#waiting on a bright moon

[litandroses]

Haven’t had time to read lately, I’ve been studying for licensure so I’ll be giving these very few recs for Pride Month instead! I think I’ve mentioned some of these books before but giving them another boost wouldn’t hurt.

1. A Door Behind a Door by Yelena Moskovich

In Yelena Moskovich's spellbinding new novel, A Door Behind A Door, we meet Olga, who immigrates as part of the Soviet diaspora of '91 to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There she grows up and meets a girl and falls in love, beginning to believe that she can settle down. But a phone call from a bad man from her past brings to life a haunted childhood in an apartment building in the Soviet Union: an unexplained murder in her block, a supernatural stray dog, and the mystery of her beloved brother Moshe, who lost an eye and later vanished. We get pulled into Olga's past as she puzzles her way through an underground Midwestern Russian mafia, in pursuit of a string of mathematical stabbings.

2. Waiting on a Bright Moon by Neon Yang

Xin is an ansible, using her song magic to connect the originworld of the Imperial Authority and its far-flung colonies— a role that is forced upon magically-gifted women “of a certain closeness”. When a dead body comes through her portal at a time of growing rebellion, Xin is drawn deep into a station-wide conspiracy along with Ouyang Suqing, one of the station’s mysterious, high-ranking starmages.

3. The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho

A tale of first love, bad theology and robot reincarnation in the Chinese afterlife. In the tenth court of hell, spirits wealthy enough to bribe the bureaucrats of the underworld can avoid both the torments of hell and the irreversible change of reincarnation. It's a comfortable undeath … even for Siew Tsin. She didn't choose to be married to the richest man in hell, but she's reconciled. Until her husband brings home a new bride. Yonghua is an artificial woman crafted from terracotta. What she is may change hell for good. Who she is will transform Siew Tsin. And as they grow closer, the mystery of Yonghua's creation will draw Siew Tsin into a conspiracy where the stakes are eternal life – or a very final death.

4. After the Dragons by Cynthia Zhang

Dragons were fire and terror to the Western world, but in the East they brought life-giving rain…

Now, no longer hailed as gods and struggling in the overheated pollution of Beijing, only the Eastern dragons survive. As drought plagues the aquatic creatures, a mysterious disease—shaolong, or “burnt lung”—afflicts the city’s human inhabitants.

Jaded college student Xiang Kaifei scours Beijing streets for abandoned dragons, distracting himself from his diagnosis. Elijah Ahmed, a biracial American medical researcher, is drawn to Beijing by the memory of his grandmother and her death by shaolong. Interest in Beijing’s dragons leads Kai and Eli into an unlikely partnership. With the resources of Kai’s dragon rescue and Eli’s immunology research, can the pair find a cure for shaolong and safety for the dragons? Eli and Kai must confront old ghosts and hard truths if there is any hope for themselves or the dragons they love.

After the Dragons is a tender story, for readers interested in the effects of climate change on environments and people, but who don’t want a grim, hopeless read. Beautiful and challenging, focused on hope and care, this novel navigates the nuances of changing culture in a changing world.

5. The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

A "highly imaginative and utterly exhilarating" (Thrillist) debut that is "the best of what science fiction can be: a thought-provoking, heartrending story about the choices that define our lives" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).A mysterious child lands in the care of a solitary woman, changing both of their lives forever. I expected many things from this trip. I did not expect a family.

A ship captain, unfettered from time. A mute child, burdened with unimaginable power. A millennia-old woman, haunted by lifetimes of mistakes. In this captivating debut of connection across space and time, these outsiders will find in each other the things they lack: a place of love and belonging. A safe haven. A new beginning.

But the past hungers for them, and when it catches up, it threatens to tear this makeshift family apart.

6. Robbergirl by S.T Gibson

SAVE THE WITCH, KILL THE SNOW QUEEN

In a Sweden wracked by war and haunted by folk stories so dark they can only be spoken of in whispers, Helvig has been raised by her brigand father to steal whatever treasure catches her eye. When her men ambush a girl on the road with hair pale as death and a raven perched on her shoulder, Helvig cannot resist bringing home a truly unique prize: a genuine witch. Drawn irresistibly into the other woman’s web, Helvig soon learns of Gerda’s reason for walking the icy border roads alone: to find the Queen who lives at the top of the world and kill her. Anyone else would be smart enough not to believe a children’s story, but Helvig is plagued by enchantments of her own, and she struggles to guard the sins of her past while growing closer to Gerda. As Christmastide gives way to the thin-veiled days when ghosts are at their most vengeful, the two women find themselves on a journey through forest and Samiland to a final confrontation that will either redeem them or destroy them entirely.

7. The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein

Before Verity . . . there was Julie.

When fifteen-year-old Julia Beaufort-Stuart wakes up in the hospital, she knows the lazy summer break she'd imagined won't be exactly what she anticipated. And once she returns to her grandfather's estate, a bit banged up but alive, she begins to realize that her injury might not have been an accident. One of her family's employees is missing, and he disappeared on the very same day she landed in the hospital.

