#i love this sapphic and her pet himbo

[yardsards]

the carmilla webseries (particularly s3) makes some really interesting points about amatonormativity that i think are probably accidental but still fascinate me.

like there's this intended theme of like, being so devoted to one person that you put them above everyone else, and the harms that can cause. and that theme is primarily explored through laura and carmilla's relationship, especially as a foil to the dean and her beloved. but also with lafontaine and how they kinda subvert that.

(i could write essays analyzing this, tbh)

anyway. the show primarily explores the themes of putting one person above everyone else through the lens of romantic relationships, because that's just kind of the genre they're operating under. but that (again, probably unintentionally) brings up a theme of amatonormativity. because amatonormativity expects you to have one romantic partner and to put them above everyone else, to unquestionably value them more than any of your friends.

anyway, with that background out of the way, what i'm really thinking about currently is danny in s3

there's that scene early on in the season, when danny's all evil vampire mode. and laura says that her and carmilla are "just friends". and danny threatens laura in front of carmilla and is like "surely you wouldn't mind me hurting her/would be willing to let her die to keep the talisman, if you two really are just friends"

and like, while danny is correct in her observation that laura and carmilla's feelings about each kther are clearly not platonic, her logic is absolute garbage. me and the friend i was rewatching it with were both like "??? no i absolutely WOULD still mind if someone threatened my purely platonic friend like that, you'd be a pretty garbage friend to not care". like, danny's logic in that scene is peak amatonormative nonsense.

but then. at the end of the season. it's danny's *platonic* love for kirsch that ends up connecting her back to her humanity. it's kirsch that she finally breaks free of the dean's influence to protect. kirsch that she's willing to risk it all for.

it wasn't laura, the girl she had a crush on. it was kirsch, who she had a whole thing about in the previous season about how she explicitly did NOT have any romantic towards him and 100% solely saw him as a platonic friend. it was her "just a friend" who ultimately ended up meaning everything for her.

#eliot posts #amatonormativity #carmilla #carmilla webseries #danny lawrence #wilson kirsch #i love this sapphic and her pet himbo #that 'yes!!! i am in the friend zone! we're friends!!!' scene in s2 is eternally Delightful to me #also there's so much potential in like #taking the ''golden retriever'' character archetype (as in someone exciteable and friendly) #and making them be loyal and obedient to one person possibly even to the point of self destruction. just like a dog #like this show generally played that aspect of him as a joke. but the potential of that being used in a different story... #this fandom is dead as hell in the year 2024 and yet. my brain has decided to fixate on this silly webseries from when i was 15 #also i feel like this is generally not a piece of media that ppl would write meta about. but that does not stop me.

[halt-kun]

My Hero Academia Chapter 422 - ;3

Back for more body horror and child endangerment

Well bye Aoyama, we'll bury you with a plate of cheese

While I'm at it, a charcuterie board is only processed meat (like ham, suasages, blood sausages, etc...), no cheese, that's a cheese board and usually you don't eat them at the same time (in France), cheese can be a starter but is more often right befort desert (I also think it's weird because I'd rather have cake, I prefer to have a meal that's just cheese and bread). Anyway that's my small pet peeve everytime I see charcuterie board on instagram.

And Shirakumo is dying too or melting, is he depressed ?

I forgot there wasn't only UA that was sending children in the heart of a war

WAIT, did AFO react to her illusions at all ? I'm confused, did this happen ?

Death beam, slashes and appendage missiles

everything for you

I love my feral LIGHT GIRL

and also my favourite girlboss and the himbo

DEATH CANNON

They're even better at combo attack AFO

because you don't have the friendship skill

Did Sato just block something with his pecs ????

Ojiro is there too

Kodaaaaaa ? What are you defending with ????

OMG, TSUYU AND SHOJIIIIIIIIIII

love 'em

and their family and friends too of course

GOOOOOOO

OOOOOO EIIIIIIIIIII

your middle school ex is watching

YOU'RE DOING GOOD

I LOVE YOU MINA TOO but don't take this as a shipping moment

KiriBaku for the win

what is it with Mina not existing with anyone else lately ???? Like she's also part of Bakusquad and the girlsquad too for god sake

I only ship her with Ei as a paleship, they give sapphic and gay bestfriends

She dyes his hair, he waters her plants and they both wingman

AFO discovers hate

and cute agression at the same time it seems

Being weak means people can help you

everyone is weak then, All Might was perfect indeed but he also needed help, from Nighteye among others, even from Nezu

