his eyes on you, as if to say ‘No, we’re talking about it this time.’

“Y/n.” He said your name and it rang through your ears loudly and inescapably.

“Or maybe Lydia will find something. She always does. It’s why you two make such a good team.” You added before looking down to your feet. “Or a good couple.” You said reaching for your water bottle. Stiles quirked up an eyebrow.

“No, clearly we make a better team than couple.” He said. You stopped playing with the cap on your water bottle and set it down, now staying completely still.

“What do you mean?” You asked, intrigued by his sudden conclusion. He took a breath and licked his lips, making it harder for you to concentrate.

“Well, she dumped me, so...” Stiles trailed off. A silence fell upon the room that over took your body. It was a paralyzing silence that had you questioning everything you thought you knew. He was heart broken, you gathered that much.

“I’m sorry, Stiles. I didn’t know.” You told him. He smiled at you, happy you knew the truth. He wasn’t sure how to mention it before. The doorbell rang through your new apartment and suddenly you could hear again. You could hear the birds chirping outside your cracked window and the small buzzing from the A/C. As well as the pounding of your own heart, it was rapid and strong.

“Are you gonna get that?” He asked you, pointing to the door.

“Yeah, yeah.” You said as you headed in that direction, opening it to see Olivia in dirty tennis shoes and jeans with her chestnut colored hair pinned back. She didn’t seem like the kind of girl who normally dressed like that. “Hi, thanks for coming! Come in.” You told her. She proceeded inside, books pressed against her chest. Her gaze met Stiles, who still sat at the counter. He awkwardly waved and she smiled. “This is Stiles, he’s uh, a friend.” Stiles wanted to wince at the word friend, although it felt like progress.

“He’s not in our class.” She noted, confused. Stiles scratched the stubble along his jaw and you moved your bangs behind your right ear.

“Right.” You sheepishly replied. “Let’s go sit on the couch.”

___

Scott and Stiles stood on the sidewalk in front of Liam’s house back in Beacon Hills. The two had come home for Spring Break to see family and so Scott could see Malia. He was still trying to convince her to join them at Stanford, you didn’t really see it happening. School wasn’t really her thing, but she might do it for Scott. You kind of hoped she would, you could use another friend. Liam finally came outside, on the phone as he walked towards his two older friends.

“So, she’s going to be there?” He anxiously followed behind Scott and Stiles back to Stiles’ Jeep, nodding at their presence. About half way to Mason’s house, Liam finally hung up the phone. Stiles glared at him through his rear view mirror. “What? Hayden is supposed to be back in town and Mason invited her tonight.” He explained. Scott smiled at his Beta.

“I hope it all works out, buddy.” He told him. Stiles rolled his eyes, arriving in Mason’s driveway.

“It never works out, man.” Stiles joined in. Scott turned to his best friend, annoyed at his recent outlook.

“Ignore him.” Scott told Liam, who hopped out of the Jeep and approached Mason at the doorstep. Stiles took a deep breath, not looking forward to their plans for the night. It’s been a week since the supposed woman with white eyes took Olivia’s boyfriend, Steven. Everyone was beginning to think maybe she’d hallucinated the entire thing.

“Lydia came home awhile ago, right? Is she coming tonight?” Scott asked, simply wondering.

“I don’t know.” Stiles pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

“And Y/n?” Scott asked.

“I don’t know about her either, I haven’t really spoken to her much since we talked to Olivia at her new apartment. Her friend Rhiannon said they’ve been pretty busy moving. I’ve seen her leaving campus a couple times, that’s about it.” He announced. Olivia hadn’t given you much more information on this mysterious woman, who seemed to no longer be an issue. Olivia was pretty creeped out by the two of you asking so many questions and had been avoiding you both around school ever since. “Let’s just go inside.” Stiles finished.

___

You stood in the kitchen of your childhood home, scrubbing the mashed potatoes off your plate at the sink while your mom scraped leftover chicken into Tupperware containers. Your younger sister wiped down the kitchen table while checking her phone in between sections.

“Thanks mom, for making dinner.” You said placing your plate in the dishwasher. She walked to the fridge and put away the food she just finished cleaning up.

“You’re welcome, honey. Knowing you I figured it’s been awhile since you’ve had an actual cooked meal.” She teased. Nicole jumped up from the table finishing her task and throwing her wet rag on the counter.

“So, are you coming to Mason’s party tonight or what? He told me to invite you.” She asked you. You opened your mouth to deny her request but she stopped you.

“And before you say no, I’m pretty sure Scott and Stiles are going to be there.” She finished, thinking that might change your mind. Your mom turned around, leaning on the counter, her hands placed behind her.

“Yeah, how come you don’t see them anymore?” She asked you.

“I do see them. They are actually going to Stanford now too.” You explained. “I’m just not really in the partying mood, Nicole.” She huffed and whined.

“Y/n, you aren’t home for much longer and it’s Spring break! Come have some fun with your little sister!” She begged, giving you her best version of puppy dog eyes. You rolled your eyes and dramatically threw your hands down.

“Fine, let me go change.” You marched away to your old bedroom after gesturing down to Stiles’ black sweatpants you were once again wearing.

“Good idea!” Nicole hollered down the hallway, your mom chuckled and you turned to glare back at her. You weren’t necessarily trying to avoid your friends, you really had been busy with classes and moving. But maybe it would be nice to see others you missed from high school. You threw on some black pantyhose, your black and red flower dress that came to just slightly above your knees and a red cardigan. You stood in front of your body length mirror and touched up the wings of your blackest eyeliner. If you were going to go, you might as well look nice. “Hey, ready? You’re driving!” Nicole appeared in your doorway. You looked back at her through your mirror.

“That’s why you wanted me to go!” You screeched and she smirked. You turned around and found your black ankle boots laying in the corner, sat down on the bed and put them on. “Fine, but you are letting me borrow that jean jacket some time.” You continued. She laughed in agreement.

___

You pulled up to the sidewalk in front of Mason’s house, it was crowded, forcing you to parallel park. Nicole sat in the passenger seat of your mom’s blue Subaru Crosstrek. She reapplied her mascara in the mirror of her visor and before you turned off your headlights, you noticed the car in front of you. A maroon Honda Civic with a familiar bejeweled licence plate cover. “That’s Rhiannon’s car.” You noted.

“Your quirky, overly joyful roommate?” Nicole replied closing her visor and putting her capped mascara back into her purse. You nodded, confused by Rhiannon’s apparent presence. You followed your younger sister inside, your loose y/h/c curls slightly bouncing in sync with your steps. Approaching Mason’s porch, you both noticed a hand written note taped to the front door. ‘Come on in.’ Nicole turned the knob, listening to the notes suggestion. Inside the house, the ground thumped with his enormous speakers sitting in his living room. Laughter and cheering surrounded your ears and Nicole nudged your side. “Anna’s in the kitchen, go find your friends. We’ll meet up later!” She told you, referring to her closest friend from school. You took a deep breath, realizing you should of expected this. You made your way through the crowd, not really knowing what you were looking for or where you were going. Suddenly, you spotted Rhiannon near the sliding glass back door next to Issac, Scott and Malia. She was laughing, until she spotted you back. She waved, asking you to join them. But you remained standing there, awkwardly for a moment, taking notice that Stiles was not with them. Rhiannon grunted and approached you, smiling from ear to ear.

