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whimperwoods · 2 years

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Oswin - Fog and Vertigo

Part 9! Oswin Greystone is a wizard, a con man, and, now, a warlock’s pet. He needs to find a way out of it.

tw: pet whump, tw: non-sexual nudity (he’s technically in his underwear), tw: abuse, tw: abuse by a representative of the law, tw: fantasy cops, tw: threats, tw: mental fog, tw: panic attacks, tw: dizziness, tw: vertigo, tw: vomit mention, kind of nothing happens, but kind of something does

There’s a masterpost now!

Taglist: @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi, @starnight-whump

****

Oswin could barely believe his luck as his master’s booted feet retreated down the stairs. His jaw still ached faintly from the captain’s tight grip on it and he could hear that voice telling him, low and growling, exactly what would happen to him if he made a noise this time. He’d started shaking and he knew he’d never stop if he couldn’t get the images his master had painted back out of his head.

He waited, keeping his ears open and focusing on what he could hear in the hope that it might drive the thoughts away and settle his racing heart.

The sounds were the same as yesterday, the low hum of men talking and laughing downstairs with no idea he was here. It was hard to imagine why his master thought they would care, given how little they’d seemed to care about him when he was in their dungeon instead of their attic, but that was another thought that didn’t help.

He focused on breathing. He’d been left collared, but with his mouth uncovered. That, at least, he could live with. For now, he could live with that, and for now he needed not to think about what it meant to be able to live with it. He could calm down. He would calm down.

When he felt confident that the man wouldn’t return any time soon, he rose hesitantly to his feet, biting back a curse as straightening his battered knees sent pain shooting through him.

He felt weak and wobbly, but standing at all had been beyond him not so long ago, so he let himself stand still and breathe and wait for the uncertainty to pass, holding his arms out for balance like a toddler. Gods, what was he? How had he been one thing three days ago and become another so fast?

Stumbling over to his master’s desk was more instinct than strategy. It was solid, heavy, and the right height to help him keep upright. Once he was there, though, there was plenty to catch his eye. He moved some papers off of a map of the city, labeled with a set of symbols he couldn’t make heads or tails out of.

Swaying on his feet, he started rifling through the papers instead, and then the drawers, hoping for anything that jumped out as useful. He could tell he wasn’t thinking straight, that the fear and pain were clouding over his mind, but he forced himself to focus. If nothing else, he would focus his eyes on the pages. If nothing else, he would read the words enough times to know what they were about, generally. If nothing else, he would decide if the things were useful.

It was all slow, too slow, painfully slow, and he couldn’t stand for that long, sinking into his master’s chair almost without noticing.

He barely heard his master’s feet on the steps before the man arrived, and even with the spike of terror that hit him, his mind was too slow to react, and he had time to fling himself from the chair and onto the floor, but not the time to fix the papers that scattered with him.

“Wizard,” his master barked, the anger in his voice making Oswin curl up into himself on the ground. “Were you going through my things?”

Oswin’s mouth went dry, and the fog in his brain rose up to silence him, his mind too muffled to answer.

As his master’s booted feet came closer, it was all he could do to stammer out the truth - “Yes!”

The feet stopped, and Oswin didn’t have the courage to look up.

“What did you say?” the man asked, an edge of danger in his voice.

“Yes, master,” Oswin said, his voice so soft it almost gave out.

“And did I give you permission to go through my things?”

“No, master.”

Blank. Empty. Howling. Why wasn’t his brain more useful? Why couldn’t he think? Oswin realized he was breathing fast, too fast, fast enough to make his empty, foggy head start spinning on its axis. He pressed his forehead to the floor, hard, in the hope that it might stop the spinning.

His master’s feet were moving again, but even if he’d been fast enough to think of running, he couldn’t have known which way was away. He gasped for air, losing himself to the way the world reeled around him.

The quiet thud of his master’s knees landing on the floor beside him made Oswin flinch away, even as he struggled to make sense of it. A huge hand wrapped around the back of his neck, squeezing in a vague threat he felt more than he understood.

He looked up into his master’s eyes, unable to keep his own locked into the cold brown ones that seemed to spin along with the rest of the world, dizzying and impossible.

All of a sudden, his master released the back of his neck and felt his forehead instead.

“You’re not feverish,” he said, “Pull yourself together.”

The shove that sent Oswin sprawling was almost gentle, compared to most of what had come before it, and Oswin laid his head back down on the floor, trying to find words around his panting breaths. “Th-thank you, master.”

“The next time you touch something that isn’t yours without permission, I’ll crush your fingers under my boot.”

Oswin nodded, the motion making the vertigo worse. His chest hurt. Had his master done something to make his chest hurt? But no, that was him. His lungs. His heart. He felt like he’d messed up a lightning spell, like the energy running though him was too much, too fast, too dangerous.

The toe of his master’s boot pushed his chin away from his chest, and Oswin forced himself to look up at the man again, even as everything in front of his eyes continued to whirl.

“If you can look at things for yourself, you can look at them for me. Stand up.”

No. No, that wasn’t possible. For a moment Oswin didn’t move, but then his master’s face shifted, darkening, and Oswin fought his way through the spinning of the world and figured out how to move.

The floor was definitely down. The floor was down. He rolled onto his hands an knees, which meant his hands and knees were down and his head and back were up. He felt his stomach twist, but the good thing about not having eaten since yesterday was that there was nothing in there to rebel against the pain that still spiked with every twist of his back or the spinning of the world.

When he leaned back, onto just his knees, the spinning got worse, and he had to close his eyes.

His master grunted, displeased. “I said stand, pet.”

Oswin couldn’t nod. Couldn’t speak. He knew which way was which, as long as he didn’t think too hard about the spinning, as long as he didn’t try to look. He struggled to his feet, swaying as soon as he was upright.

His knees didn’t feel any better this time, but what was more pressing was that he could feel the world swinging around him, even with his eyes closed. He half-crouched, trying to give himself a wider base to keep from falling over.

Then his master’s hand was on his chin again, pulling Oswin’s face to tilt up towards his own. “Open your eyes.”

Oswin did, looking straight into those cold eyes, and even as he continued to feel everything whirl, whirl, whirl without stopping, his master’s eyes stayed perfectly steady.

Oswin reached up and grabbed his master’s forearm, moving on instinct before he could think about what he was doing.

“P-please Sir,” No. Wrong. Oswin took in a deep, shuddering breath and tried again, “Please, Master, make it stop!”

His voice sounded afraid, even more than he expected. Even more than he felt, because even the fear seemed blurry beneath the vertigo, like that too was wheeling around him at top speed.

His master sighed. His brow softened, the anger fading. The Captain’s eyes were still cold, still mean, but he was less dangerous now, had to be less dangerous when he wasn’t angry. Oswin started tearing up, his legs still shaking and his grip on his master’s arm still desperate.

His master’s other hand cupped his cheek, moving his face more gently this time.

“Make what stop, wizard? What have you done to yourself?”

“The spinning, master,” Oswin answered quietly. “Everything is spinning.”

The Captain scoffed, letting go of Oswin’s face with a little shove that, disoriented as he was, meant Oswin could only stay upright by closing his eyes again and clinging more tightly to the man’s arm.

“Lie down,” his master said, sounding vaguely disgusted. “You’ll look at things for me later. Get some rest.” He muttered something under his breath that Oswin only half-heard. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

It was a relief to let go of his master’s arm, as much as it made him feel unmoored in the time it took him to get carefully from his feet to the ground.

Everything still spun, but the pressure of the ground against his side was reassuring, more reassuring than being balanced on his feet.

“I’m going to leave some bread,” his master sad, “Don’t eat it until the spinning stops. If you vomit, I’ll make you lick it up.”

Oswin couldn’t bear to think of either the promise or the threat. Instead, he focused on the darkness inside his eyelids and tried, again, to get ahold of himself. His master’s footsteps sounded impossibly regular, descending the stairs, but when they were gone the world seemed even more impossible, somehow.

Everything was still spinning when he fell asleep, too exhausted for even the sense that he was about to fall to keep his frazzled nerves from giving out.

#fantasy whump #whump #pet whump #d&d wump #panic attacks tw #dizziness tw #threats tw #police brutality tw #fantasy police tw #oswin series #emeto mention #emeto tw #our boy is not doing great #give him some more days and he'll be able to make decisions again

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dogmotifz · 1 year

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Inspired by that last post I figured I'd make a tw list for disco elysium for anyone considering playing?

Everything on the list is tagged either necessary (n) meaning it's in some plot relevant part of the game, or possible (p) meaning depending on how rolls end up, it may or may not happen.

- Images of hanging, including the main character (n)

- two actual suicides on screen, including of the main character (p)

- suicidal ideation (n)

- discussions of sexual assault, including a character making graphic verbal threats (n)

- general verbal threats of murder and violence (n)

- police brutality (discussions and implications are plot-relevant, though how much detail you get depends on how you play)

- both real and fantasy racial slurs towards kim and lizzie (n), including from the main character (p)

- general fatphobia and ableism towards the main character, kim, and several other side characters (n)

- drug use (p) and discussion/depictions of addiction (n)

- implications of child abuse (n)

- actual child abuse by the main character, including child death (p)

- vomiting (n)

I may be forgetting/missing some so pls add on!!

#boldinf the suicide part bc I was not prepared holy shit #disco elysium #za/um

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forestcat000 · 1 year

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outdated Balto redesign and other things

Balto has hair down to his neck

Balto has a undercut

Balto has brown hair with bits of gray mixed into it

Balto has dark red eyes

Balto has a lot of scars from various fights he's been in

Balto has lost a few teeth

Balto has his ears, nose and lip pierced

pronouns undecided but is fine with any pronouns

sexuality undecided (not undecided by me but undecided by balto)

everything under here, is no longer cannon to my rewrite

under here im going to write some things about balto in the rewrite

tw for fantasy racism police brutality and bullying

Balto is Zenix and Ivans cousin (Ivan and Zenix are also cousins not siblings) because red eyes

Balto hates both his cousins (Zenix for being friends with gene and hates Ivan for being in Baltos words a "freak of nature" because of Ivans uncontrolled magic)

Balto is the main Villian of season 1 of my rewrite (he might be a main or secondary Villian in season 2)

Balto dates Zane in season 1 (Zane will suffer)

Balto grows to hate Janus over time

the racist stuff starts here so the TL;DR of the rest of this is Balto is a traumatized bastard

Balto is racist towards everyone but werewolves (Balto thinks werewolves are superior beings and that every other race is weak compared to them. he also hates half blooded werewolves.)