Is that Tensei ??????

and Star's broooooos

yay

Oh it's that character from that movie ! I don't remember his name even though I shipped him so much with Deku (I really love on the run/found family ships)

Anyway

it was Tenya, how is he moving ? I don't know but I cried

Uraraka : "It'd be bad falling now" and she's holding on, best girl holding out here to see everyone win

AFO forgets that it isn't only Deku here, it's Bakugou's mentality showing itself in all class 1-A, they all want to end you for good with a perfect victory, you won't win anything, nobody will die, NOT ONE OF MY KIDS YOU HEAR ME

Well it's too late anyway

but recent events would lead me to think otherwise, that would never happen

ANYWAY let's focus on Uraraka !

I'm crying

Even MOMDORIYA

"DO YOUR BEST"

YESSSSSSSSS

(I still cried more at Bakugou Katsuki: RIsing, I'm crying thinking about it)

Izuku Midoriya ROOOOOOOOOSE

LESSSGOOOOOOOO

BEAT HIM UP

#mha 422 #mha liveblog #mha manga #mha spoiler

[convenient-plot-device]

My unorganized thoughts after finishing The Dragon Prince season 5

Finished binging the season!!! I loved it. It dragged in places and that stupid fucking lemur thing is still the bane of my existence but I loved the character development and plot beats! I also loved seeing more of Terry. He has something deeply wrong with him <3. Also liked Viren completing his redemption arc, though I would have preferred the resurrection spell actually require Claudia to sacrifice herself or at least like sacrifice a limb or something to truly complete Viren's arc. He has no attachment to that fuckin homunculus thing, and his reasoning for not killing it being that "Dark magic led Claudia down a dangerous path, I'm not doing any more dark magic" is a little weak. I do appreciate that the way they did it gave us a whole scene of Aaravos talking about "our child" with Viren, peak evil gay, but it did a disservice to Viren's redemption arc. I get that it was kinda the only way, since Aaravos knows Viren would never hurt one of his actual kids at this point in his arc, but still. I also am really interested in how Zubeia being corrupted goes, how Claudia losing her leg goes, and what's up with that magic pearl. Is that really Aaravos's prison? Or is that the key to his prison? Loved Callum struggling with what he's willing to do under pressure to save those he loves, and how that's contrasted with Claudia, who's kind of a dark mirror for who he could become if he can't learn to let go of those he loves. Loved the reveal that he used dark magic to save Rayla in the Sea Legs episode. Also just really liked Finnegrin, he's a great character and I love his design. Love a ruthless evil pirate who wants revenge on the Archdragon of the Ocean for killing his beloved hermit crab, who keeps pet hermit crabs all over his office, and who has a neckline low enough to kill god. I also love Elmer! What the fuck is his deal though. Are there just plant trolls in Xadia now? Not opposed, just wanna know.

I also really loved Soren this season! I like how his kindness and unwavering faith in others is his greatest strength. Very sweet. That man is the One True Himbo. Dumb, strong, and most importantly, kind. Fucking LOVED seeing Tidebound elves this season. I've wanted to see ocean elves since season one! Fuck yeah! Janai and Amaya are so cute together. Same with Terry and Claudia, love a good fucked up couple. He's just like "I can fix her" and she's just like "No you can't but you CAN join me in my insanity." Callum and Rayla go back and forth for me; sometimes they're really sweet, but sometimes they seem almost forced and I'm just like... can't they be BFFs? Or in a QPR? I feel like it would fit better than a romance TBH. I also love how Villads was 1000% willing to get his hand chopped off for a few kids he met once three years ago. My kind of dude. Fuck that General lady, also. Like, how is Karim worth betraying your entire people and possibly ruining the future of your whole society?? Does he kiss you on the forehead sometimes? Please get better judgment you are literally a judge on the High Court. Also what is up with the Sunfire high priest? He's clearly hiding what's most likely a corrupted wound but why? And why side with Karim? I loved Kim'dael. Love an emo vampire lady with sapphic energy who could kill a man with her fingernails (literally). I like how she isn't strictly evil and has a clear goal that she acts toward with logic. She wants to be freed from her mercy debt so she can drink the blood of anyone she wants, and she acts with logic toward that goal. I still CANNOT wait for them to finally free Runaan from the coin. Honestly Rayla's parents come second for me because we just don't know them as people. But like. I wanna see the cut to Ethari standing over the pool and seeing Runaan's life lily rise to the surface again. I will cry and that is a promise.