“Rhi, what are you doing here?” You asked. “Like, in Beacon Hills?” You wanted to clarify. She shrugged forward and stumbled a little towards you, clearly a little tipsy.

“Uh, your friend Issac invited me.” She pointed back over to the three of them. “You know he’s like, insanely gorgeous right?” She giggled. Great, you thought. Now she’s crushing on a werewolf, how long before she would need to know about all the craziness that was part of all your lives. You decided you’d have to watch her closely from now on, knowing your world came with immense risks. You smiled at all of them from across the room and then decided to join them as Rhiannon pulled you along back over to where they were standing. “So, Y/n’s here. Finally.” She told them.

“We weren’t sure you were coming tonight.” Scott greeted you, warmly. You glanced in Malia’s direction, happy to see her.

“Hi, Malia. It’s been awhile.” You told her. She smiled back at you, holding Scott’s hand next to her.

“Yeah, I hear I missed you at the last party we all went to.” She noted and you nodded nervously back at her.

“So where’s the host and his boyfriend?” You asked, referring to Mason and Corey that were still going strong, or so you heard.

“Around here somewhere. Maybe they snuck upstairs together.” Scott informed you, hinting at the fact that they were probably up to more than handing out beverages. You nodded, gaining more information than you really needed.

“Which is what we were about to do.” Malia flirted with her boyfriend, resting her head on his shoulder. Scott smirked awkwardly at her openness and excused the both of them from the rest of the group. Issac shook his head at the two love birds, and Rhiannon couldn’t help but sparkle her eyes at him.

“Do you want a drink, Y/n?” She asked you as you stood there, wondering how you’d spend your night since your sister ditched you for Anna and Rhiannon would most likely ditch you for Issac.

“No, no.” You shook your head. “You know it’s not my thing.” You reminded her.

“It seemed to be your thing last time.” Issac teased and you scowled. “I’m sorry about your Dad by the way.” You stepped backwards, confused by his accusation.

“My Dad?” You questioned the tall blonde, blinking your eyes at him rapidly.

“Yeah, you seemed pretty pissed off at the guy. Sounded like you two haven’t gotten along in awhile. He’s remarried and pretty much wants nothing to do with you? I know all about shitty dads, though mine still probably takes the cake.” He giggled at his horrific past. Rhiannon’s eyes grew wide as your face went emotionless.

“Okay I, I think you’ve had enough to drink.” She played with his shirt to try and distract the two of you from your current conversation.

“You know, Stiles felt really shitty that he didn’t know about any of that by the way. Especially when you called him out for not being there for you.” Issac continued his shocking story. Your jaw dropped, confused. You weren’t angry at Stiles for not being there for you with your ridiculous Daddy issues, you clearly had been referring to something else that night that maybe none of them fully understood.

“I said what?” You rubbed your face, obvious now to Issac that you had no clue what he was talking about and remembered absolutely nothing from that night. Rhiannon stepped in front of Issac and placed her hands together.

“Y/n.” She began before you directed your eyes back up to Issac.

“What else did I say that night?” You asked, a little embarrassed.

“Just that there was some guy that really had you all bent out of shape.” He started. “He’s what caused you to jump into the fountain, you said he needed to come save you.” He smirked. You gulped loudly, afraid of what he might say next.

“Did I mention his name?” You asked, reverting your eyes back to Rhiannon who looked afraid for you as well. She shook her head intensely, trying to reassure you it was all okay.

“No.” Issac said. You sighed greatly. “Who is he?” He asked, curiously. You shook your head.

“No idea.” You lied. “I’m gonna go get some fresh air real quick. It was good seeing you again, Issac.” You smiled.

“Yeah, maybe we can actually go back to hanging out regularly!” He shouted as you walked to the sliding glass door and opened it slowly, returning his smile. You wondered why Rhiannon didn’t tell you about your embarrassing honesty in your drunken state all those nights ago, having clearly heard all about it. You figured she was trying to protect you and supposed it wasn’t really a big deal since you never named names. You walked out onto the back patio, nearly being knocked over by a force shoving you back, clipping your left arm.

“Shit, sorry.” The boy spoke, slowing his pace. “Y/n?” He said, realizing he knew the person he just ran into.

“Oh, Liam!” You grinned at your old friend. “Hi!” You joyously greeted him. He side hugged your shoulder and thanked you for coming. “Where are you going in such a hurry?” You asked, scaling the backyard. He ran his fingers through his hair and scratched at his face while you noticed Hayden, his ex girlfriend sitting in the hot tub with a few friends. Realizing what was going on, you turned back to Liam and smiled. “Talk to her, seriously. I can’t believe she’s here.” You chuckled. “Does she even know you are here?” You asked and Liam shook his head, awkwardly. “Of course she doesn’t or she’d have totally drug you away with her by now.” He smiled at your words, boosting his confidence.

“Thanks.” He replied. “Maybe I’ll just go get my swim shorts.” Liam headed back inside passed you and you thought about going to say hello to Hayden, maybe hinting that Liam was here to help him out. But then you spotted someone else in Mason’s outdoor swing across the yard. Stiles. He sat alone, a bottle of beer in his right hand that he had sitting beside him. He stared at the ground and you started to turn around to walk away. But then you stopped, reviewing your options. You acknowledged the fact that this was an opportunity. Would you make up some excuse as to why you left this town, or would you tell him the truth now that you knew him and Lydia broke up, or would you walk away avoiding him all together? Walking away would be easiest, but maybe he wouldn’t even try asking you about it. Clearly something was bothering him, you figured he was thinking of her. So, you went with another option. Trying to be his friend again. You approached him and sat to the left of him, the swing swaying slightly backwards as you sat down. He perked up as his eyes met yours.

“Wow. I never thought I’d see you here.” He searched your y/e/c eyes. You sighed and leaned back, kicking your feet out in front of you, looking at your boots.

“Yeah, me either.” You spoke, honestly and crossed your arms. Stiles leaned back with you, holding his beer in his lap. You stayed silent for a little longer.

“Well, I’m glad you did. I meant it when I said I missed you.” He told you again. You smiled at him and he smiled back, taking a sip of his beer.

“Have you talked to Lydia any more?” You cleared your throat. “If you don’t want to talk about it that’s okay.” You added. Stiles looked down at his bottle and swished the remaining amount around a couple of times.

“Nah.” He said. You placed your feet back down on the ground and took a breath, realizing you were okay with where your night took you; where you ended up, even if it was talking about Stiles’ broken heart.

‘Well, do you want to?” You asked him. He thought a moment and then looked back towards you.

“No, I don’t think so.” He admitted, wanting to admit much more. “That guy you talked about before, have you spoken to him?” He countered. “You know, the one that was supposed to rescue you from the fountain?” He continued.

“Right.” You leaned your head down and placed your tongue on your upper lip. “Sort of.” You told him. He nodded in return and took another sip of his beer. “I don’t really think it’s gonna work out. I suppose we are better off as friends.” You told him. If only he knew who you were really referring to, but you ultimately didn’t want him to. Your words gave him hope, which was a sad concept because he had no idea you were actually hinting at giving up on you and him ever being together. “I don’t know what happened between you two Stiles but I know you loved her. So it will work out.” You managed to spit out. His light brown eyes met yours again and he placed his head on the back of the swing seat.