Balto was harassed a lot as a child for being a werewolf and watched his family be assulted and hurt, this included his father being shot and killed by a human police officer. after this Balto came to the conclusion that all humans were evil and don't deserve to have the control they have because of their evilness.

Balto would only be with a human if they were turned into a werewolf and even then would still consider them a lesser being for being born a human

Balto dated Gene in his sophomore year and Genes freshmen year. they did not have a good relationship and broke on bad terms and they are both VERY bitter about it (one of the reasons they broke up was because of Balto hating half blooded werewolves since Gene is a half blooded werewolf)

#mystreet balto #aphmau balto #aphmau pdh #aphmau rewrite #aphmau headcanons #aphmau gene #aphmau zane #aphmau ivan #aphmau zenix

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booksthatburnpodcast · 1 year

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#IFTTT #Books That Burn

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385bookreviews · 3 months

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1.73.2 House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas

SPOILERS

Pages: 801

Time Read: 14 hours and 31 minutes

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ Storyline: ★★★★★ Dialogue: ★★★★☆ Characters: ★★★★☆

Genre: Adult urban fantasy

TWs for the book: S*xual content, violence, death, blood, war, murder, injury, slavery, cursing, torture, gore, grief, gun violence, alcohol, classism, colonization, drug use, genocide, fire/fire injury, confinement, misogyny/sexism, physical abuse, body horror, child abuse, s*xual assault/violence, mentions of r*pe, kidnapping, medical content, gaslighting, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, infidelity, panic attacks, trafficking, animal death, domestic abuse, mental illness, vomit, death of a parent, hate crime, discrimination, infertility, toxic friendship, homophobia, police brutality, arranged marriage, racism

POV: Third person

Time Period/Location: Crescent City (Lunathion) on the fictional continent of Valbara; the Eternal City on the fictional continent of Pangera; three months after the events of the first book

First Line: Sofie had survived in the Kavalla death camp for two weeks.

The story opens in the Kavalla death camp on Pangera, where the Vanir are keeping human rebels. Sofie, a rare type of Vanir called a thunderbird and an Ophion rebel, with the ability to harness and control all types of energy, frees her brother and a group of children from the camp. They are hunted by the dreadwolves, the wolf shifters that guard the camp, and the Hind, the deer shifter who serves as spy breaker and torturer in Sandriel's former triarii. Agent Silverbow, Sofie's lover, gets the children and her brother Emile to safety, but Sofie remains behind to distract the Hind and the dreadwolves. She is subsequently captured, and the Hind throws her, shackled, into the sea.

Meanwhile, in Crescent City, Bryce's parents are in town and they are seeing one of Juniper's performances. Afterwards, Bryce, Hunt, Juniper, and Fury go to Ruhn, Declan, and Flynn's house for a party. While there, Cormac, Prince of the Avallen Fae, appears and declares that the Autumn King has betrothed Bryce to him. When her and Hunt arrive home, they find Ithan bleeding on their floor. He defended Bryce against Sabine in an article and Sabine and Amelie beat him and kicked him out of the pack and the Aux. Bryce agrees to let him stay.

Tharion is on a mission from the River Queen to find Sofie's body. He goes to where she was dropped into the ocean but the chains are unlocked and the body is gone. The River Queen demands he keeps searching for her, as well as for her brother Emile, who everyone believes to be a thunderbird.

A new Archangel comes to lead the city named Celestina. An angel named Ephraim has been given control of Sandriel's old territory in Pangera, but because he has his own triarii and Celestina only has Hunt, Isaiah, and Naomi, the Asteri split up Sandriel's old triarii. They send Baxian, the Helhound, an angel with the rare ability to shapeshift into a dog, and Pollux, the Hammer, to Crescent City. Upon seeing Pollux, Hunt immediately attacks him and they both end up in cells. Bryce comes to free him upon Celestina's request.

Tharion finds an abandoned boat and believes Emile is running to the city with an Ophion commander named Pippa and her Lightfall squadron on his tail. He also finds emails between Sofie and Danika about things called Dusk's Truth, Project Thurr, and a safe hiding place in the city, and goes to ask Bryce if she knows anything. Hunt wants them all to stay out of it, but Bryce is insistent upon finding and helping Emile. Bryce meets with Fury who tells her that the only secret she knew about Danika was that she was a bloodhound, a rare ability among wolf shifters that allow them to sniff out secrets in a person's lineage. Bryce arrives home with Ruhn to find Ithan and Tharion on the couch with a white cat who reveals himself to be Aidas. He demands to know why Bryce hasn't been learning how to use her powers, and that her starlight doesn't come from Prince Pelias, but rather Queen Theia. He claims Pelias was an imposter who killed Theia, and demands that Ruhn's Starsword belongs to Bryce. He encourages her to aid the rebels and that the demons of Hel were actually fighting against the Asteri to free the people of Midgard. Cormac appears, and Aidas reveals him as the rebel Agent Silverbow before disappearing. He confesses he is also searching for Emile and that he ran away from Pippa because she wanted to use him as a weapon. He also wants to discover the war-changing secret that Sofie discovered about the Asteri before her disappearance, information she found at Danika's request. Cormac knew that Bryce knew Danika and it was the only reason he agreed to the betrothal. Bryce makes a deal with Cormac agreeing to keep the betrothal sham public if he helps her to learn her powers while they search for Emile with Tharion. Cormac also recruits Ruhn to help him by threatening to tell the Autumn King of Ruhn's mind-speaking gifts. Hunt tries to talk Bryce out of this plan, but she wants to find Emile on her own as she worries that Tharion, Cormac, and Pippa will just use the kid as a weapon. She also wants blackmail on the Asteri so that way they will leave her and Hunt alone.

Ruhn meets with Cormac who asks him to use his mind-speaking to contact Agent Daybright, a high-ranking Vanir close to the Asteri that they don't want to risk contacting any other way. Hunt has a dream where he speaks with Apollion, the Prince of the Pit and the demon that killed the seventh Asteri. He instructs Hunt to combine his powers with Bryce's and that they will be even more powerful. Ruhn manages to make contact with Agent Daybright, and she appears as a woman covered by flame. Ruhn passes along information to Cormac about a hit on the Spine, a train route where mech suits for Vanir will be transported. Pollux and Baxian get into a fight after Baxian stops Pollux from r*ping a girl. To keep media attention from focusing on their fight, the Asteri tell Celestina that she is to mate with Ephraim. Ruhn and Bryce head to the Aux training facility so that way Cormac can train her, when they are attacked by Reapers and Ruhn is dragged into the sewer. The Reapers tell Bryce that they were sent by Apollion, and that he wants to fight and kill her like he did with Prince Pelias, so she has to train her powers. They also hint that Emile is in the Bone Quarter. Bryce uses the Starsword to kill the Reapers, and Cormac teleports in to save Ruhn.

Bryce and Hunt decide that they are officially going to be together, and they decide that they are mates, even if they don't have the soul connection that Fae mates have. Hunt and Bryce travel to the Bone Quarter to interrogate the Under-King. He denies sending any Reapers after Bryce or that any are missing from his land. He also says Emile nor Sofie are there, and that neither is Lehabah, because Lowers are of no use. Then he explains that after a few centuries of the dead resting in the Bone Quarter, they are pushed through the Dead Gate and they become secondlight, and are used as a source of fuel and energy for the empire. He then has a demon, a large dog that can split into 3 dogs called the Shepherd, attack Bryce and Hunt. The Reapers and the Shepherd attempt to push Bryce and Hunt through the Dead Gate, but Bryce jumps in front of Hunt's lightning and flows through the Starsword and she begins killing them. Hunt manages to draw energy from the Dead Gate as well, very similar to a thunderbird, and they escape the Bone Quarter, aided by Tharion who takes them back to shore. Meanwhile, Ruhn, Ithan, and Cormac pass along rebel information about the Vanir mech suits so the rebels can attack the Spine. The rest of Sandriel's former triarii has arrived in the city along with Ephraim, and the commander of the dreadwolves, Mordoc, comes down the alley. Ithan tells Ruhn that he is a bloodhound, and Danika's father. Cormac teleports Ithan away, and then creates a distraction so Ruhn can run, but Mordoc catches his scent anyways. Cormac teleports Ithan and Ruhn to a bar across town so they have an alibi, and then vanishes right before the Hind and the Harpy enter. The Hind introduces herself to Ruhn as his fiancé's, Hypaxia the witch-queen's, half-sister.

Ithan wants to know if Connor's soul has been pushed through the Dead Gate so him, Bryce, and Tharion go to the Astronomer, a man that controls three mystics. Mystics are some rare Vanir born with the ability to essentially astral project all over the universe and into different dimensions, and their families usually sell them to people like the Astronomer. Ithan inquires about his brother, but the male mystic goes to Hel instead and encounters Thanatos, the Prince of the Ravine. He tells them that Connor is still safe in the Bone Quarter but he decides that he is going to eat the soul of the male mystic. All three mystics begin drowning, and Ithan frees them, much to the anger of the Astronomer who kicks them out. Ithan, still wanting answers about his brother, goes back to the Astronomer. He isn't there, but the female mystic is out of her tank, and he realizes that she is an Alpha wolf. She refuses to leave with him when he presses, and so he steals the Astronomer's rings.

Cormac discovers that Ophion has captured the Vanir mech suits and are keeping them on an island off the coast. Ruhn, Tharion, Bryce, Cormac, and Hunt go to the island. Cormac tries to convince Command to not let Pippa be in charge or start the war in Crescent City as she is insane, but he is overruled. Hunt reveals that the Vanir mech suits are meant to be able to draw firstlight from the ground and create massive bombs in an instant. He destroys the suits and the rebels shoot Cormac and they steal a boat and escape. However, the encounter Baxian, who warns them that the Hind is coming. A submarine blows up their boat and they are left floating in the water, but only the Hind approaches. She threatens them, but flees as a massive underwater ship comes to their rescue. It's a city ship from the Ocean Queen, and she claims that they were called there to rescue them. Hunt goes completely feral, lightning magic taking over upon seeing the Hind, and he is unable to calm down. Ruhn tells Bryce that her and Hunt are mates in the way that the Fae are mates. Bryce takes Hunt into a garden and they sleep together for the first time. When his magic flows into her, she teleports. After this, it is revealed that the city-ship went to go rescue Sofie, but she was dead by the time they got there and they have her body. Before she died though, Sofie carved a series of letters and numbers into her arm, and they presume it's the key to the information about the Asteri she was hiding.