Also, that bit where Janai has a nightmare where Aaravos tells her that her great-grandmother's fate was that Aaravos "swallowed her"??? Why are half the lines out of Aaravos's mouth innuendos. Is it the VA's voice? Does it just compel people to write his characters like that? Or is Aaravos just Like That as a person.

I mean like. Aarvos also flirts needlessly with Viren every chance he gets. Not even for manipulation because Viren is not into him, he's just incapable of not acting like that. Viren is definitely gay though. Like definitely. Even my cishet brother could tell in that scene where Viren is having a dark magic-induced fever dream about Harrow. Like oh you *liked him* liked him. Sure had a funny way of showing it, Mr. Kill The Princes. Anyway. Yeah that's my thoughts on The Dragon Prince season 5! Cannot wait for seasons six and seven, I'm sure they will be so cool.

#the dragon prince #the dragon prince season 5 #tdp spoilers

[melanielocke]

Book recommendations: Chain of Thorns hangover

Since I think a lot of you have finished Chain of Thorns by now I figured I'd make a book recommendation post with books that I think will appeal to people who are trying to get over Chain of Thorns. Most of the books here I've talked about before, but I made the selection that I think will appeal the most to ChoT readers.

First up: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Why this book?: It has thorns in the title. Also the main couple, the humor and the story would appeal to fans of TID in particular. Nathaniel reminds me of Will somewhat.

Sorcery of Thorns is a second world fantasy set in Austermeer. Elisabeth Scrivener grew up in one of the country's great libraries, where grimoires are kept, living books that contain magic spells used by sorcerers, and she wants nothing more than to become a warden, a sword wielding librarian who keeps the books but also protects the world from these books since some of them can be quite dangerous.

When Elisabeth intervenes in an act of sabotage and slays a very dangerous grimoire, she is implicated in the crime and taken to the city's capital by Nathaniel Thorn, a sorcerer she distrusts, and his demon servant Silas. She has no choice but to work with Nathaniel to uncover a conspiracy targeting the great libraries.

Nathaniel and Elisabeth are one of my favorite m/f couples. Nathaniel is bi, and the author has said she likes playing with feminitiy and masculinity in her m/f couples. Elisabeth is essentially a "lady himbo" who likes swords and armor, and is taller and more muscular than Nathaniel, with Nathaniel being a bit more feminine at times (in the sequel novella he wears a lady's dressing gown).

The third major character is Silas, an aroace demon who works for Nathaniel as a servant and gives him his magic in exchange for some of his life. I love him as a character and his dynamic with the other two, and Elisabeth has a very beautiful platonic relationship with him.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor is a sequel novella that just came out. It is essentially an extended epilogue with a new story where Elisabeth and Nathaniel get trapped in Thorn Manor and have to figure out how to appease the house. It is an adorable little book but with the tiny size it's difficult to find a good spot for it with the other books.

Next: A Marvellous Light & A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

Why this book?: horny queers in the Edwardian era, book 2 also features a rude pet parrot (keep in mind, this book is adult and has some pretty explicit sex in it)

I've discussed this series before here, but I hadn't read a Restless Truth yet when I wrote that. The series is a trilogy, with currently two books out and the third coming November this year.

Each book focuses on a different couple, but you do have to read them in order since they're also trying to get to the bottom of a magical conspiracy in each book.

Book 1 focuses on Edwin and Robin, which is essentially a himbo/librarian couple. Robin is the himbo in this case, who works a government job and is accidently assigned to a post related to Britain's secret magician society. Usually, this post is held by non magic people with magic relatives, like his predecessor who mysteriously vanished. His magic coworker Edwin decides to wipe Robin's memory and replace him, but then Robin gets cursed by people who think he knows where a magic artefact his predecessor hid is, and Robin and Edwin have to break the curse and figure out what he's after.

Edwin is a magician, but he is a very weak magician. He makes up for this by being clever and very precise with his magic, and inventing new techniques, and this is very different from what I'm used to which is main character (or magic love interest) is the one who most powerful ever.

Book 2 is a sapphic book focusing on Maud and Violet and they are based on the rake/wallflower trope.