“I thought I loved her.” He told you. “I realized I don’t. Not like that anyway.” You were shocked by his words. You scrunched your face and wondered what in the world had him so upset if not her. He opened his mouth and picked his head back up. “That morning in my bedroom...” He began. A chill ran down your body, making the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up. “I tried to kiss you.” He spoke again and watched you move your eyes to his pink lips. He raised his beer up and pointed to you, squinting his eyes. “You told me it was okay but it freaked you out didn’t it?” He asked you bravely. You looked back to his sad eyes and gulped again.

“How much have you had to drink tonight?” You smiled. He shook his head, not wanting to go around in circles with you any longer. The thought had been bothering him for months. He figured he scared you away and now you didn’t know how to be his friend.

“I’m serious, Y/f/i.” He called you, a nickname you hadn’t heard in quite some time. No one else called you anything but Y/n. “I’m just going to ask, since I have a couple beers in me and I might not ever if I don’t right now...” He continued. “Why did you leave? I would’ve supported you wanting to go to college.” You quivered your bottom lip, having been afraid of this question coming up again.

“I should’ve just told you guys. I know.” You replied. “I’m sorry.” He took his last swig of beer and leaned back enough to toss his bottle into the bushes behind the two of you.

“Why didn’t you?” He asked again. You leaned forward, intertwining all your fingers in your lap.

“You want the truth?” You looked down to your fidgety hands and he sat forward again, waiting for his explanation.

“No, lie to me.” He said, afraid that your truthful words might hurt more. He wanted you to cushion the blow. You smiled, wondering if you should really tell him the truth. You decided you owed him that much.

“You did freak me out. I didn’t want any part of what you were trying to do.” You lied, as he asked you to. He stared at you, realizing what you really meant and it only made him more confused. “A part of me is hoping you don’t remember this conversation.” You laughed.

“I’m not that buzzed.” He informed you. “So, what happened then?” You threw your head back, embarrassed but decided to go for it anyway.

“Well, Lydia happened.” You admitted, Stiles face grew serious and pained. You raised your head back up but remained looking forward. “And I know how heart broken you are over the two of you, no matter what you say. And I’m not mad at you for choosing her. I just needed some space.” You explained. He got it now, and he had never felt more ashamed. Your words repeated over and over again in his mind. ‘Choosing her.’ ‘Choosing her.’ ‘Choosing her.’ He had done that, after trying to kiss you. What a dick move. He thought. He should’ve told you what he was thinking. He should’ve explained himself. But he didn’t and if you liked him back that would obviously hurt. “And then I didn’t know how to face you. The longer I stayed away, the harder it got.” You finished. He had so much he wanted to tell you but suddenly nothing sounded right in his head.

“I’m not heart broken over her, you wad.” He grimaced. Your expression lightened as you both turned to see Mason running into the backyard, panic stricken.

“Where’s Scott?” He asked. Stiles and you stood up, having lost the moment again. You and Stiles walked in his direction, now standing in front of him.

“What’s going on, Mason?” You asked, him now noticing you were there.

“Y/n? Hey, I’m glad you came.” He put his hands out, stopping himself. “No, okay have you seen Scott?” The panic returning to his voice. Stiles squinted his eyes and placed his hands on his hips.

“What’s going on?” He repeated your question. Mason took a deep breath.

“Corey and I were upstairs and we saw...something. “ He continued. Stiles licked his lips and put his hands out to silence Mason’s story.

“I’m afraid where this is going.” He said and you couldn’t help but laugh.

“No, idiot.” He rolled his eyes at Stiles. “There was a girl. She just like stood there in the hallway outside my room and then Corey just quietly got up and left with her. He was like a zombie, I couldn’t stop him. I tried to follow them, but they were gone as soon as I rounded the corner.” Mason panicked.

“Maybe he thought she was cute and decided he wasn’t gay anymore?” Stiles said, knowing how ridiculous he sounded. You squinted your eyes at him and he shrugged.

“Her eyes like, glowed.” Mason continued. “I think there’s something else going on here.” You brought your hand to your mouth, thinking about what this could mean.

“They glowed? Like some of our werewolf friends eyes do?” You asked, thinking maybe the girl could be supernatural but hopefully not a threat.

“They glowed white and her face was like...I don’t know messed up.” He pleaded. “We have to tell Scott.” Mason stood there, frantic and unable to sit still, worried for his boyfriend. Stiles turned to you and you knew just what he was thinking.

“Girl with white eyes.” He stated. “Did she follow us back to Beacon Hills?” He questioned.

“Or maybe she followed us to Stanford.” You initiated that maybe this started long before Olivia saw this woman at school. “Come on, we’ll find Corey.” You led the group back inside just in time to see Scott and Malia playfully walking back down the stairs. “Scott!” You hollered, startling him.

“What?’ He hollered back. Mason stepped in front of you.

“We’ve got a problem, man.” He added. Scott shrugged and you glanced back to Stiles who bit his fingernails behind you. He stopped and looked back your way, shifting his weight closer to you and you smiled. Mason explained everything he’d just seen to the teen Alpha, who now knew for sure that something new was going on that they would surely soon be up against.

<<Chapter 2, Chapter 4>>

Let me know what you thought of this chapter! I have mixed feelings about it.

#StilesStilinskiFanFiction #stiles stilinksi x reader #teen wolf fanfiction

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Loki: Best Shows to Watch If You’re Missing the God of Mischief

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The God of mischief might be off in a different timeline prepping for a second season but we still need something to put in our eyes. Assuming you’ve already binged the MCU shows WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, we’ve rounded up some other great series that could scratch that Loki-shaped itch. Some of these are spiritually similar, some are great showcases of Loki’s cast and others explore similar themes. All are crackers though and well worth setting your tempad for.

Flowers

This Brit black comedy which aired on Channel 4 in the UK ran for two seasons, each equally special. Is it similar to Loki? Not at face value, but it does feature a stand out turn from Sophia Di Martino who stole the show as female Loki, Sylvie. Written by Will Sharpe, it’s the story of a highly dysfunctional family, with Julian Barrett and Olivia Coleman as parents on the verge of separation and Di Martino and Daniel Rigby as their troubled twins. Flowers is surreal, magical realistic, gothic and often bleak while remaining funny and moving at all times. Not a big world-hopping show like Loki, then, but it does tackle existential crisis head on, and it’ll only make you love Di Martino more. RF

Lovecraft Country

Like many Marvel projects, the Loki TV series has a deep bench of impressive acting talent. One of the most undersung (and honestly underutilized) members of the first season’s cast was Wunmi Mosaku, aka Hunter B-15, who was asked to depict a deep and abrupt change in loyalties over the course of six episodes. Mosaku pulls it off, mostly because she is a phenomenal actress. If you’re looking to see more of her work, look no further than HBO’s Lovecraft Country (but also watch In the Flesh, in which Mosaku plays the Season 2 antagonist), which also features He Who Remains’ Jonathan Majors in the main cast. (A two-fer!) Mosaku plays Ruby Baptiste, a Black singer living in 1950s Southside Chicago in this social horror. Come for Wunmi Mosaku and Jonathan Majors, stay for… Wunmi Mosaku and Jonathan Majors, but also for a TV series that has more supernatural twists than even the most bonkers episode of Loki. KB