Meanwhile, Ithan brings the rings he stole from the Astronomer back to Declan and Flynn. They break open the rings and reveal three fire sprite triplets. They break open the fourth ring though and reveal a dragon named Ariadne that was bound and contained within the ring.

When the rest of the group arrives back in the city, they are not confronted, so they assume that the Hind or Baxian hasn't told anyone of their involvement with Ophion. Baxian does come to them though and says he is a rebel sympathizer and wants to join them. Bryce lies and says that isn't what they were doing and rejects him. Hunt figures out that Bryce knows where Emile is. She takes him to the Meat Market and reveals that she had the Viper Queen find him and keep him safe, and in exchange Bryce owes her a favor one day. Emile reveals he isn't a thunderbird at all. Bryce has Fury take Emile to her parents' house, where they adopt him with forged paperwork. Hunt is angry at her for not telling him she found Emile and they fight and part ways.

Hypaxia comes to Ruhn' house and asks for him and Ithan to watch her back and for Ruhn to escort her to Celestina and Ephraim's mating celebration. Ithan agrees to guard her in exchange for her using her necromancer powers to get in contact with Connor.

The Autumn King comes to visit Bryce and tells her that he is having her name legally changed to Bryce Danaan, and that she is officially a princess of the Fae. After a falling out with Juniper and Fury being busy, Bryce contacts Hypaxia to talk. Ithan and Ariadne trail them, but two demons attack and rip out Ithan's throat. Hypaxia uses her healing magic to charge up Bryce so she can teleport and kill the demons. Hypaxia is able to heal Ithan, and it is revealed that Ariadne ran away.

Agent Daybright tells Ruhn that she will meet him at the mating ceremony for Celestina and Ephraim at midnight. The night of the party, Cormac escorts Bryce. When they arrive, Bryce heads straight to the Archangels and announces to them that her and Hunt have mated so he is now a prince of the Fae and she is no longer marrying Cormac. The Autumn King is humiliated but has no choice but to accept it because she had already gained the approval of two Archangels. Bryce and Hunt sneak away to have s*x and find Celestina and Hypaxia together. They swear to never speak about it to anyone. Ruhn goes to meet Day but the Harpy is there instead. He flees, and runs into the Hind as well on the way out, and then leaves the party altogether.

Apollion comes to speak to Bryce in her dream. He reveals that Aidas and Theia were lovers, and that Hel assisted Midgard in the last war. He denies sending the Reapers to threaten her and Ruhn, and asks her to open the gates to Hel so they can kill the Asteri. Bryce refuses, and he tells her to come find him once she has learned the truth. Ithan and Hypaxia try to summon Connor's spirit but instead summon the Under-King, and he traps them in the woods and sends hunting hounds after them. After a long night, Ithan and Hypaxia manage to make it to Bryce, Hunt, Ruhn, and the rest of them and she tells them that the Under-King demands they meet him at Urd's Temple or he'll shove Connor and the rest of the Pack of Devils through the Dead Gate. Only Bryce, Ruhn, Hunt, and Hypaxia go. The Under-King reveals that the Reapers who jumped them came from Eternal City, not the Bone Quarter. But the whole meeting was an ambush as Pippa and her Lightfall squadron attack the temple. Bryce teleports Ruhn and Hypaxia out, but doesn't have enough energy to get Hunt. The Lightfall Squadron is attacked by the dreadwolves and Pollux. Baxian pulls Bryce and Hunt through a secret passageway, but Bryce draws her gun and demands to know why he keeps helping them. He reveals a tattoo on his chest, "Through love, all is possible", in Danika's handwriting. He also reveals that he was Danika's mate. Bryce is heartbroken she kept this from her. Baxian reveals the numbers and letters on Sofie's arm are a room number in the Asteri Archives in Eternal City, and that he gave that number to Danika. Danika tasked Sofie with finding out what was in that room, and it took her three years but she finally did, and then ran to Kavalla to save her brother right after. They make plans to go to the Eternal City. Tharion tells the River Queen's daughter that he no longer wants to be engaged to her and she runs to tell her mother. In fear of having to live the rest of his life Beneath, he runs to the Viper Queen and swears allegiance to her as one of her fighters, stopping the River Queen from coming after him. Ithan goes to see the Prime and he tells him of the Alpha wolf mystic. Sabine gets angry at him, but the Prime pulls him aside in private to tell him that she is a Fendyr, and has the ability to replace Sabine as Prime Apparent. Ruhn meets with Day mentally and they kiss and sleep together telepathically. But at the end Day is pulled away and leaves him with a frantic warning. Ruhn goes into a panic thinking she has been discovered and captured and insists he is going to the Eternal City to save her. Hunt, Bryce, and Ruhn are the only three to go. Tharion and Cormac also travel to Pangera but blow up a laboratory as a distraction that they can blame on Pippa. Five of the Asteri show up to kill the rebels. Tharion flees but Cormac is killed.

In the castle, Bryce enters the room in the Asteri Archives. She finds a core of firstlight and pipes channeling it to the remaining six Asteri's thrones. She realizes that the Asteri are not the gods they make themselves out to be and that they are feeding on firstlight and secondlight. As she is about to leave, she encounters a room labelled Dusk. She goes in and discovers that the Asteri have done this to other planets for thousands upon thousands of years, killing and draining and feeding off entire planets around the cosmos. She finds notes on Midgard that say that the existing human population was not enough so they brought in the Vanir from other worlds. She also discovers that the Asteri tried to conquer Hel but were fought off, and Hel invaded Midgard to kill the Asteri and free the creatures there. As she tries to find the home world of the Asteri, she is caught by Rigelus. He reveals he lured her there so he could use her to reopen the Gates. Theia shut the gates to keep the Asteri from going back and conquering her home world. He reveals that Danika discovered that the shifters are all Fae, just a different kind than Bryce and from a different world. Rigelus says that they "bred out" the pointed ears. Bryce transports back to Hunt to find him captured by the Harpy and Ruhn is captured by Mordoc, who remembers his scent from the ally. They are all thrown into a cell and bound, and the Harpy begins to torture Ruhn, but Agent Daybright comes to the rescue, and it is revealed that she is Lidia, the Hind. Lidia kills the Harpy, but hears Pollux coming down the hall. She frees Bryce and Bryce beats her up and makes it look like she killed the Harpy. Pollux captures them all again and drags them before the Asteri, Lidia leaving Bryce's hands unbound. They stand before Rigelus, and Baxian and Mordoc enter. Rigelus reveals that he disguised himself as Aidas and sent the Reapers to manipulate Bryce. He says the eight pointed star on her chest is a mark of her home world, and that he wants to go back there and conquer that world as well. Bryce agrees to do so as long as he frees Ruhn and Hunt. He agrees, and she says goodbye to them. Hunt tells her to go to Hel and gather their armies, and Ruhn tells her she needs to live so she can be the Autumn Queen. She unlocks both of their chains while hugging them, and Ruhn and Hunt blast Rigelus while Bryce runs. Rigelus pursues her, and Baxian takes out Mordoc. Hunt sends a blast of power through the Horn and she opens a portal and disappears. Rigelus puts a slave halo back on Hunt.

Bryce lands in the grass in a city in front of a house. She thinks she is in Hel and is confused, but she has actually been transported to the ACOTAR universe. Azriel finds her, and she begs for him to take her to Prince Aidas, but they don't speak the same language, and he blindfolds her and takes her to the townhouse. Amren, Cassian, and Nesta enter, and Bryce mistakes Amren for Fury at first. She tries to speak to them in the Old Language of the Fae and Amren gasps and tells her that no one has spoken that language there in 15,000 years. She reveals the Starsword and Azriel pulls out Truthteller and they realize that the Starsword is Gwydion, the missing piece of Azriel's knife. Rhysand and Feyre enter, and Bryce mistakes Rhysand for Ruhn. They tell her she isn't in Hel, and Rhysand introduces himself.

Bryce Quinlan (Bryce Danaan/Starborn Princess): I love how Bryce continues to outsmart everyone, it's very entertaining to read and reminds of Aelin a lot. It's really heartbreaking to watch her continue to discover more and more about Danika's life that she didn't know about, and knowing more about her friend and honoring her legacy is a huge motivating factor for her. It annoys me a little bit that Bryce is super powerful and yet completely reliant on Hunt in order to use those powers. It would be bad writing for SJM to change who she is in a relationship with, but honestly I think Bryce should have stayed single or gotten a better mate.

Hunt Athalar (Orion Athalar/The Umbra Mortis): I'm really intrigued to see how Hunt's lineage comes into play in the story and the lore, but honestly I couldn't care less about him and Bryce's relationship. It doesn't have nearly the same impact Rowaelin or Feysand or Nessian. The dynamic almost feels forced in a way, especially with their conversation of "Well calling you my boyfriend feels weird so I guess we're mates after 3-5 months of knowing each other." I know that they actually are fated mates, but their relationship seems so s*x focused and surface level. The fact that their first time together was to calm Hunt down out of an overprotective male rage really rubbed me the wrong way and cheapened the whole thing for me, and a lot of his "sexy" dialogue made me either giggle or cringe. Their romance, and Hunt's character in general for me was more of a distraction from the plot (and this is coming from someone who lives for those spicy scenes).

Tharion Ketos: I love getting to see some of Tharion's POV in this as I feel like he is a fairly unique character and doesn't have a lot of the same loyalties and motivations as the other characters do. At the end of the day, while he does love his friends, he's a little bit of a selfish ass, willing to save his own skin at the expense of others (e.g. Emile, Sofie, Ariadne). While it isn't an admirable trait, it's good to see the variety from the other characters we see.

Ruhn Danaan (Starborn Prince): I was 100 times more invested in Ruhn and Lidia's love story than I was in Bryce and Hunt's. They had so much better chemistry and there was so much suspense behind it since they didn't know who the other one was. It definitely had way more forbidden romance vibes than Hunt and Bryce, and the reveal and Ruhn's turmoiled reaction to finding out that Agent Daybright was actually Lidia the whole time really makes me intrigued to see where their relationship goes.

Storyline: This book got five stars for the plot alone. There were some plot twists I could see coming (that the Asteri were evil, that Daybright was the Hind), but there were definitely a lot that I did not see coming even on my second read through (the female mystic being a Fendyr heir, Baxian being Danika's mate). The connections and revelations made about who the Asteri are and how Midgard is connected to the Throne of Glass world and the A Court of Thorns and Roses world were really well done and didn't feel forced. I love how SJM interweaves hints and easter eggs throughout her books, and how it's revealed that everything was important and nothing was mentioned carelessly.