Maud is Robin's younger sister, who travels on a ship a la Titanic from America to the UK with an old lady who is important for the magic conspiracy. Only the old lady dies the first day and Maud has to turn to Violet, a scandalous young actress who is a magician specializing in illusions. Compared to book 1, book 2 is even more sexual, but in a hilarious way. Maud was raised a proper Edwardian lady, but is now first experimenting with her own sexuality and I loved the way this was portrayed. There's also a side character (who will be the love interest in book 3), who writes porn as a side hustle and Maud has to purchase his entire supply of porn to secure his cooperation.

The relationship between Violet and Maud also starts with Violet thinking, oh this girl is seeking to explore her own sexuality, let's help with that. No way I'm catching feelings.

The third book, coming in November, will focus on Jack Alson (lord Hawthorn) and Alan Ross who were side characters in book 2 and Hawthorn also appeard in book 1, but also feature Violet & Maud en Edwin & Robin.

Third: A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

Why?: Urban fantasy, ensemble cast with lots of queer characters, complex plot in a longer series

I think this is more similar to the modern day shadowhunter books, since it is set in the present, but I think it will appeal to fans of tlh too.

The series has 5 main characters, and in the first book they have to figure out why ironborn (half fae) are dying, which no one else really seems to care about.

Arlo is an ironborn, with her mother being part of the royal family of unseelie spring, which is the ruling family over all fae right now. As an ironborn, she's threatened to be cast out of the fae world, her memories erased, if she doesn't have enough magic. She's very soft, but also determined, and seeking a path for herself and I think overall she's the main character of the series.

Nausicaa is an ex fury who was cast out from the furies because she killed a bunch of people she wasn't supposed to. She's very morally grey and kind of an asshole, but in a funny and likeable way, and she develops a weak spot for Arlo, who becomes her love interest.

Vehan is the prince of seelie summer. He's sweet and very naive and doesn't realize his mom is evil. He feels very isolated because his best friend, Aurelian, who is also in love with, seems to be pulling away from him and he feels like no one really cares about him. He is determined to solve the ironborn murders in book 1 because no one else wants to try.

Aurelian is Vehan's bodyguard and he's kind of the brooding guy. He's very protective of Vehan, but also pulls away from him because of a secret he's keeping to protect Vehan. They have been best friends for long, but he was essentially forced to become Vehan's guard so now their relationship is difficult.

Celadon is the final main character and he gets his own POV from book 2, and will be very important in book 3 I think (he's on the cover). He's a prince of unseelie spring and Arlo's cousin, and he's very popular. There's a fandom of him called the "Celadom". Vehan in particular is a big fan and has posters of Celadon in his room. Celadon is also Arlo's best friend, which is how he's introduced in book 1.

Book 3 is coming out this September, and the cover was just revealed this week

Then: A Blade so Black by L.L. McKinney

Why this book?: demon slaying (well, nightmares in this case), great cast of characters

Like A Dark and Hollow Star, this would likely appeal more to fans of the modern day shadowhunters as it's set in modern day Atlanta, and follows Alice who was chosen to battle nightmares, monsters that come from Wonderland into our world.

She's trained by her attractive mentor Hatta, but when he is poisoned she has to travel deeper into wonderland to find a cure while also maintaining her school, and keep her very protective mother from figuring out what's going on.

The third book is coming out in April, I think only in US hardcover (while I have the UK paperbacks so that sucks), but I'm still curious to see how this story ends.

It's fast paced with lots of action, but also balanced with Alice' homelife as a teenager and her trying to figure out how to disappear into Wonderland for a week without her mom finding out.

And last: The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

Why this book?: high stakes, great cast of mostly queer characters, funny and chaotic characters

I've talked about this book before. Several times. But it's just that good. So here I am, trying to convince you once more why you should read the Sunbearer Trials.

The main character is Teo, a jade transgender demigod son of the goddess of birds.

"I am a being of chaos, fueled by spite and antidepressants"

Every 10 years, the sunbearer trials are held, with ten semidioses participating. The winner becomes the new sunbearer and replenishes the sunstones so the sun doesn't die out. The loser gets sacrificed.

Usually, only gold semidioses are chosen to participate. These are the children of the most powerful gods, who can shoot fire out of their hands or move earth, things like that.

This time, there are two jade semidoses chosen to participate. Teo, and Xio, the son of the god of bad luck who has no powers. Meanwhile, Teo can talk to birds. Together with Teo's best friend Niya, the gold daughter of the earth god, they will have to fight to survive against much more powerful semidioses.

@alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer @life-through-the-eyes-of @astriefer @justanormaldemon @ipromiseiwillwrite @a-dream-dirty-and-bruised @amchara @all-for-the-fanfiction @imsoftforthomastair @ddepressedbookworm @queenlilith43 @wagner-fell @cant-think-of-anything @laylax13s @tessherongraystairs @boredfangirl16 @artist-in-soul @beyondlifebeyonddeath @ikissedsmithparker

#sorcery of thorns #mysteries of thorn manor #margaret rogerson #freya marske #a marvellous light #a restless truth #a dark and hollow star #a cruel and fated light #a grim and sunken vow #ashley shuttleworth #a blade so black #a dream so dark #l.l. mckinney #the sunbearer trials #aiden thomas #book recommendations #chain of thorns

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Love at First Set Book Review 🦇

💜 Read If You Love: 💜 🏋️‍♀️ Women who lift 👰‍♀️ Runaway brides 👀 “Oh no, my best friend’s sister is hot” 🧘‍♀️ Flirting during partner yoga 🎟 Cheesy county fair dates 😬 Awkward pining 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 Sapphic swooning

🦇 For Lizzie, working at a gym isn't just a job; it's her home. For now, she's only the check-in girl (and occasionally, the owner's punching bag), but one day, she could manage her own. When her bestie (and emotional support himbo) and boss's son James asks her to play plus-one at his sister's wedding, she agrees, hoping to find a chance to talk to his parents about a promotion. One drunken pep-talk later and the bride-to-be, Cara, realizes she doesn't want to get married after all. It doesn't help that Lizzie is crushing on her HARD—or that Cara decides to stay with her brother while getting her derailed life back together. Afraid his sister plans to set him up on a blind date, James urges Lizzie to keep her distracted. Can Lizzie girl the hell up AND keep her crush under wraps?

[ Find my review below or on Insta | Storygraph | Goodreads ]

💜 Lizzie is a beautifully realistic mess and knows it. Growing up with an unreliable, emotionally-abusive mother taught Lizzie she could only rely on herself, while her economic status triggered some serious self-esteem issues. Though her self-reliance and independence are strengths, her unwillingness to trust others also becomes a weakness.

💜 Jennifer Dugan (@jl_dugan) heard the phrase "queer pining" and understood the assignment. Lizzie's insta-crush on Cara spurs some hilarious self-talk that puts the "com" in this queer rom-com. The constant, silent, somewhat reluctant pining is intense, raw, and real, but her sass and sarcasm never let it get overly sappy. Though Lizzie can't see it, Cara's obvious crushing is equally intense, making these two lovesick, bisexual messes the perfect match.

🦇 Unfortunately, everything I loved in the first half of the book becomes exhaustive by the second half. Lizzie allows both James and Cara to manipulate her into favors that benefit them too often. Her self-proclaimed cowardness spurs the story's internal conflict a little too much. The self-depreciation that was once funny became painful enough to become cringy, too.

🦇 While I love a slow burn, Lizzie and Cara's relationship is too focused on showing physical development, but not the emotional development. We don't see the pillow talk or hidden moments between them that lead to them falling in love with one another. The external conflict—Cara's mother—is written as a two-dimensional antagonist. Her motivation for keeping the women apart is status, but why (did she grow up in poverty, or feel shamed by a group with higher social status at one point in her life)? My biggest pet peeve is a plot powered by miscommunication (in this case, a complete FAILURE at communicating from the start), and this story relies on it all too much to reach an unsatisfying happy ending that's tied up in a LITERAL bow. The writing was so strong and held so much promise in the beginning, but I'm afraid the third-act break-up, blow-up dinner scene, ultimatum, and ending didn't do it for me.

🦇 Recommended for anyone who loves a pining and scheming of Shakespearean proportions. This sapphic rom-com will be a sweet if not chaotic addition to your TBR.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 👟 Sapphic Rom-Com 👟 Bi Visibility 👟 Gay Best Friend 👟 Economic Classes 👟 Shakespearean Miscommunication, Pining, and Scheming 👟 Self-Esteem Issues

❝ "Queer chaos trumps moral fortitude, especially when making out is involved." ❞

❓ #QOTD What's your preferred workout? ❓ ❝ "Don't sit behind the gym counter of your life when you're meant to be in front of it." ❞

#book review #book lovers #book blog #books #reading #sapphic romance #sapphic books #romcom #romance novels #romance books #romance #sapphic #lesbian pride #lesbian #book reviews #batty about books #battyaboutbooks #book: love at first set #author: jennifer dugan