Rick and Morty

If your favorite part of Loki was the existence of a thriving multiverse, then we’ve got some good news. Beloved Adult Swim series Rick and Morty (that also admittedly can have an overzealous fandom) is all about the storytelling joy that multiverses can provide. Mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty Smith reside in a plane of infinite universes and therefore infinite possibilities for bizarre adventure. Rick and Morty alum Michael Waldron served as Loki‘s head writer and the writing staff consisted of several more vets of the animated hit. Fans of Loki’s many variants will certainly enjoy encountering the countless versions of Rick, Morty, and their family. Just wait until you meet Lawyer Morty. Look at the little guy go! AB

Doctor Who

Not an original comparison, but one that absolutely stands up. After all, what was Loki episode three if not Doctor Who gifted a Disney budget? Nexus Events, the Sacred Timeline, doomed moons, memory reactivation… almost everything about Loki has one foot in the world of Doctor Who. The Marvel series may have had Time Keepers instead of Time Lords, variants instead of regenerations, and an alligator in place of… well, which Doctor would be the most likely to eat a cat? (Troughton’s, obviously), but there’s common DNA here. The really good news for the Loki fan who hasn’t already travelled with the Doctor(s) through space and time is that instead of just six episodes, there are roughly 10 billion of them plus novelisations, audio adventures, comic strips, videogames and a TV movie. Allons-y! LM

The Night Manager

Tom Hiddleston’s bum. But also this is an excellent series adapted from the novel of the same name by John le Carré and directed by Oscar winner Susanne Bier. Hiddleston plays Jonathan Pine, manager of a luxury hotel who gets recruited to infiltrate the inner sanctum of Hugh Laurie’s violent and volatile arms dealer. Olivia Colman co-stars once again (Hiddleston, Laurie and Colman all won Golden Globes for their performances) with a supporting role for Elizabeth Debicki which was very much a precursor for her part in Tenet. Post-Night Manager, Hiddleston was top billed to be the next Bond, so given Tenet basically was Bond but on another timeline, and featured time travel as an integral part, Loki and The Night Manager are basically the same show… RF

Timeless

If you wish Loki had been a bit more of a time-hopping procedural, then we have a show for you. Timeless, which aired on NBC for two too-short seasons from 2016-2018, stars Abigail Spencer as Lucy Preston, a historian who gets recruited by a secret department within U.S. Homeland Security in order to stop a mysterious organization that has stolen a time machine. Lucy teams up with scientist Rufus and soldier Wyatt, and the three unlikely bedfellows must learn to work together in high-stakes settings like the Hindenburg, Ford’s Theatre, and the Alamo. Co-created by The Boys showrunner Erik Kripke, Timeless has tons of character-driven twists that make the time travel personal, tying together these characters and settings in unexpected ways. KB

Legion

Loki is such a bold, creative superhero series that it’s hard to imagine that there’s every been anything quite like it. Believe or not – that’s not entirely true! While Loki is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first big heady sci-fi TV swing, it’s not Marvel’s first overall on television. From 2017 to 2019, Marvel-adjacent property Legion enjoyed a bizarre, colorful three-season run on FX. This series is based on the X-Men character David Haller a.k.a. Legion. Diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age, David also just happens to be a mutant with nigh-omnipotent powers. This show from Fargo‘s Noah Hawley revels in the strange potential of its premise. Legion is often confusing, but always intriguing. It’s a show that largely replaces superhero battles with dance offs. It’s well worth watching the entire run while you wait for Loki season 2. AB

The OA

Very different to Loki in tone but very similar in head-messing inter-dimensional WTF-ness, The OA is a strange and beautiful beast. If you could follow the Marvel show’s timeline hopping, then you’ve a strong chance of grasping the madness at play in Netflix’s The OA. It starts off as a story about the return of a woman (played by co-creator Brit Marling) who’s been missing for seven years, and ends up as a story about… parallel dimensions, arcane rituals, experimental physics, sci-fi magic and a kind-of-haunted house. It’s a total trip, in short, and should scratch any itch Loki fans are experiencing for TV of the weird variety. Speaking of which, give us season three, Netflix, you cowards. LM

Quantum Leap

Before the TVA there was Doctor Sam Beckett. Played by puppy-faced Scott Bakula, Sam is a scientist who invented a “quantum accelerator” (time machine) that randomly transports him back in time to put right events which once went wrong. In each episode of Quantum Leap, Sam wakes up in the body of someone else at a distinct point in history and has to figure out his mission with the help of his best mate, in hologram form, Al (Dean Stockwell). Sam is essentially maintaining the sacred timeline at the expense of his own life and free will, which would make Al…. Miss Minutes? Either way, it’s a hugely good natured show which ran for five seasons and it’s well worth a visit. RF

Continuum

Continuum protagonist Kiera (Rachel Nichols) has serious Sylvie energy. While they might not have much in common when it comes to their background—Sylvie is trying to take down the time authorities while Kiera, a cop from the corporate-controlled future, is an authority—they’re both incredibly focused women who will do what they have to in order to achieve their goals. Continuum follows Kiera, when she is unexpectedly stranded in our present. Desperate to get back to her family and her life in the future, Kiera teams up with a teen genius, as well as local detective Carlos Fonnegra. Filled with complex character arcs and alternate timelines, Continuum is a must for any fan of time travel TV. KB

Life on Mars

Loki’s crime procedural/time-hopping/fantasy cocktail may have been made famous by Quantum Leap, but it achieved its apotheosis (that’s right, five syllables, count ‘em) in BBC One’s Life on Mars. That’s the story of Sam Tyler (John Simm), a Manchester police officer who’s hit by a car in 2006 and wakes up in 1973. Like Loki, Tyler has to piece together what’s really going on behind-the-scenes while running his own investigations. Tyler may not be a God, or have magical powers and other planets to visit, but Life on Mars still took him to some odd and captivating places. It ended prematurely after two seasons (at the request of Simm, who said he wanted to spend more time with his family), after which the tale continued with sequel Ashes to Ashes starring Keeley Hawes. Currently, plans are afoot for a belated third series. LM

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The post Loki: Best Shows to Watch If You’re Missing the God of Mischief appeared first on Den of Geek.

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ibrgraphicsstudioworld · 4 years

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What are some of the best TV series to watch on Netflix?

Netflix is one of the most streaming platforms today. So it is natural you would want to know which series is the best to binge. Hello, I am from IBR Graphics . Here is my list of best series to binge on Netflix.

1. Bojack Horseman6 seasons,

77 episodes | IMDb: 8.6/10

This is one of the best series on Netflix. It is also one of the most underrated series. It is set in a world where anthropomorphic animals and humans live side by side.BoJack Horseman is about a horse named Bojack (Arnett), the washed-up star of the 1990s sitcom Horsin’ Around. After a decade boozing on his couch and sleeping around, Bojack tries to resurrect his celebrity relevance with decidedly mixed results. On the face of it, it’s a zany satire of Hollywood and celebrity culture. What’s unexpected, however, is that Bojack Horseman may be television’s most honest and thorough examination of depression. The writing is sharp, the jokes are layered, and the situations are hilarious, but there’s a melancholy undercurrent to the series. Despite being a horse, Bojack is also one of the most human characters on television. It takes two or three episodes to hook viewers into its world, but once it does, it’s an impossible series to stop watching.