Representation: Once again I think there were a decent amount of people of color in this book, and I'm glad SJM is expanding on the diversity of her characters. Baxian, Celestina, Hypaxia, Juniper, Fury, Hunt, Bryce, and Isaiah are all non-white characters. Juniper and Fury are gay and are in a relationship, and Declan gets a boyfriend named Marc. It isn't mentioned in this book but in the first book Isaiah is stated to be gay as well. Hypaxia and Celestina are together but must keep it hidden to continue their arranged marriages. I definitely wish there was more disability representation, as I think it would be really interesting to see modern magical creatures with modern yet magical assistive devices.

Summary: The second book was definitely better than the first in my opinion, and I really loved how well interconnected everything was. The cliffhanger was absolutely insane and I can't wait to read the final book when it comes out on January 30th. As I said earlier, I could really do without the Bryce/Hunt romance as much as it is, but it only detracts from the book a little bit in comparison to how many other compelling characters and plot lines are happening.

#book review #book blog #books #book reviews #sarah j maas #fantasy #hoeab #hosab #hofas #house of earth and blood #house of sky and breath #house of flame and shadow #sjm #sjmaas #sjm books #crescent city #cc1 #cc2 #cc3

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seilvox · 2 years

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A list of my Original stories

Here’s a list of all my Original IPs/Stories, in no particular order. These are the stories you can expect to see on this blog, haha.

I, in no way, shape, or form, give anyone permission to use these ideas/characters! They are not free to use, nor are Public Domain. Do not try to steal my IPs and pass them off as your own. With that in mind, just go below the cut to read through them, lol.

I have the title, genre, and age rating A trigger warning portion for advanced warning, since a lot of my stories are meant for people 18+. Then a basic plot summary. A link to a song I like to associate with the story, just for aesthetics. And finally, a date for when I first conceptualized and started developing the story/characters.

If you want more info on Trigger warnings, such as my use of ‘Disturbing themes’, feel free to ask!

If you want to make fanart or fanfic of my web series...es? Please do! Just please do not make fetish content, pr*ship content, hate content, political/religious content, or NSFW of them!

SilverSoul - Genre: Fantasy/Dramedy - Rating: 18+

(TWs for the story: Violence, Sexual themes, Alcoholism, Ableism, Death, Drug use, Fantasy Racism [IE: Humans being racist against things like satyrs.], LGBT-phobia, Necromancy, Kidnapping, Torture, Abuse, Enslavement, War, Swearing, etc.)

A story about a Kitsune and a Human prince who find themselves in the distant future of their land due to a spell they attempted to conduct. Things are unfamiliar, and when they awake in this future, they have no memory of their pasts. They must adapt to this new present, while a third party attempts to find them and bring them back to their time. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AQQu-DeNt0 First conceptualized in 2016.

Veil of Justice - Genre: Fantasy/Thriller - Rating: 18+

(TWs for the story: Violence, Sexual themes, Alcoholism, Ableism, Death, Disturbing themes, Drug use, Cults, Cannibalism, Kidnapping, Body Horror, Swearing, Torture, LGBT-phobia, Police brutality, Abuse.)

In a world where people can shapeshift into particular animals, a man known only as ‘The Hunter’ arrives in the city of Ashmourn, claiming to be the ‘Embodiment of Justice’.

He soon collects a reputation for killing killers and becoming a vigilante of sorts, and with his appearance, more ‘embodiments’ of certain ideals and concepts start cropping up and making themselves known. The Hunter eventually comes into contact with ‘Midnight’, a famous motorcycle daredevil who is secretly a cannibal. Associated Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oDxynh7rG0 First conceptualized in 2016

Virgin Blade - Genre: Fantasy/Thriller - Rating: 18+

(TW: Violence, Swearing, Alcoholism, Abuse, Disturbing themes, Sexual themes, Body Horror, Police Brutality, Kidnapping, Cults, Mental health, Ableism.) In a world where people can shapeshift into particular animals, a man named Tiga moves to a new town to go to a mental health college, hoping to pursue a carrier in Psychology.

Little does he realize, another man, named Griffith, infamous for escaping the local asylum years ago and thought dead, has fallen in love with him the moment he sees him. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQFt9vdeRDk First conceptualized in 2017

Furhaven - Genre: Fantasy/Dramedy - Rating: 18+

(TW: Violence, Death, Swearing, Sexual Themes, Alcoholism, Drug Use, Body Horror, Necromancy, Disturbing themes, Cannibalism?, Tomophobia, Kidnapping, Torture, Fantasy Racism, Ableism, LGBT-phobia, Enslavement.) After the fall of the Quill Kingdom, a knight by the name of Scar is tasked with defending the remaining three sons of the Quill king. Princes Blizzard, Flare, and Nova, now homeless and the last remaining members of the royal family, being hunted by Dragonite, a mysterious dragon made of shadow, and his army of soldiers made of equal parts shadow and necromancy.

Soon, Scar discovers a map to a supposed ‘Safe Haven’ his people had told about in legend: The Furhaven. Scar makes it his mission to deliver the princes and as many travellers along the way to this safe haven as possible. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82GCcUbJNRs First conceptualized in 2014, the oldest by far.

CodedSoul - Genre: Sci-fi/Dramedy - Rating: 18+

(TW: Fantasy Racism (Against robots), Violence, Kidnapping, Death, Swearing, Sexual themes, Alcoholism, Body horror, Enslavement, Disturbing themes, Ableism, Alcoholism, Drug use, Riots, Torture.) In the future, a man is suddenly aware that his whole life has been lived in virtual reality after a glitch causes him to be disconnected. After he runs across a live news crew in a panic, its revealed he was an experiment, and the public soon cries for him to be set free from the cruel experiment. the man is taken to a rehabilitation centre, where he has to come to grips that his wife, children, and life in the simulation was a lie, and has to adapt to the futuristic world that surrounds him. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFMJMSUgA4c First conceptualized in 2017

Primal Evolution - Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy/Dramedy - Rating: 18+

(TW: Post-apocalyptic setting, Fantasy Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Death, Swearing, Sexual themes, Alcoholism, Drug use, Disturbing themes, Nuclear war/Bombs, Body Horror, Ableism, LGBT-phobia.) A group of scientists find a way to avoid dealing with a nuclear war threat, by creating a time machine. They decide to go back in time to the prehistoric era to start again. But, when the creator goes with the test group, the teleporter breaks, the creator being the only person who could fix it.

Stranded, the group finds themselves attacked by a dinosaur-like creature, only to be rescued by a tribe of what they assume to be prehistoric humans. Then, they discover an unarmed nuclear bombshell, which the tribe has built their village around, to realize in horror that they’re in the distant future, not the past. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iADcO6WnfsA First Conceptualized in 2016

MeowPow - Genre: Fantasy/Dramedy - Rating: 13+

(TW: Off-screen death, Minor violence, Cartoon Swearing (They say ‘cuss’.), Body Horror, Disturbing themes. It’s all on the level of Adventure time, tho.) A group of cats find themselves in over their heads when a mysterious legendary being known as Nuk (Pronounced Nuke) has been reawakened. They take it upon themselves to try and defeat the mysterious evil using their magical ‘pow’ers. All the while, continuing to live with their humans happily. Associated song: TBA First Conceptualized in 2018

In Chaos - Genre: Thriller/Fantasy/Horror - Rating: 18+

(TW: Lovecraftian Horrors, War, Disturbing themes, Sexual themes, Death, Swearing, Violence, Self-mutilation, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Body Horror, Cults.) A man named Casper goes into the woods searching for a mysterious manor he discovered in his hometown’s past records. When he finds it, he discovers it has been transported into the pocket dimension of a Lovecraftian being that calls itself ‘Ash’, possessing the body of a young man.

Casper soon discovers the Earth is being fought over by multiple eldritch beings, who are taking groups of humans as soldiers to fight over the mortal universe. Ash is not involved, but is collecting humans and other beings to place in his pocket dimension as a way to preserve these beings, whom he has grown attached to. Casper becomes one of these beings, as he attempts to convince Ash to join the war to hopefully save the human universe from destruction. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pqX8kAbZZ4 First conceptualized in 2016

Radlocke - Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy/Dramedy - Rating: 18+

(TW: Violence, Body Horror, Swearing, Alcoholism, Sexual Themes, Death, Fantasy Racism, LGBT-phobia, Ableism, Kidnapping, Kaiju/giant monsters, Nuclear stuff.) A man by the name of Elijah goes with his friends, Zans and Laura, to a nuclear power plant as a collage assignment. As they’re looking around though, the plant starts to meltdown, but Elijah feels a compulsion to go toward the radiation rather than away from it. When he falls in, he absorbs all the radiation and emerges as a giant sabertooth tiger-like monster.

The ‘KDF’, (Kaiju Defense force) manages to sedate him and when he wakes up, they explain to him that he’s a member of an alien race known as ‘Kaijuians’. His parents then explain that they found him one evening in the forest. The KDF offers to take him and his friends in as agents instead of simply arresting them, and they accept, taking on the duty of becoming defenders of Earth and humanity. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL64efV-YlQ First conceptualized in 2017

Conjoined - Genre: Fantasy/Dramedy - Rating 18+

(TW: Ableism, Violence, Death, Body Horror, Disturbing themes, Tomophobia, Cults, Kidnapping, Swearing, Death, Sexual themes, Abuse, Freakshows, Fantasy Racism, Self-mutilation, Cannibalism, Alcoholism, Drug Use.) A pair on conjoined twin nagas find themselves in an abusive environment after being brought onto a circus for a travelling freakshow. They, along with some of their friends, escape the circus and try to find a new home. Then, by a stroke of luck, find a much better circus, run by the old ringmaster’s twin brother, who’s far nicer.

When the old ringmaster finds out, he becomes furious, and vows to get all of his old ‘assets’ back. While the new ringmaster travels in search of a land that’s far nicer to them all, so they can settle down and have a happier life. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVnpWm0vWAw First conceptualized in 2018

The Blood Moon Archives(Name WIP) - Genre: Horror/Thriller/Other - Rating: 18+

(TW: Ableism, Violence, Body Horror, Disturbing themes, Death, Swearing, Sexual Themes, Cults, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Abuse, Self-Mutilation, Alcoholism, Drug use, LGBT-Phobia, Freakshows, Ghosts, Torture, Taxidermy, more depending on the story.) An anthology of horror stories, all with their own settings and characters. All told from the perspective of a mysterious inter-dimensional being known as ‘The Narrator’. These stories ranging from a slasher-type serial killer, to a Stephen King-style monster take-over. Associated song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki3egHhl-74 First Conceptualized in 2016

I have more, but they’re currently a WIP.