Desperate to figure out what happened, she befriends Euan McEwen, the Scottish Traveler boy who found her when she was injured, and his standoffish sister, Ellen. As Julie grows closer to this family, she witnesses firsthand some of the prejudices they've grown used to-a stark contrast to her own upbringing-and finds herself exploring thrilling new experiences that have nothing to do with a missing-person investigation.

Her memory of that day returns to her in pieces, and when a body is discovered, her new friends are caught in the crosshairs of long-held biases about Travelers. Julie must get to the bottom of the mystery in order to keep them from being framed for the crime.

This exhilarating coming-of-age story, a prequel to the Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, returns to a beloved character just before she first takes flight. 

BONUS:

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez (release date: August 30, 2022)

Two warriors shepherd an ancient god across a broken land to end the tyrannical reign of a royal family in this new epic fantasy from the author of The Vanished Birds.

The people suffer under the centuries-long rule of the Moon Throne. The royal family—the despotic emperor and his monstrous sons, the Three Terrors—hold the countryside in their choking grip. They bleed the land and oppress the citizens with the frightful powers they inherited from the god locked under their palace.

But that god cannot be contained forever.

With the aid of Jun, a guard broken by his guilt-stricken past, and Keema, an outcast fighting for his future, the god escapes from her royal captivity and flees from her own children, the triplet Terrors who would drag her back to her unholy prison. And so it is that she embarks with her young companions on a five-day pilgrimage in search of freedom—and a way to end the Moon Throne forever. The journey ahead will be more dangerous than any of them could have imagined.

Both a sweeping adventure story and an intimate exploration of identity, legacy, and belonging, The Spear Cuts Through Water is an ambitious and profound saga that will transport and transform you—and is like nothing you’ve ever read before.

Note: This bonus is UNIQUE fantasy, I swear it.

#book recs #book recommendations #pride month #pride reading challenge #a door behind a door #yelena moskovich #the pearl thief #elizabeth wein #waiting on a bright moon #neon yang #the vanished birds #simon jimenez #the terracotta bride #zen cho #after the dragons #cynthia zhang #robbergirl #st gibson #the spear cuts through water #bookblr #booklr #litblr #authors of color

[crabsnpersimmons]

I think Sun and moon should swap cat onesies, that’ll be much comfier

a very good idea!

unfortunately... not too much of an improvement 😅

Clip thought of everything 😂

#fnaf sun #fnaf moon #New Do Same You AU #Sun New Do Same You AU #Moon New Do Same You AU #these poor boys #they've been stuck in cat onesie limbo because of Clip #and because i'm taking way too long to respond to asks haha #the behind of scenes of this #was me taking way too long trying to figure out how their onesies would fit on each other #cuz i realized i designed them differently #and then i decided whatever just draw it #but don't worry! they'll get some clothes eventually #a kind soul has already provided them with clothes in a submission #i just #need to wait until morning for better lighting to take the photos 😂 #crab art #traditional art #bright colours

[lavenoon]

bh!Eclipse "asked to reach the top shelf" meets "can't reach the lowest cupboards without folding like a paperclip" - @clxckwork-sun-n-moon

Yeah, I mean, there's a reason SI is laughing here after Eclipse "gets on his level" - man's too tall, he'd need to lie down to get close

But shenanigans are so very fun, so:

vs

It's called symbiosis <3

bloodstain fool by naffeclipse and og detective au by sunnys-aesthetic!

#answer let luce #clxckwork sun n moon #dcamv #sleuth jesters #bloodstain fool #my art #wait did i tag that other ask with my art tag. squints #the router idea i had before already so it had to jump in for the top shelf thing #bc YEAH MY ROUTER IS AT THREE METERS HEIGHT IM SCARED OF FALLING THE LADDER IS WOBBLY AND EVEN WITH LADDER I CAN BARELY REACH #IM SHORT YOUR HONOR #but yeah it already happens a lot lmao #i go grocery shopping with someone taller they get grumpy over not finding something but me; eye contact avoider N°1; looks down - #and BAM who wouldve thunk! lower shelves exist! #they *always* say smth like “No wonder I didn't find it/ you found it” #I'm not even mad bc yeah I do be looking down a lot. #eye contact avoidance. bad balance need to watch step. sky too bright. many reasons #okay these tag rambles are getting long lmao #enjoy <3 #menace4menace

[assigned-caim-at-birth]

in the middle of drawing boobs and i thought “what if wayne had hair”

#hylics #wayne hylics #the best color that lookd good with bright ass neon yellow that is wayne is probably a soft blue #maybe a violet color #and then mohawk cause its a moon thing #FUCK WAIT this is literally yellow guy im going to sleep

[leaffsheep]

Had a Good Omens themed dream last night where I watched s2 and the only reason why I woke up was because I realized “EVERY” didn’t happen 💀💀