2. Stranger Things

3 seasons, 25 episodes | IMDb: 8.8/10

A throwback and love letter to the early 1980s movies of Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter, the Duffer Brothers Stranger Things feels both familiar and new. The first season is about a boy named Will who is captured by a The Thing-like creature and trapped in a Poltergeist-like world. Will’s dorky, Goonies-like best friends take to their bikes to do some sleuthing of their own and eventually befriend an alien-like girl with telepathic powers. its great PG horror/sci-fi, like the blockbusters of the early ’80s.

3. Marvel’s Daredevil

3 seasons, 39 episodes | IMDb: 8.6/10

Brilliantly shot, excellently choreographed, and superbly written, Daredevil lives so far outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as to be completely distinct. It is darker, more brutal, and grittier than the film franchise, although there are enough light and humor in the show to make its characters sympathetic. The series nails the tone of the comic, the characters are complex, and it really understands the grey area between hero and villain, and the fine line between the two where violence is concerned. The fight scenes are brutal, and one couldn’t ask for a better Matt Murdock than the one depicted by Charlie Cox.

4.The End of the F***ing World

2 seasons, 16 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10

The End of the F***ing World is a dark-black comedy based on the comic series by Charles S. Forsman about James (Alex Lawther), a withdrawn and disturbed 17-year-old who believes he is a psychopath, and his burgeoning Bonnie & Clyde-like relationship with Alyssa, a classmate damaged by a dysfunctional family. Boasting a stellar soundtrack, magnificent performances, and a binge-worthy runtime, The End of the F***ing World is a bleakly funny series, but it’s also deeply, soul-achingly romantic.

5. Marvel’s Jessica Jones

3 seasons, 39 episodes | IMDb: 8/10

As an episodic series, Jessica Jones occasionally falters. Jones is a private detective with certain special powers, but the series doesn’t put her P.I. talents to much use, instead of focusing on one storyline surrounding the big bad, Kilgrave for the entire 13 episodes. Tennant’s character, however, is the best reason to watch the series — he’s captivating yet repugnant, alluring yet vile — and the themes of rape and domestic abuse resonate loudly. it’s a captivating, thematically-rich series that covers ground no other superhero series would dare to explore, and while that doesn’t make it the most entertaining Marvel series, it is the bravest and most original.

6. Luke Cage

2 seasons, 26 episodes | IMDb: 7.5/10

The third entry in Marvel’s Defenders series, Luke Cage follows the title character to Harlem, where he works as a sweeper in a barbershop and as a dishwasher in a restaurant. Cage –who has superhero strength and unbreakable skin — gets dragged against his better instincts into crime-fighting in order to save Harlem from violence and corruption. Luke Cage is every bit as thematically complex as Jessica Jones before it. Cage only falters in pace and storytelling. It’s thematically bold, but the storylines are conservative and predictable, and it might benefit by cutting its episode count from 13 down to eight or ten.

7. 13 Reasons Why

3 seasons, 39 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10

13 Reasons Why has an intriguing hook: A teenage girl named Hannah takes her own life and leaves behind a suicide note in the form of 13 tapes, each one directed at a particular individual at least partially responsible for the decision to kill herself. The tapes are then passed around to the 13 people, who have to deal with the guilt they feel for the role they played in her death, as well as keep their secrets hidden as the contents of the tape threaten to destroy relationships and cost the school millions in an ongoing lawsuit. The drama came under fire in its first season for its heavy subject material, and the reason it stirred so much controversy is that it is an honest and unflinching look at teen suicide. 13 Reason Why is a haunting and very personal series, and whether it succeeds — or backfires — in its aims will depend largely on the viewer.

8. Peaky Blinders

5 seasons, 30 episodes | IMDb: 8.8/10

A British import licensed in America exclusively by Netflix, Peaky Blinders is roughly the UK equivalent of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, taking place in the same time period and covering similar terrain. It’s got British gangsters, and while bootlegging and gambling are involved, so is the IRA, Peaky has one thing that Boardwalk does not, however, and that’s the piercing, intense Cillian Murphy, who plays something akin to Prohibition-era Boyd Crowder. The show also features Tom Hardy as a phenomenal recurring character in seasons two and three (along with Noah Taylor). It’s addictive, violent, and intense as hell.

9.Sex Education

2 seasons, 16 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10

this British teem comedy is committed to exploring all of the cringe-worthy, taboo topics associated with sex, just not in animated form. The series follows a mother-son duo navigating their way through those uncomfortable “talks.” Of course, the mother here happens to be a sex therapist named Dr. Jean Milburn and her son Otis is the kid enduring her overbearing tendencies at home while doling out sex advice of his own in an underground sex therapy ring amongst his friends. Sex is a comedy goldmine, and although the show loves to play up ’80s high-school tropes, there’s real nuance and thought that goes into how these teens are portrayed and their interactions with sex. Plus, Anderson’s comedic timing is spot-on.

10. The Umbrella Academy

1 season, 10 episodes | IMDb: 8/10

Superhero team-ups are a dime a dozen but the TV adaptation of this award-winning comic series created by Gerard Way — yes, the lead singer of My Chemical Romance — feels wholly unique and thus, totally refreshing. The show follows the story of seven kids, all born on the same day to mothers who didn’t even know they were pregnant. They’re adopted by a mysterious billionaire and trained to use their supernatural abilities to fight evil in the world, but when they grow up, their dysfunctional upbringing catches up with them, and they’re left struggling to live normal lives. It’s all kinds of weird, which is exactly what the genre needs right now.

#netflix #stranger things #series #sex education #13 reasons why #the umbrella academy #luke cage #jessica jones #peaky blinders #the end of the f***ing world #bojack horseman #netflix binge list #blog post

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beaniegender · 7 years

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Fandom Fic Rec Days - My Personal Favorites Fic Rec List!

In honor of #ficrecdays (happening Feb. 10th, 11th, and 12th), and my stupidly long ao3 bookmarks page which is a pain to go through, I want to make this list of the best of the the best of my favorite fics - the ones that make me gasp or laugh or cry and just generally ache at their beauty each time I read them. I hope you’ll read and enjoy them too! I encourage you to try something even outside a fandom you know well because all of these works are great fiction in their own right.

This list includes a total of 24 fics or series from nine fandoms: James Bond (3 works), The Martian (1 work), Marvel which is mostly Captain America (5 works/series), Soccer RPF which is all FC Barcelona RPF (4 works/series), Star Trek (2 works), Star Wars (1 work), Supernatural (2 works/series), True Blood (1 work), and The West Wing (5 works).

Some of these fics are already wildly popular, but in order to promote less popular fic a bit more, within a fandom works are sorted from least to most ao3 kudos. Read on and discover my absolute favorite fanfics!

James Bond

Search and Seizure by @kryptaria00q and @stephrc79 (16670 words, James Bond/Q/Alec Trevelyan) - After two assassination attempts on MI6 executives, the British Secret Service now requires self-defence training for all high level employees. Bond and Alec have taken it upon themselves to help keep their lover safe, no matter how much Q might hate them for it. Too bad they never seem to be able to stay on track. (a.k.a. frisking porn with plot)

basically trust porn along with being real porn. everyone’s POV gets shown off and it’s just so much fun watching these boys interact when they so obviously care for each other!