If you have an questions, or want to know anything about the stories/characters/worldbuilding/behind the scenes development stuff, or just generally want to know more, feel free to ask! My ask box is always open and anon asks are enabled too! I’d love to info dump about any of these original stories of mine. Especially since I’m still in the stage of writing them out and preparing the introduction ‘episodes’ for them! (Or, in the case of the Blood Moon Archives, the first book. lol)

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maggicktouched · 2 years

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My thoughts on mad Targaryens several years too late. Tw for discussions of trauma, suicide, and assault.

My relationship with ASoIaF and GoT in general has been... let’s just say tumultuous at the best of times. Right out of the gate it loses points because of the very simple fact that it’s just not a genre I enjoy. For the same reason I’ve never been able to sink my teeth into Priory of the Orange Tree. I don’t like political fantasy. I don’t mind some politics in fantasy, but I get bored of long discussions about court affairs and people playing “the game of thrones”. I also don’t like grim fantasies. Don’t get me wrong there is a LOT I enjoy about GRR Martin and his writing, but what I’ve always really hated about people who kind of hopped onto the fantasy train with his books is that they really fucking hate fantasy as a genre and love to jerk off George for “subverting tropes.” And half the shit they talk about isn’t even really where he subverts anything it’s just that like, the streets are covered in shit and there are boobies and most of your main characters are shitty people with the only exception to that rule only falling into the category because they aren’t responsible for some of their actions bc they’re literal children.

I digress. But Those kinds of people have kind of dominated the genre now and they take particular glee in pulling down their pants and taking a big dump on any fantasy that isn’t about greasy white dudes fucking each other over and brutalizing women and it really pisses me off.

I said all that to say: while I enjoy a lot of things about Game of Thrones and a lot of pieces of Game of Thrones (and the same is said for the books), as I whole I can’t call myself a fan. It’s complicated. Which means what I’m about to say is probably going to be rather biased. But it’s a personal opinion and you can all fuck off if you don’t like it.

I don’t think there is any way they could have turned Dany into a mad queen that wouldn’t have upset me.

Let me tell you I have seen.... dozens and dozens of better executions and ideas for the plotline since the infamous episode emerged. Some of them are really good. Some of them if they had have happened I might have walked away from the show less angry with the shitty writing but honestly... probably a lot more angry about the implications.

I’ll come right out and say it: I think the age of “mad” characters is dead. There is no way that you can have Dany succumb to “madness” that isn’t offensive and doesn’t feel---off for her character. And there is especially no way to put her down behind the woodshed like Ol Yeller that isn’t pretty disgusting.

(From here on out I’m going to be specifically referencing show Dany because we have seen her end)

First off, I just don’t know if I’d have ever bought it no matter what, given the context of the rest of the show. Game of Thrones went out of its way to make Daenerys uniquely impervious to trauma. I could not possibly list all the shit they have put Dany through in the show. Just some of the things she has WITNESSED would be shit we would spend years in therapy trying to undo, better yet the shit that has happened to her. And Dany is just... fine. No matter how many horrible things she sees or what vile acts are committed against her, Dany remains almost impossibly normal. She isn’t conniving or vindictive or cruel like people who have arguably been through half the shit that she’s been through. I don’t know if there is any series of events that could have plausibly led up to what happened because of this flaw in the show. She should have been allowed to show more of her pain, more fear and vulnerability, more lapses in emotion or memory, more insomnia, more issues with her own self image and worth from the very start if they were ever going to sell me on her snapping hard enough to burn down a city.

Second I just... think madness as a concept is dead. Not to be the fun police or anything but there is no way to portray anything as mad/crazy/etc without using real world behaviors to show that, and that portrayal stigmatizes those behaviors and can lead to people in crisis to being demonized.

People going through a mental health crisis are far more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators. People will look at someone “acting strange” and either feel afraid and refuse to help, or contact the police, who often fail to help and far too frequently harm them.

Ultimately I think there could have been only two endings that I could have accepted for this character.

The first is that Dany is just allowed to win and be happy and she’s genuinely good for the realm because not everything has to suck, it makes sense that she wins imo, and tbh the people of Westeros deserve at least a six week holiday from the political shit storm they live in. But Those People (and we know who they are now) would have all foamed at the mouth and soiled their diapers at just the very thought of an even partially happy ending.

The only other ending that I think might have made sense is a tragic one. A “mad” queen that slowly unravels over time. Sitting on the throne of Westeros, soaking in all that she’s lost to get there, watching people at every turn froth like starving dogs at the chance to tear her down no matter how much good she does. Hearing that the cities in the east that she liberated fell back into slavery. And then ultimately ruminating on the legacy of her family. Of how they’re all strangers to her, and of the world they made and legacy they left. Watching as all the trauma she’s been forced to suppress over the years to survive leaks through the cracks in the quiet moments where she’s supposed to be happy. An ending where we see her unreasonably frightened, obsessive, withdrawn, angry, and at the end, seemingly happy before ultimately she either takes her own life or flees on Drogon (which would be a kind of symbolic death rather than a literal one).

Is that a GOOD ending? No. Is it what I wanted? No. But it is an ending where no one would be making excuses to demonize her. Where this “madness” is seen for what it is: mental illness and the repercussions of the cycle of abuse. There is no way you can portray her snapping, committing genocide, and being put down like a dog “for the good of the realm” that doesn’t have absolutely horrendous and disgusting implications. Because trauma and the way it can absolutely destroy people can only ever be horrific and tragic, and the only thing we should have felt about Dany’s death was a profound sadness for a 16 year old girl set on a painful and impossible path.

Unfortunately I feel like HOTD is doomed to go in the same direction. The first episode already had some things that feel like red flags to me, and we all know where it ultimately ends. This is, in my opinion, Martin’s failing. Even if the execution is being done by others, he is the one that penned the ideas that inspire it. I feel like he’s too ok with this idea of madness. I sincerely hope he does a lot of thinking, reading, and reflecting before he writes Dany’s ultimate end in the books... but I don’t have a lot of faith for the outcome.

#ooc #i can't write anything in character so have some ooc drivel on Game of Thrones #like three years too late lmao #tw: suidice

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lvrby-katsuki · 2 years

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༊*·˚ A WORD OF CAUTION. . .

RE: NSFW CONTENT

MINORS ARE TO KEEP AWAY FROM ALL MY CONTENT TAGGED: [🥐. ∾NSFW fic recs], [🥨. ∾gie is thirsty], [•❅ ─ horny.docx]

if you interact with mature content, kindly disclose your age. otherwise you will be blocked. no exceptions.

if you're underage, do not send me thirsts. i don't want to talk to you.

RE: MENTAL HEALTH / TRIGGERS

as an example, i've once expressed my own outrage regarding the roe v wade overturning. so: abortion trigger warning. i've also spoken up about school shootings, gun violence and police brutality. hence: murder, violence and death trigger warnings.

i also makes jokes about offing myself. if this bothers you, don't follow me, or inform me if i had forgotten to put a tw on sensitive content.

i try my best, but i make no promises that i can safely tag and warn you about all the content i post.

THESE TRIGGERS ALSO EXTEND TO/INCLUDE FANFICS. for example, i'd put a tw on: coercion, monsterfucking, incest. again, please be responsible of the content you consume.

RE: TRAUMADUMPING

i am not your therapist. do not come to me asking for advice on how to deal with your life.

coming to me to say "hey, i'm feeling sad :((" or "omg you wouldn't believe the shit i got handed today" is okay. but coming here to rant about your sibling's passing or your abusive ex crawling back to you a big NO. i mean no disrespect, but frankly it is not my job to take care of you.

RE: FANTASIES / RANTS

my dm's and asks are ALWAYS open. however, it is also my right to decline talking about certain topics, should i feel uneasy in exploring them. you're welcome to thirst over a certain character, or even gush about your favorite tropes, but do NOT expect me to always entertain them, or to hand you back the same energy.

╰┈➤ return

#NAVGATION — RULES / BYF.

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scripttorture · 3 years

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My setting is like the real world but with various mythical otherworlds secretly connected to ours. One character with powers of psychic illusion was raised by an MiB-style intelligence and/or secret police force (tasked with keeping otherworldly beings from causing trouble in our world) that trained her to mentally torture people. I want to make this character somewhat sympathetic, so it is plausible for her to be indoctrinated as a torturer from childhood? Does it depend how young they start?

Anon I don’t think this is a good idea. There’s an awful lot to unpack here about why that is so I’m going to start off with a simple question that effects how you move forward: what’s most important for you about this character?

Is it that she’s sympathetic? That she’s effective at her job? That she’s highly skilled and trained? That she’s part of a productive organisation that can actually do the tasks it sets out to?

Because if she’s a torturer then realistically she would be none of those things. And making her any of them is (in my opinion) torture apologia: because it is portraying a torturer in an extremely unrealistic way that favours the torturer and excuses the abuse they carry out.

You would, literally, be repeating lies popularised by real life torturers.

Torture does not work. It is impossible to get accurate, timely information by using torture. Here’s an introduction to why. Here’s a post on what torture does to investigations. Here’s a guide to writing what torture does to interrogations. Here’s a list of investigative strategies that actually work. Here’s a post on the damage torture does to human memory. Please read these masterposts and take a look at my sources as well.

Torturers are not indoctrinated radicals. The organisations that torturers are part of actively try to screen out anything they see as radical, deviant or a product of illness. There aren’t enough studies on torturers for me to give you a break down of their politics but my impression from the anecdotes and interviews I’ve read? Their politics is ‘normal’ and mainstream for the organisation they are part of. Whatever that organisation is.

Torturers are not taught from a young age because torture is not complex. It does not take months to learn how to hit someone. Torturers learn on the job by assisting other torturers.

Torture is simple. It is functionally easy. I really can’t stress that enough. The most common tortures globally right now are: hitting people, depriving them of food and depriving them of sleep. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that six year olds could come up with that list.

Hurting people is not complicated. It requires no skill and no training.

The evidence we have suggests torturers lose skills as they turn to torture, a process Rejali calls ‘de-skilling’. The basic idea is pretty simple: if you spend all day hitting people instead of practicing what you were trained for (gathering evidence for example) you get so out of practice that you start to forget how to do those things.

And then there’s the effect that torture has on torturers. They get symptoms. They develop lasting, serious, mental health problems which directly effect their ability to do their jobs.