Treasons, Traitors, and Treachery by kryptaria and @zooeyscigar (63245 words, James Bond/Q) - All James Bond wanted was a quiet holiday on his luxury motoryacht on the Costa del Sol. Time to recuperate and think about his future with MI6. But his plans get hijacked when a traitor to the crown returns, bringing news of an even greater threat to MI6. And the traitor isn’t working alone. Thankfully, neither is James.

every single character in here is written flawlessly, and the OC is one of the BEST OCs to ever OC. There’s sass and hilarity, believably written government intrigue, and a very realistic level of depth in all the characters.

so you were never a saint. by @paperclipbitch (12319 words, gen) - “I think Bond’s trying to be your friend,” Eve tells him. “…well,” Q says slowly, “this is a new and disturbing development.”

the asexual!Q epic that defined a lot of my Q headcanons. also a lot of my MONEYPENNY IS AMAZING headcanons! it’s sort of an ensemble fic and sort of a character study and it just makes me like MI6 so much.

The Martian

You Know You Have a Permanent Piece of My Medium-Sized American Heart by tricatular [on tumblr but I’m not able to tag them, sorry!] (9151 words, gen) - “Hey Hermes!” The ambient suspicion level in the Rec ratcheted up significantly. Kapoor was disturbingly cheerful. “We’ve sent you some mission updates in the data dump, but Mitch and I wanted to personally let you know—” Mitch visibly rolled his eyes in the background. “—That thanks to some…strong suggestions from the White House, and on Annie and Director Sanders’ recommendation, we’ve started releasing Watney’s Mars logs to the public.”

deftly mixes standard narration, transcripts of recordings, and social media posts to show what Mark’s journal back to Earth would have been like both for him and for everyone who cared about his story (ie. the whole planet).

Marvel / Captain America

Walking Far From Home by TaleWorthTelling (6222 words, various Sam-centric pairings) - Sam’s relationship with birds starts early and inexplicably.

basically, Sam Wilson’s whole life. as the author’s note says, “Sam is the only person with his shit together, but he got there the hard way.” and then we’re treated to 6000 words of what that path was like, including stellar input from Sam’s OC family and the familiar MCU favorites. and Sam can talk to birds!

The Murder Ballads by BetteNoire (160839 words, 3 works, Steve/Bucky) - Something wicked is coming for Steve Rogers. Luckily for him, something even more wicked stands in its way: the unrepentant, unbroken Bucky Barnes. A murder-mystery/action thriller with violence, magic, and several big MCU guest stars.

like most CA fans I’ve read a stupid amount of post-winter soldier fic, so the first praise for this series is that it has a completely original take on that subject. and that take - the plot complexity, the multi-layered characterizations, the sequel - made me fall in love with Bucky all over again and permanently changed the way I think of him.

your blue-eyed boys by Feather (123233 words, 4 works, Steve/Bucky with sides of Pepper/Tony, Bruce/Betty, and Clint/Natasha) - Steve has no plan. Not because he hadn’t tried to make one. He’d tried to make lots of plans. Plan, adapt, plan again, tried to think of every contingency. And then he’d thrown them away, because there wasn’t much point. What could you plan for? He couldn’t guess the possible contingencies, the situations, the potentials. And he sure as sure hadn’t figured on what’s happened now, on coming back to his place and finding Bucky here. He hadn’t even hoped for that. He hadn’t realized he could. [post-Winter Soldier recovery fic]

if you’d like a slightly more typically-plotted approach to your post-WS fic than “The Murder Ballads” you absolutely can’t go wrong with “your blue-eyed boys”. it’s the most realistic version of Bucky’s recovery that I can imagine - heartbreaking and sickening and real. and the love between Steve and him and the team as a whole is obvious. DON’T MISS the associated verse, which is 450000 words (and growing) of shortfic in the same timeline, and which incidentally has the best OCs in the entire fandom.

Hollow Your Bones Like a Bird’s by @scifigrl47 (95514 words, Clint/Phil) - In the wake of the Chitauri invasion, Clint Barton wakes up in a world that he very nearly had a hand in destroying. And confronting a loss he might not be able to cope with. The Avengers always needed something to avenge, but once the crisis is past, what keeps them together?

I have yet to see a better representation of grief in fanfic, and that’s only maybe half of Clint’s problems in this fic. maybe you’ve noticed I like realism when fic deals with hard topics, and this shies away from nothing - and Clint will treat you to excellent analyses of his friends, as well as many bird facts, along the way!

Ain’t No Grave (Can Keep My Body Down) by spitandvinegar [on tumblr but I’m not able to tag them, sorry!] (107076 words, Steve/Bucky) - It’s six in the morning, and Steve is heading out on a run when he nearly trips over a bouquet of sunflowers on the front steps of his brownstone. For a second paranoia takes over, and he kicks the flowers a little, waiting for them to explode. They don’t. They also came with a card, which he picks up. The front of the card has a tasteful picture of the Brooklyn bridge at sunset. It’s very nice and sedate, like the kind of card you would buy to give to your boss. On the inside someone has written a short message in big, shaky block letters. I AM SORRY FOR SHOOTING YOU. Steve sits down hard on the steps.

ok yet more wonderfully detailed post-ws Bucky trying to recover fic, except in this one Bucky is homeless and a drug addict and ADOPTS THE BEST OCS with the BEST POVS EVER, oh my GOD. also Steve is smart and kind, Sam is long-suffering (and smart and kind), and the whole thing is hilarious.

Soccer / FC Barcelona RPF

only the children (know what they’re looking for) by therestisdetail (7253 words, gen) - I drew a picture of him, later, but I shall not show it to you for it is a sad demonstration of what will happen if you stop drawing when you are six, and certainly much less charming than its model. He wore a shirt that was too large and had soft dark eyes hiding beneath dark, indecisive hair; it did not seem to know if it was short or long, or what shape it wanted to be. He was very pale, very slight, had no shoes, and held a battered football beneath one arm with an air of pride. (Le Petit Prince redone feat. FC Barcelona)

a young Andrés Iniesta meets an even younger Leo Messi, and they quite simply tear my heart in two. no knowledge of The Little Prince required, but the fic is just as understatedly beautiful as the original.

Like a Hand Grenade by @meretricula (20430 words, 2 works, Cesc/Messi) - Cesc Fabregas is born a girl. She still loves football.

full disclosure, I do not care about Cesc Fabregas. I didn’t care about Cesc Fabregas even before his career got, frankly, weird and dispiriting. but BY GOD these works make me care about genderbent!Cesc and everything she could have been. the sequel is particularly nice for some cameos from other well-loved players!

Go Gentle by @ferritin4 (20977 words, eventually Xaviesta) - Things change, but only some things. In which Barça is indeed més que un club, no one stays on top forever, and it all comes back to Andrés in the end.

hands down my favorite football rpf. uses the A/B/O trope and the idea of pack dynamics to tell the story of the last decade of Barcelona football, which makes a hell of a lot of sense, and although Andrés is quietly the star, the different POVs let a lot of people shine.

It’s Going to Take a Lot to Drag Me Away from You by meretricula (31296 words, 10 works, Xaviesta, Fabregas/Messi/Pique, and Messilla) - Everybody knows Barcelona’s midfielders are psychic anyway. (Soulbonding AU)

try to tell me that a soulbonding AU isn’t the most logical thing in the world for Xavi and Iniesta, just try to tell me that! there’s also a good look at how the politics of this system could get messy quick, which, let’s be real, just makes sense for barça-centric fic.

Star Trek

How Many Roads? or, 27 Times Jim Kirk hit on Nyota Uhura by Deastar (8806 words, Uhura/Spock) - After the bar fight, Nyota thinks to herself that if this is what being hit on by Jim Kirk leads to, she’s very glad she’s never going to have to see him again.

Uhura and Kirk’s relationship goes from the dumpster fire it was in Iowa to the professional respect we get throughout the movies, but we never really see how it happens. this fic shows all of that and much more, and oh my god, I just like these characters so much.

Counteractive Measures by rikke_leonhart (9159 words, loosely Kirk/Spock) - The thing is – giving Jim Kirk a dare will never ever work. “Enlist,” she repeats to herself as Pike’s back disappears out the door. She snorts. It’s one of those things that just keep getting funnier.

Jim Kirk’s whole life - if Jim Kirk were a girl, and slightly less cliche about her motivations and psychology. and if Spock and especially McCoy were just as awesome as ever, because of course they are!

Star Wars

The Last Poem of Jedha by @schweinsty (15486 words, gen) - How Bodhi Rook temporarily misplaced the two most important things in the galaxy, and how he found them again (with a little help).

literally every fic on this list is amazing, I promise, but this one is my favorite out of them all. if you’ve ever cared about star wars for five seconds, please read this. the world-building, the characterizations, the plot structure, the family and team relationships: all stellar!

Supernatural

In His Image by @whitmerule (153067 words, Gabriel/Sam and Castiel/Dean) - Kali can breathe life back into a corpse, but what exactly is Gabriel now? Gabriel flits around various centuries trying to work that out, Dean has another powered-down angel and a little brother to look out for, Castiel has forgotten how to trust, and someone keeps sending Sam annoying little notes on his laptop. Oh, and Bobby would like to remind you all that there’s an Apocalypse still going on. Covers season 5 from Gabriel’s death to the finale.

half season 5 AU, half historical fiction, it feels like one story thread should distract from the other but instead it all works together to make the definitive Gabriel-centric story!

Sammyverse by shangrilada (249230 words, 42 works, gen) - It’s an AU, but not a deep one, until season 4 or thereabouts, where it starts to get kind of weird. Basically, Sam has really hideous asthma, and the boys are both pretty excellent at dealing with it and each other. They’re [not] all from Dean’s POV, and even though I’m branching now into later stuff, I’m going to keep doing pre-Stanford–Season 2 for a long time because that makes me happy. Honestly it’s a lot of H/C porn of the boys just being friendly and affectionate towards each other, because that’s how I like them. It is, to put it simply, gen. To put it more honestly, it’s as fucked up as I see it in canon and not a bit more or less. You can read into it as much or as little as you like.

it’s just like the show, except Sam is chronically ill and also the boys like each other. based on the show you might think the boys already like each other, but my friends, this ‘verse will show you just how much was missing. Dean’s internal monologues are things of beauty, and I love how much Jess is featured in the Stanford-era fics. (note: this master list includes most but not all of the fic in the verse, so if you’d like the rest be sure to check the author’s page or ask me for links!)

True Blood

We Who Are Alive And Remain by @branwyn-says (10448 words, Sookie/Eric) - Terrified by changes she witnesses in herself, Sookie hides from the world and everyone in it. When Eric finds out her secret, she will either find that he is worthy of her trust-or she’ll be dead.

the non-linear timeline makes this fic shine, and from the very beginning the plot is intriguing. before the plot is resolved we get to see a lot about who Sookie is who Eric is to her, and the dynamics between Sookie and nearly everyone in her life.

The West Wing

We Don’t Notice Time Pass by pene (1304 words, gen) - “I’d no idea you’d even met her.” It’s friendship and it’s women.

focusing on female friendship within The West Wing is annoyingly difficult, but this story focuses on what relationships among women can be. Mrs. Landingham acts as a bit of a mentor to Ainsley, and Ainsley’s relationship with her childhood best friend is achingly and heartwarmingly true to life.

Define Your Terms by candle_beck (4443 words, Josh/Sam) - It’s very complicated inside Josh’s head.

Josh is manic and about five conversations ahead of Sam. it works out because these two idiots care about each other very, very strongly. I love Josh’s mental voice in this one!

Vidui by Marguerite (7358 words, gen) - In the fall of 2001, Toby went to shul. In past years he had carried sins enough to confess, sins both petty and great, transgressions against God’s ordinances and those of men.

a beautiful meditation on Toby’s relationship with the people he works with/calls his family, through an explicitly Jewish lense. Toby is the person, and the Jew, that I wish I could be <3</p>

The Thinner the Skin by Jane St Clair (2149 words, Josh/Sam) - Of couches and expensive suits, with some mention of madness.

if you’re going to write a Josh/Sam post-Noel fic, this is unquestionably the way to do it! nothing is shied away from but there’s all the best kind of comfort that h/c can offer, and nice backstory details that make the characters seem realer.

highways and byways and roads in between by @greatestheights (10456 words, Josh/Donna) - “Maps are for losers. Maps are for people with no sense of adventure, like you, and…I don’t know. Toby, probably.” Josh, Donna, the open road, five states, and some of the things they said while they were driving.

Josh and Donna and, just, everything that they are (that is, a well-meaning idiot and better than you, respectively), with a healthy dose of Donna/career. everyone is characterized spotlessly, the dialogue is episode-caliber, and there’s fun local geography/culture!

#ficrecdays #fanfic #fic rec #tricatular #spitandvinegar #tagging authors who i can't @ in the post why does tumblr always do this #if you know any of the other authors are on tumblr tag them for me or let me know please?#james bond #the martian #marvel #fcb #star trek #star wars #r1 #supernatural #true blood #the west wing #*whispering* read these fics read these fics read these fics they're my entire heart in fiction form

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its-lifestyle · 5 years

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This book does not beat about the bush about what it sets out to do, which is to showcase feminist tales featuring bold, bright and heroic women and girls from this part of the world.

This anthology comprises 18 stories that will inspire, entertain and provide food for thought, as it takes young adult readers on a journey of endless possibilities – but with one foot firmly in the here and now, and a reminder of what it is that makes us who we are.

The idea for The Principal Girl: Feminist Tales From Asia (Gerakbudaya) came up in 2016, when Dr Sharifah Aishah Osman from the Department of English at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences wanted to publish a book of feminist folktales.

A call was issued for submissions – and the stories received were more diverse, more colourful, than initially expected. There were contributions from both established writers as well as newcomers.

“I don’t think anyone has published an anthology of feminist tales,” says children’s book author Tutu Dutta, who co-edited The Principal Girl with Sharifah.

“I was aware of (Amir Muhammad’s imprint) Fixi Novo and (Sharon Bakar’s) Word Works’ successful series of very well-written anthologies by local writers.

“I have read a few, including Chronicles Of KK (edited by Ann Lee), The Remang Anthology (Daphne Lee), and Champion Fellas (Sharon Bakar and Dipika Mukherjee).

“We realised there is a wealth of local talent out there. Since we received quite a number of interesting entries which were contemporary stories, we decided to be flexible and make The Principal Girl a collection of feminist tales, not feminist folktales,” says Dutta, who has nine books to her name, including the anthologies Timeless Tales Of Malaysia (2009) and Nights Of The Dark Moon (2017).