I have a list of the common symptoms here as well as a rough guide for how many symptoms you should be considering for torturers and torture survivors.

Separate to the symptoms is the general pattern of behaviour torturers exhibit. We don’t have a lot of high quality studies on torturers and there are a lot of questions we do not have clear answers to. However the studies and the anecdotal evidence of survivors, witnesses and torturers themselves points to some consistent behaviours.

Torturers don’t work alone. They form little sub-cultures within larger organisations. These groups are incredibly aggressive, competitive, self-important, hyper-masculine and violent. Torturers look down on everybody else. They are convinced that they are the most important people in their organisation, the only one’s doing ‘real work’. They have an arrogant, puffed up pride that combines with mental illness and seeing their colleagues as competition to create the worst asshole you’ve ever had the misfortune of working with.

They do not cooperate with other people. They use abuse as a pissing contest, competing to see who can be the most brutal in order to try and ‘impress’ fellow torturers.

They define strength and group loyalty by hurting other people.

They have a fracturing effect on organisations, because they don’t obey orders and see their colleagues as competition or useless. At the low end of the scale this means cliques, secrets from the larger organisation and a terrible working environment as they bully and belittle their colleagues. At the high end of the scale there are cases where torturers have attacked and murdered people within the same organisation.

Does any of that sound sympathetic?

I like a challenge when I write. I’ve described my writing style as ‘hold my beer’ because I tend to take ideas other people dismiss as impossible to pull off and try my best to make them work. I do this because I love exploring human complexity through fiction.

A torturer who is currently torturing is not a sympathetic person. They are a bullying, violent, arrogant brute who contributes nothing useful to the organisation they latch on to, sucking up time and resources like a tick. They see other people as garbage. And they lack insight into their own crimes. Which means they do not appreciate or acknowledge the pain and damage they cause.

Now I have written a character who is an ex-torturer who I think is sympathetic in some ways. But getting to the point where they could be sympathetic meant them having to leave the organisation they were part of on a stretcher.

Their fellow torturers turned on them. They lost a leg. They changed sides and in the middle of a messy civil war they dedicated themselves to keeping their friend’s children safe.

And I had to set the story twenty years after these events to get that character out of their own ass enough for them to be sympathetic.

Even then, I’d say they’re sympathetic in spite of having been a torturer. Because they’re still clinging to that insistence that they did something meaningful. They still can’t accept the extent of their own crimes or the effects those crimes had.

But their pride broke. And they did keep those children alive. They helped raise them. And the tie to those children is what makes them sympathetic by the time of the story.

Torturers are not sympathetic people. They are self absorbed abusers who bend over backwards to downplay the harm they did to their victims and to justify their crimes.

Is that really what you want to write?

I say that, not to be harsh, but because it sounds to me as though what you actually want to write is a genuine investigator with psychic powers.

It sounds as though you want to write a character who is good at her job. Who is skilled and dedicated and a great person to work with.

If that’s the case my advice is to ditch the torture entirely. Look at the masterpost on genuine investigation instead and write a character who is good at interviewing people.

Have her use her psychic powers to present herself as sympathetic to the criminals she’s interviewing. Because she can walk into a room and know their politics, their religious beliefs, their internal justifications for what they’ve done. And she can use that, may be even manipulatively, to seem like someone the prisoner would like, someone they’d agree with.

That gets people talking.

And if you want to show her as ruthless, as having an edge to her, that can still work.

Imagine someone sitting down across from a suspect, holding their hands, smiling, talking to them gently. Imagine them gradually, kindly, getting this suspect’s life story. Imagine them being sympathetic about the reason the suspect murdered someone, validating the murder’s feelings and may be even actions… Right up until they have the information they need.

Then they turn on a dime. The persona drops, the false-sympathy drains away. They stand up with a sneer and say they hope the murderer never sees the light of day again. And walk out.

Think about what you want from the story Anon. A character who tortures, or a character who is competent, smart and sympathetic.

Because it really is one or the other.

Available on Wordpress.

Disclaimer

#writing advice #tw torture #tw police brutality #fantasy ask #torture does not work #torture apologia #torture as interrogation #effective interrogation #effective investigation #effect of torture on torturers #writing torturers #behaviour of torturers #effect of torture on organisations #torturers are not omniscient #ways torture fails

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army-of-mai-lovers · 4 years

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ohhhh boy howdy good thing all this mess about curfews and police brutality in lok bears absolutely no resemblance to real world issues

#arthur watches lok #honestly tho it just makes the fact that they're using the equalists for their fantasy racism allegory a lot worse #police brutality tw

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whimperwoods · 3 years

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Oswin - The Archdevil

Part 2 of a new series about Oswin Greystone, wizard con man and deeply unfortunate man.

So anyway, yeah, the captain of the guard wants a pet wizard. Things are not looking great for poor Oswin. They’re not looking great in his own series, now, because this is long enough to need a readmore. Let me know if you want to be on a taglist and I’ll start one. I’m not sure how much of this there will be, but he and his creepy captain really grabbed my imagination, so certainly there will be some more after this.

Continuation of this post.

tw: abuse, tw: abuse of authority, tw: fantasy police brutality (though he’s kind of stopped pretending to be acting as a cop at this point), tw: fantasy devil worship, tw: pet whump (working toward it anyway), tw: devil contracts

*****

Oswin’s legs couldn’t hold him, but the whip that had nearly killed him was back in the guard captain’s hand, so he kept dragging himself along beside him, crawling awkwardly forward on his good hand and his knees and nearly tangling himself up in the robes that, with the back sliced open, hung down in his way, barely attached to him anymore.

At the bottom of the steep, winding staircase, Oswin’s limbs were already quaking, and he let out a soft whimper that made his throat ache.

The captain moved around him and squatted down in front of his head, cupping his face in one hand. “First choice, pet. You’re going up two flights of stairs, up to my chambers over the main office. You may crawl, you may be dragged, or you may be carried. I spent too much on that healing potion to hope for dragging, but you’ll need to be a very good boy if I carry you.”

Oswin’s brain couldn’t catch up. This wasn’t right. None of this was right. This wasn’t how people talked. It wasn’t how people were. Except - wasn’t it? He’d been in the courts of petty, tyrannical lords before, on occasion. He’d watched men who could get away with it pinch serving women and belittle servants and - and perhaps that was what this man thought was happening. Perhaps he thought Oswin a servant, or likely to become one. And without Oswin’s books available to him, maybe he was right.

Oswin wanted to look down, to avert his eyes, but his time when he tried, the captain kept a steel grip on his chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. They were dark, a brown that tended toward gray, without any of the warmth of his own, and hard as stones. He swallowed heavily, the pain in his throat insignificant next to the pain still raging across his back, but still easily made worse.

It had been hard enough getting himself to the foot of the stairs, and he couldn’t imagine breathing or moving would be easier on an incline.

“I can be a good boy, Master,” he whispered.

The captain smiled. “Clever. I’ll have to keep my eye on that. But then, I knew you would be. Come on, put your arms around my neck.”

Oswin knew he was a little underfed, but the captain picked him up like it was nothing. The pressure of the captain’s arm across his ruined back felt white-hot, and he cried out hoarsely as he wrapped his arms around the captain’s neck and tried to hold himself up, away from the contact. He wasn’t strong enough, and had to settle back into his new master’s grip, his eyes filling with tears and his breath growing ragged again.

“That doesn’t sound like being a good boy,” the captain whispered into his ear, a low half-growl, “That sounds like complaining when you’re being done a favor.”

Oswin forced himself to breathe through the pain, to catch his breath, to talk. His voice came out strained, and barely above a whisper. “No, Master, please! I’m grateful! I just -” he grunted in pain, in spite of himself, “I just needed to adjust but now I can be - I can be fully grateful, Master, please.”

He wasn’t sure he’d ever begged so much in one day, but this time it seemed to work, or at least, his master didn’t drop him down the stairs. Instead, the captain started climbing, not winded no the stairs even carrying Oswin’s weight. Oswin shivered in the man’s arms. He’d hoped during his whipping, before his mind fully abandoned him, that the beating would stop when the captain grew tired, but he was certain now that that hadn’t been the case.

He’d been in dangerous spots before, but this time - this time he couldn’t afford the sob that threatened to rise up in his throat, so he buried his face in the side of the captain’s neck, clinging more tightly so that the man wouldn’t think he had any thought of trying to get away.

The captain’s pleased little hum made the pressure behind Oswin’s eyes spike, but he couldn’t afford the tears, so he focused instead on his breathing, on keeping it steady, on leaning into the captain’s grip so as not to fall, and then they were at the top of the stairs and his master was still carrying him, his footsteps steady as he walked through a small receiving room, a smaller office, which was little more than a closet with a desk in it, and into a sparsely-decorated bedroom.

The captain set Oswin down on the floor, just inside the door, and Oswin watched as he pulled an old, soft-looking rug to the side and revealed a set of sigils carved into the floor in circles, which he calmly traced over in chalk, reinforcing them.

Oswin’s skin crawled, and his stomach soured, but he knew he had no hope of making it down the stairs, much less out of the building, without being caught and, presumably, tortured to death.

The captain retrieved a set of fine wax candles, more expensive than Oswin would have expected in a room like this, and Oswin thought, passively, that a quick death might have been worth it, but that wasn’t what he’d been promised.

The captain lit most of the candles and then came toward Oswin, manhandling him into the center of the circle without a word, and then arranging him on his knees, barking a single order: “Kneel.”

Oswin’s hands were bound behind his back, and he hung his head, not sure if he was going for deferential, or just for too pathetic to hurt again. Either way, the effort of staying upright soon took all of his attention, so that he hardly noticed the final candle being lit.

An enormous, winged figure stepped into the room, out of nowhere. He seemed to fill the space entirely, then shrunk down to merely looming, a head and a half taller than the guard captain and clearly strong enough to break either of them in half.

Oswin’s master was beside him, and knelt, too, albeit only on one knee, bowing deeply to the archdevil.

As the captain’s back straightened, the devil said, “Rise. Why do you request an audience, my champion?”

The captain got to his feet, but then bowed again, still standing. “I humbly propose an addendum to my contract, Master.”

Oswin’s mouth dried instantly. Power radiated from the archdevil like nothing he’d ever felt before, and his voice dripped with it. Was this fool really going to try to negotiate with it?

The archdevil laughed. “I already own your soul, child. What else is left to offer?”

The captain gestured toward Oswin. “His, for a start.”