Of the 18 stories in The Principal Girl, 10 are original tales set in contemporary settings, while eight are based on Asian folklore and draw on legendary female figures like Hang Li Po, the princess of Gunung Ledang, Cik Siti Wan Kemboja and Mahsuri.

Dutta, 59, describes the stories as positive and self-affirming; they shine the spotlight on resourceful girls and young women with “can-do” attitudes, determined to live life on their own terms.

“They solve problems or surmount the obstacles that life throws at them,” says Dutta.

There is, for instance, a grievously wounded queen who finds the resolve to fight again, a school girl who solves crimes with some supernatural help, a kungfu-fighting Hang Li Po, a woman who fights for her inheritance, a student who overcomes the trauma of being accused of plagiarism, sisters who risk exile to help one another, and young women who are willing to turn down unsuitable men.

Sharifah concurs, adding that all the stories do indeed have an underlying feminist message, in that they feature a female protagonist and privilege her experiences, and in doing so, highlight the numerous ways in which women and girls have struggled with, but also managed to overcome, issues of marginalisation, injustice and oppression in society.

“We need such empowering stories to address the dismissal, the silence, even erasure of such strong women from our history.” These are women whose contributions may have been ignored, or regarded as insignificant due to the dominance of a patriarchal culture – especially as reflected in male-centric folktales that often feature heroines idealised more for their beauty and passivity than intelligence and courage, says Sharifah, 48.

“Through the retelling of these stories, we hope to remind our readers of such heroic and inspirational women from our own culture and heritage, and to make their acts of bravery and agency a source of our own pride as Malaysians and Asians,” she says.

The target age group for The Principal Girl is 13- to 25-year-olds, although Dutta points out that despite their simple language, there is enough complexity in these tales to appeal to adults too.

Ever mindful of the importance of diverse perspectives and characters in storytelling, The Principal Girl has diverse voices, she says, not just in terms of culture and race, but also age.

“We live in a diverse, multicultural and multiracial society. We need young people to have diverse perspectives not just for the sake of ‘living in harmony’ but for our survival as a society.

“The book is supposed to empower girls but if it gives young readers a greater appreciation of the diverse cultures that make up our society, and a greater understanding and respect for what makes us unique, then all the better,” Dutta says.

As for starting them young on the diversity that is our reality more often than not, Sharifah feels it is “absolutely essential” for children’s intellectual, psychological, and emotional growth.

“Apart from partaking in the joys of reading literature, our young audiences need to have stories that cater to their natural curiosity about diversity and difference, especially in light of an increasing polarised and confusing world. They need to understand that everyone, regardless of race, class, religion and gender, deserves to be treated with respect and compassion.

“It is our hope that The Principal Girl will help towards accomplishing this aim as well as cultivate a sense of pride in our heritage and culture,” she says.

Sharifah adds that they wanted young readers, both boys and girls, to have something of their own to treasure and enjoy, a book that speaks to their own experiences as Asians, and in which they can see characters that look and sound like them, or that they could aspire to become.

“As children’s literature scholar Rudine Sims Bishop reminds us, to nourish their minds and develop a strong sense of self-affirmation, children need books that serve not just as ‘windows’ to other cultures, but also ‘mirrors’ in which they can see themselves and their experiences being reflected.

“That’s why it was important to us that our readers, regardless of gender, understood that like these ‘principal girls’, they too could be brave, smart, resilient, independent, and masters of their own fate,” she offers.

The book’s title, The Principal Girl, refers to the main character in a children’s play or pantomime. Like the strong female figures in these tales, they do not play second fiddle to anyone.

How truly fitting.

A peek behind the scenes

Anna Tan (Operation: Rescue Pris) Writing Operation: Rescue Pris was an offshoot of my research for my novel, Dongeng, for which I worked with local legends such as orang bunian, pontianak and lang suir. I wanted to do more with the amazing legends I’d discovered. The story ended up as a conflation of several themes: the legend of the Gedembai from Langkawi, the legend of Sam Poh in Penang, and overturning the trope of the knight in shining armour. What I loved best about this story was being able to look at local legends and folktales through a modern lens and reinterprete them for our times.

Golda Mowe (Under The Bridge) Writing the story brought back a lot of old memories. I love my visits to the longhouse in my young days because I was free to roam about as I please. There was always some trouble to get into, and always an adult close by to help us kids out of the situation. It was nice to recall the smell and sound of the old longhouse again. I did not realise how much I missed those days until I had to imagine the sunning verandah for the story.

Hezreen Abdul Rashid (The Veiled Knight) My story is about Khawlah Azwar who was an Arab warrior who fought against the Byzantine army together with Khalid Al-Walid. When I first heard this story two years ago, I was inspired to write simply because it is a beautiful story, one that all girls and boys should know. They should know that women who rode horses and wielded swords don’t just exist in Disneyland. They are real. And they did it for the right reasons.

Julya Oui (Surya And The Supernatural Sleuths) I’ve always been intrigued by our local folklore and supernatural myths. They were my staple diet growing up in a small town. When I started writing this story I wanted an independent and strong female protagonist who wasn’t afraid of things that go bump in the dark. She is the embodiment of fortitude, inquisitiveness and compassion which I believe is what a sleuth needs to solve a mystery.

Krishnaveni Panikker (Priya’s Faraway Tree) Seeing my story, Priya’s Faraway Tree, in print is a joy. It is not every day one gets to see her first creative short story published, what more in a feminist anthology. This story took place over four decades ago, and I am hoping that it will be an inspiring message to young females that nothing is impossible if they set their hearts and souls to it.

Leela Chakravarty (Princess Of Mount Ledang) Since there are numerous versions of Princess of Mount Ledang, I got down to researching more on it. It was wonderful that our National Library had lots of short extracts or pieces of stories. I selected the pieces that would be suitable to entertain YA readers and assembled them into a complete story. In the process, I gained lots of new knowledge.

Preeta Samarasan (Red And White and The Girl On The Mountain) What I loved about working on these retellings was that they forced me to analyse and to create simultaneously: First I had to connect with the original folktale on its level, consider the female protagonist(s), who she was and who she might be between the lines. Only then could I bring out those between-the-lines possibilities. In the same way that you have to understand the rules of art before you break them, I had to understand these narratives before I could twist them.

Renie Leng (Saving Grace) As a poet, I find the short story the most challenging form to write in. When writing Saving Grace, I wanted to create a strong contemporary female character who happened to be born into privilege despite the tragedies in her life, and she used the privileges of a good education to save a culturally integral landmark from developers. Her victory seemed an easy resolution but not at a price.

Sharmilla Ganesan (Gamble) Writing this story – a reimagining of a key sequence from the Mahabharata – was an opportunity for me to address an imbalance I felt from a young age, when I first heard the story. It allowed me to look at the character of Draupadi within a modern context, and address issues like consent, agency and ownership over our own bodies.

Wan Phing Lim (House Of Malacca) My story is a fictionalised rendition of the relationship between Hang Li Po and Admiral Cheng Ho. Li Po is escorted by Cheng Ho from China to Melaka, under the disguise of being Sultan Mansur Shah’s bride. Her true purpose is to protect the Sultan from enemies within the palace and to keep the peace amid escalating trade wars in the region. My story draws parallels with Disney’s Mulan and Li Shang, and was also influenced by Esther, a Jewish queen from ancient Persia. My version of Hang Li Po shows that females can be capable warriors, spies, and protectors, embodying both skill and compassion.

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