Oswin looked up in surprise, and instantly regretted it. It had been one thing to sneak glances at the archdevil through his eyelashes; it was another to look directly up at him, meeting a pair of terrifying eyes that seemed made entirely of fire.

“You think you can make contracts with other people’s souls?”

“I can if you’re willing to agree to my terms - what I want is his soul, but not to keep, of course. I’m happy to cede it back to you the moment he dies. And my original contract stipulated that I was willing to work for you, but not to proselytize. It was a point of contention at the time, if I recall, but I told you I would not be certain enough to promise such a thing, outside myself, for some years. It has been ‘some years,’ Master, and I’m happy to find you new followers, provided that it does not jeopardize the other work I do for you.”

“And your interest in his soul?” the devil asked, still looking Oswin in the eye. Oswin found himself paralyzed, unable to look away. Under that devilish gaze, he felt like his chest was being torn apart, his insides pulled out and studied, even though no one was touching him.

“I’ve always wanted a pet wizard,” the captain said casually, “Call it professional curiosity. I know my magic is yours, of course, Master, but I’d like to study those humans who do it on their own - and I’d like to harness it. I won’t be learning myself, of course. I know where my skills lie, and the purpose you’d have me put them to. But I don’t like the idea of humans with power, and I want this one under my thumb, where I can learn to tear those apart.”

Oswin was shaking, the wounds across his back pulsing again, agonizing, while the devil’s eyes continued to rove over his front. He felt like a bug, pinned to a scientist’s paper, but the paper was burning, too, acidic and deadly.

“And why this one?” The devil’s eyes suddenly left him, turning their full force on the captain, and Oswin sagged forward, gasping for breath.

“This one’s a very interesting case,” the captain said. “No respect for a contract, which I’m hoping to beat out of him, but for once I had a wizard in my sights who wasn’t blatantly dangerous, and I thought I’d make good on the opportunity. He’s been selling counterfeit spell scrolls, and then disappearing to ply his trade somewhere else in town before his victims actually try to read or copy the damned things. The thing is, we know he’s strong enough that he could make the real thing, were he properly - motivated. He’s useful, but in need of - management.”

The archdevil hummed thoughtfully, and the captain added, “In our attempts to capture him, he displayed quite a bit of power and - spunk. I know better than to think I could control him without your direct assistance, my lord. But I hope to use him in your service.” He bowed again, more quickly this time.

The archdevil stepped forward into the circle, which Oswin had really been hoping he couldn’t do, and reached down, raising Oswin’s chin to make him look into those flaming eyes again, and nearly lifting him off the ground by the head as he did it.

“And I suppose it doesn’t hurt that he’s a pretty little thing, hmm?” the devil asked, his flame eyes flicking quickly to the captain and back.

The man chuckled. “No, my lord. It does not. Nor does it hurt that he’s already proven he breaks beautifully. You should have heard him begging earlier.”

“We will negotiate the details without him,” the archdevil said imperiously, “It’s simpler that way. And he can agree or refuse.”

Oswin was nearly hyperventilating in the devil’s grip.

“I’m not sure which I think is more interesting,” the devil added casually, before letting go of Oswin’s face and waving his hand in a pattern too quick for even Oswin’s practiced eyes to follow. A blanket of silence fell over him and he could hear nothing, not even his own breathing, for so long that he found himself collapsed inward before the sound returned, bowed low, with his forehead on the floor and his chest and stomach cushioned against his legs, where he could feel the rise and fall of the breaths he couldn’t hear and know that he was still alive.

He realized he was sobbing in dry, heaving gasps only when sound came rushing back to his ears, but he wasn’t sure how long he had been doing it.

“Very well,” the archdevil said, “Lift his head. I want to look him in the eyes again.”

The captain’s hands forced Oswin upward, tilting his head back to make him look up at the looming devil.

“Oswin the wizard,” the archdevil said, power already crackling in his voice in a way that seemed to bind up the air in Oswin’s lungs. “I assume there’s a surname that goes with that.”

“G-greystone, my lord,” Oswin said, the answer tearing out of him in spite of his dry mouth and aching throat, “My father was a mason, but thought to better himself, or at least our family.”

“Hmm, well, now you’ll be in service of a captain of the city guard - and of me. It seems he’ll be getting his wish.”

Oswin shuddered. The archdevil’s voice was oil-smooth, but so, so dangerous. He nodded wordlessly, knowing better than to disagree.

“Should you agree to cosign this addendum with my champion,” the archdevil continued, “You will be bound, body and soul, to his service. Your soul will be mine, to be delivered upon your permanent death. You will be marked as mine, but you will not receive any of my power, nor will you be allowed to use yours outside of your master’s orders.”

The archdevil’s mouth quirked upward into a smile. “I should warn you, wizard, this is an extremely bad deal for you. But my champion assures me that you are a genuine affront to order, and that whether you sign or not, you will be brought to heel. Or you could choose to be tortured to death. But you should know that your master’s contract with me stipulates that if you do not cooperate, he may kill you up to five times and have you returned to his care to try again. I have never seen a man strong enough to withstand being tortured to death a third time, much less a fourth. I’m afraid a bad deal is the only one you’ve got.”

Oswin’s mind swam. He was trapped again, pinned by those eyes, and he was burning, he was sure of it. His mind felt like it was caught in an earthquake, struggling to run to safety with the land bucking underneath him. Just as he took in a breath to speak, the archdevil interrupted him.

“Do not think you can make a deal of your own with me, instead, Oswin Greystone. This one likes a challenge, and he is a useful servant. I don’t make contracts with the desperate. Not worth the work of keeping an eye on them. Break his hold on you, and I will let the consequences be what they will. But try to take your soul back from me and I will destroy you where you stand. I do not have the patience to shepherd one who is reluctant.”

The captain held up a knife. “This agreement will be sealed in blood, or not at all. What do you choose, submission or death?”

The archdevil’s eyes had not left him. Gods, he was burning up. He knew with complete certainty that death, even drawn out, would mean facing this devil again, would mean those flaming eyes burning into him, that oil-slick voice talking to him, that crackling, unbearable power licking at the edges of his own, and he’d just wind up right back here again, waiting to be tortured.

What escaped his lips was a sob, and not an agreement, but the archdevil looked away, making a soft noise of satisfaction. “He chooses submission. Bring the parchment.”

#whump #fantasy whump #d&d whump #abuse tw #fantasy devil worship tw #fantasy police brutality tw #abuse of authority tw #abuse of power tw #is anything whumpier than contract negotiation?#(I mean... yes. but that's not the point)#the captain will get a name if and when i decide he actually needs one #right now the salient point is evil warlock who figures it's chill because at least he's organized about it #(it isn't)#also this warlock was already in the city guard and already had martial training prior to the warlock gig so not a guy to mess with when #you have no particular physical prowess to speak of and haven't been eating well for a couple of months

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bambazzle · 3 years

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LGBT+ Fantasy/Fiction Books and TWs

1. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell-

(Fantasy, Witches, Vampires, kind of Harry Potter-y, Romance, TW for mention of suicidal ideation/self-destructiveness, abandonment, foster care, neglect, murder/violence, gun violence and relationship issues in the second book. It has some heavy topics but is written in a pretty light tone.)

2. Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston-

(enemies to lovers, about the son of the President and the Prince of England getting into a fight, they have to fake a friendship to fix their PR situation, TW for being publicly outed and semi-graphic sex scenes, also often politically charged discussions)

3. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller-

(Ancient Greece, demigods, exile, TW for war/violence and tragedy, homophobia, bad parenting)

4. The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic-

(It’s about the mafia/college sports and happens to have a compelling queer storyline in the process. Demisexual main character and other gay characters. (slow burn, it’s a trilogy and the romance doesn’t happen in the first book) TW for a lot of things, it’s about kids from broken homes and the mafia so there is abuse, self harm, murder, police intervention, organized crime, drug use, assault, rehab, all kinds of weapons, manipulation, slurs, etc. The second book has mentions of r*pe (not extremely graphic but it is mentioned a handful of times and there is one semi graphic scene), and torture. It is a great series but it has heavy content and is not light reading if you go in unprepared.)

5. The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune -

(MLM, fantasy, found family, heartwarming romance, magical creatures)

6. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman-

(MLM, graphic novel, slow burn, coming out TW for anorexia, self harm, suicidal ideation, homophobia)

7. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater-

(Fantasy, about a secret private school, slow burn)

8. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera-

(Bisexual Latino characters, whole story takes place in 24 hours because at about midnight- aka the start of the book- they get a phone call saying they’re gonna die, TW for death, family in hospital, violence, police intervention, and foster care)

9. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo-

(queer characters (but no romance in the first book, TW for graphic depictions of violence, ableism, mention of abuse, mention of sexual slavery and assault, imprisonment)

10. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (Historical Fiction Romance, Travel/Journey, Best Friends to lovers, MLM characters. TW for abuse, homophobia, racism, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, depiction of epileptic seizures, gun violence, and discussion of insane asylums)

11. In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens-

(Royalty, kidnapping, MLM characters not being released until April but it looks great)

12. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz-

(coming of age story, MLM, TW for violence/injury, surgery, transmisogyny, homophobic violence)

14. We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra-

(coming of age, friendship and romance)

15. Love and Other Curses by Michael Thomas Ford-

(magical realism, a curse about falling in love)

16. More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera-

(MLM main character, YA, “it's about a boy who is considering a memory-alteration procedure to forget he's gay because leading a life as a straight teen would probably be way easier for him. It's about science versus nature, friendship, sexuality, and a quest for happiness.” About the happy ending and how even bad moments lead to good. Hopeful but despairing. TW for medical procedure to erase sexuality, internalized homophobia, homophobia from others, depression)

17. I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver-

(Nonbinary main character, nonbinary muslim side character, romance/love and building a family out of people you care about. About finding your voice. TW for coming out and misgendering, family rejection/struggle)

18. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour-

(WLW, moving out and coming of age, self-discovery and childhood romance, TW for loss, depression, loneliness)

19. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness-

(Contemporary, about the normal people’s lives while living among Chosen Ones. Family/coming of age/acceptance story. TW for monsters, apocalypse, violence/explosions, anorexia, anxiety attacks, unrequited romance)

20. Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz-

(Dystopian story about a teenager struggling with their gender identity, TW for abandonment, oppressive government, outlawed homosexuality)

21. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas-

(trans main character, hispanic characters, paranormal YA mystery with MLM characters)

22. Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat-

(Bisexual main character, TW for kidnapping/stockholm syndrome, abuse, sex scenes)

23. Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey-

(fantasy, MLM, supernatural)

24. Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda by Becki Albertalli-

(romance, MLM, coming of age, TW for a closeted boy being blackmailed)

25. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel-

(WLW, graphic novel, coming of age, TW for csa, pedophilia, teacher/student relationships, none explicit if my memory serves correct)

26. George by Alex Gino-

(Trans girl, slice of life, coming out story, TW for deadnaming, homophobia, transphobia)

27. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield-

(WLW, supernatural, fantasy)

28. Witchmark by C.L. Polk-

(MLM, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, mystery, Alternate universe post WW1, TW for murder/war, depression/angst)

29. The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling-

(WLW, Sci-Fi Horror, dystopian future, fictional planet, TW for psychological/emotional horror, toxic relationship, death)

30. The Culling by Steven Dos Santos-

(MLM, Dystopian Fantasy under a totalitarian, extremely cruel government. People must undergo ‘the trials’ in order to work for a government task force- if you fail at any of the trials you are forced to participate in the Culling, where the member has to choose a family member of theirs to die. TW for death, extortion, brutal violence, murder, totalitarian government)

31. Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley-

(MLM, about a court case regarding the main character and his best friend- deals with breaking points in friendships and how people and perception change. TW for biphobia, gay bashing, legal trial, abuse, knives, violence)

32. Ziggy, Stardust, and Me by James Brandon-

(MLM, Gay main character, historical fiction (Vietnam war), about a character dealing with his alcoholic father and family issues who creates a fictional world to cope where he can be out and openly himself. Coming of age. TW for bullying, alcoholism, institutionalized homophobia, familial homophobia, conversion therapy, war mentions)

(this list is a WIP and anyone can add to it! If I need to add TWs or further explanations let me know!)

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forestcat000 · 2 years

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racism in my rewrite

tw for fantasy racism as well as mentions of hate crimes and police brutality

there are a few different races in the world of my rewrite. in my rewrite some of the races have less rights then others and some get worse living conditions then others

this list goes from witch race has the least stigma to witch has the worst stigma

humans

elves

witches

meif'wa

werewolves

giants

vampires

fairies

humans have hardly any stigma against them but there are some other non humans who think humans should not have as much control as they do.

elves are fairly close to humans except for having pointy ears and being somewhat magically connected to the earth. though they are quite similar to humans they still get mistreated often. they usually dont live in elf towns and not human filled places because its harder to be an elf and get a job and house if they life in a human town

witches are human passing so often witches live in human towns. there is a stigma that all witches are evil and not to be trusted so they have harder times getting jobs with human employers.

meif'wa are often mistreated and degraded. there is a lot of stigma to meif'wa's working because they are stereotyped to be stupid and ditzy. there is a decent amount of crimes against meif'was though this is mainly ignored by police

werewolves are thought of as violent sub humans with no control of themselves they are often targeted by police. they have a hard time getting jobs because of the stigma against them and when they do get a job they are most of the time underpaid. in my rewrite it has only recently become a crime to kill a werewolf.

giants aren't often seen by non giants since it is illegal for giants to live outside of the designated giant territory(this rule is occasionally bended if a giant human hybrid is born and the hybrid is closer to human then giant), disobeying the territory law is punishable by death. if a human were to go on to giant territory that would not be illegal. on occasion giants are killed by hunters for sport. there is no penalty for killing a giant.

being a vampire is illegal. if a vampire is found they are killed. even with this law there are a few vampires still around but not many. if a human is turned into a vampire they are to be killed.

fairies were eradicated years ago but before they were they were known to be violent horrible creatures. they were often hunted and sold on the black market.

#aphmau rewrite #aphmau headcanons #aphmau pdh #aphverse #aphmau

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booksthatburnpodcast · 1 year

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#IFTTT #Books That Burn

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385bookreviews · 1 year

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1.106.1 The Witch King by H.E. Edgemon

SPOILERS

Pages: 380

Read Time: 6 hours and 26 minutes

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆ Storyline: ★★★★☆ Dialogue: ★★★☆☆ Characters: ★★★☆☆

Genre: YA Fantasy Fiction

TWs for the book: Dissociation, s*xual assault, death/murder, transphobia, deadnaming, dysphoria, scars, violence, fire, child abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, blood, drug use, panic attacks, mild su*c*dal thoughts, grief, police brutality, racism, xenophobia, colonization, s*xual content, infertility, classism

POV: First person from Wyatt

Time Period/Location: Modern day North America, where the fae city of Asalin is hidden

First Line: I open the back door to let the dogs out, and Nadua’s got her gardening shears buried like a knife in one of my fiancé‘s wings.

The Witch King begins with young trans witch Wyatt Croft, living with his best friend Briar and her family in Texas. He has been trying to outrun his past, but it catches up with him when his fiancé, a fae prince named Emyr, finds him and demands he comes home to Asalin so they can be married, or he risks breaking the blood contract that binds them together. Wyatt reluctantly agrees, but brings Briar, his ex-girlfriend and best friend, with him. Wyatt finds Asalin, a hidden faery city in Northern America, in a state of political conflict, with Emyr’s cousin Derrick trying desperately to take the throne. He is severely anti-witch, who are the off-chance children of fae, and, sensing Wyatt’s displeasure at being there, he offers him a deal. If Wyatt gets in enough trouble, he can be removed from the contract, which will secure Derrick as king, and ensure Wyatt to be allowed to return to the human world. Wyatt goes about trying to cause such problems by stealing the king’s dragon, and breaking into a green house to steal drugs. During this time, he meets new friends, such as Jin and Clarke, a witch/fae mated pair like him and Emyr, and he reunites with his sister Tessa, who at firsts hates and rejects him. Wyatt left Asalin because, with no access to learning anything about his magic because of his racist and abusive parents, he lost control and burned down part of the village when he was sexually assaulted. In the midst of this magical meltdown, his parents discovered him and tried to kill him, and his magic, in retaliation, killed his parents. Despite Tessa’s reaction to him at first, her fondness for him grows as the story went on, and they forgive each other. Wyatt had to take a two day trip to a southern fae territory (as he made an offensive video as part of his plan with Derrick, and had to apologize to the fae queens there), he returns to find Briar using witch magic to open the portal back to the fae’s home-world of Faery that was destroyed upon . Briar had hidden her distant witch lineage from Wyatt, and he was angry upon discovering this, although she explains that she merely wishes to send the fae back to Faery and have the witches stay in Asalin so there is no longer any persecution. Wyatt leaves, and goes to meet up with Emyr, where Wyatt confesses his love for him. During this, Emyr checks his phone, and through complicated spellwork in a digital file he receives, he accidentally ends the contract with Wyatt, and the blood magic kills him. Wyatt, in his grief and unlimited magic, brings him back to life, but Derrick attempts to frame him for his death. This is where his ruse becomes known, as his sister Clarke admits that they both played a role in trying to steal the throne and kill Wyatt and other witches, including her girlfriend Jin. Wyatt’s involvement with Derrick is also revealed, but he is forgiven of his role as Derrick was using magic on him to get him to submit. Emyr decides to send Wyatt home, but he decides to stay and convinces Emyr there needs to be an overthrow of the whole system of Asalin.

Wyatt Croft: Wyatt is a very emo main character. He has a constantly self-deprecating view point, and thinks quite selfishly at times. He isn’t a particularly lovable main character, and doesn’t put any effort into gaining control of his magic despite complaining he has no control of his magic. He comes from a very valid and human viewpoint, however, especially that of a teenager, and I found that made him quite a realistic character. While his very stereotypically teenage vocabulary may seem annoying to some, I found it to be quite funny.

Emyr North: Emyr was arguably one of the best characters in the book, and his love for Wyatt despite everything makes him immensely lovable. While he made mistakes, he definitely made up for them in his willingness to always admit his faults and change.

Tessa Croft: Tessa was raised to be incredibly racist against witches, and shows a very vile hatred towards Wyatt, telling him she wished he had died. He also killed their parents. While her understanding that she was raised wrong and that her parents were abusive was good character development, it really felt like it came out of nowhere. It didn’t really feel like there was a moment that prompted it, and the events leading up to this moment felt like, if anything, she would become more hateful.

Briar: I never really felt attached to her, but she was an ok character up until the moment Wyatt discovered he had been lying to her about her witch ancestry and decided to take it upon herself to open the door to Faery, consequences be damned. It was a plot twist I didn’t see coming, but not in a good way, and it felt very out of character for her. Wyatt has an immensely dramatic reaction to finding out she and her mother had been lying to him for years, but then they go back to normal very quickly. I feel like her behavior got very brushed under the rug, although I know there is a sequel so it may be addressed further there.

Derrick and Clarke: I didn’t see it coming that Clarke was a villain, but both her and Derrick felt very 2 dimensional and not at all threatening.

Storyline: The story was a little slow at times (causing me to put the book down for a few months and have to come back to it). Certain characters fell flat, certain plot lines weren’t explored, and a lot of things were told instead of shown. Some things were added in suddenly, or things meant to be big plot twists also fell flat.

Representation: There was a lot of good representation in this book. Wyatt is gay and trans FtM, and deals with panic attacks, depression, and dissociation. Emyr is depicted as black, gender nonconforming, and fluid with his sexuality, Jin is a transfemme nonbinary lesbian. Briar is an asexual, biromantic, plus sized Seminole and Diné Native American. There are multiple people of color throughout the book. Roman, Lorena, and Solomon, three witches part of the pro-witches rights group, are a polyamorous triad. There are two queens of a fae country, and two kings in another.

Summary: Ultimately, I feel like this was a decent book and will be reading the sequel. There are definitely things I would change or do differently, but based on the representation and world building aspects, and the potential for the storyline to improve with the setup for the next book, The Fae Keeper, it is worth a read.

Quotes: “That's enough cis men for today. I would like to cancel all cis men and go take a nap.”-Wyatt Croft “I don't think I have enough energy to fall apart. Why did I never realize it took energy to fall apart?”-Wyatt Croft “Somewhere, at some point in time, some random cis person who's probably dead now decided all trans people were stuck in the wrong body, and that became law. But I'm not a boy trapped in a girl's body. My body is a boy's body because I'm a boy and it's mine. My body isn't wrong. Okay?”-Wyatt Croft “But isn't anger another part of love? Isn't it just the heart's way of letting you know a better world is possible?”

#lgbt #lgbtq #diversity #the witch king #he edgemon #gay #trans #book blog #book review #fantasy #ya fantasy #booklr

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