#the whole end of s2 in my dream involved aziraphale having to sacrifice a person to the moon in order to please god #and then a bright light happened and it showed crowley waking up outside with no clothes on #except when azira woke up he had clothes on so I’m very confused on why it was only crowley 😭😭 #but then I thought ‘wait but what about EVERY?? is that going to happen after this scene?’ #then I woke up #good omens #good omens 2 #aziraphale #crowley #ineffable husbands #aziracrow

[spacecrows]

me, stumbling home at night seeing a beautiful beautiful light against the dark night sky: is this the moon???

this: is a streetlight

moth-coded for real 💀😭

#i had. three moments like this back to back #no one ever talks aboht moth woman #misogyny???? #omg omg omg saw the actual moon as i was typing this #its so bright an beautiful #this is not a drill!!!!!!!! #be cool be cool omg #edit. wait. wait. starting to feel like moths might not fly toward a flame because they think its the moon??? #am i mixing up moths and wrr #*werewolves?????? #standing outside of my appartmwnt to look at the moon for a little while while i ponder this

[rose-lalondde]

pro tip: if you think you have adhd then don't start a master's program before you even get a diagnosis (also you need a stronger prescription, you have astigmatism, and reading glasses aren't gonna cut it)

#i can handle one class just fine but 2 classes??? im killing myself #im working too so its like i never have time for myself and its just a neverending well of assignments and work plus i hate the schedule #why is everything due at 10:59 and why is it due in the middle of the week but i have to come back the next 2 days and write responses #one of my classes will trade out a disucssion for the week with an assignment thats due at the end of the week and i like that sm better #the other class makes use do a discussion and an assignment in the same week #and usually they're all due at the same time so i go to work and then go home do my homework and then do more homework on the weekend #then go back to work do you understand my problem #anyway my mom casually confirmed that i have astigmatism recently which ??? #but my eyesight is fine but driving in the dark is hell and its not b/c of the dark! #any kind of bright light blinds me like it could be a sunny day and i won't be seeing shit for that entire drive omg #just realized that this might be the cause of an increase in headaches wait... #ok back on track: adhd consultation (maybe) in a month and a half! #i don't have a therapist so im hoping my doctor can help? or at least refer me to somebody that can help b/c looking is hard omg #where the therapists at omg #moon posts #long one today because i am procrastinating so i can give up <3

[blart-og]

5 whole sinners now that's a team babey

#limbus company #ive been desaturating the character colours for the background in this series #but i was honestly tempted to leave ryoshu's eyeblindingly bright red as is #predictably my eyes started to hurt after a while though #so i guess not huh #ryoshu lcb #ryoshu limbus company #astute followers may notice that this character does not do blunt damage for once. #that is because i have run out :( #for the base sinners anyway #usually i run liu section 6 meur + greg #i know theyre not that good but consider: #i love them :) #burn burn burn burn #project moon #okay gang this time my queue is empty for real so #youre gonnahave to wait

[brightsstar]

Small wholesome doodle i wanted to draw.

Also spoiler for a future part of Eclipse's Escape

Sometime down the line of Eclipse's Escape

Yes, the star is capable of repairing some soul damage which will aid Canon's recovery.

#fnaf security breach #fnaf #regretful eclipse au #sun and moon show #sun and moon show au #Eclipse's escape #I want to use the star's name so freaking badly but i told myself to wait till i finish Star Trail! #bright's art

[birindale]

Background paint by Rian Sygh

#visual development #rian sygh #backgrounds #portal locations #bright moon #castle bright moon #castle bright moon throne room #oh it's like. there's more than one story #wow okay that explains some logistics #wait actually i have more questions than before #how the fuck does anyone get up there #or is it just like a drop off leading up to the throne #shouldn't there be a railing or something? #i ask again WHERE is fantasy OSHA #unsolicited commentary

[cavernfullofexistentialdread]

Gurl wait you turn the sun is NOT done setting

#The moon #moon #sunset #(?) #WAIT YOUR TURN #PUT IT DOWN #WHY IS THE MOON SO BRIGHT TOO

[oatbugs]

trying to find a suitable translation of the poem from which my name primarily comes from is actually impossible . persian is untranslatable.

#the way me and the person i was staying w in sweden talked abt this ..made my heart hurt a little but also made me glad that i understand #such a special language. persian is made for song and poetry and so the etymology and layers of each word are carried in their meanings #to a far stronger extent than other languages ive seen including english. this makes communicating in a straightforward way #much more difficult. it makes ambiguities more common and one could easily commit some horrid #epistemic crimes against another person by warping the meaning of their words. but it makes lyricism and poetry and anything which is #supposed to have depth and meaning so much more beautiful. which is why translating a good persian poem is so so difficult. yeah you could #use the word beloved but you could also use heart you could also use soul you could also use breath you could also use stomach you could #also use life etc etc . even with more common words.. its just. the only way to get it is to translate each word to a sentence/multiple #words but then the work would lose its impact . idk #thinking abt نقطهٔ عشق دل گوشه نشینان خون کرد #this is seemingly a simple line from the poems sixth verse found in only 3 of its manuscripts. gooshe neshinan is maybe literally #translated as corner-sitters or corner-dwellers but really it means more intellectuals/contemplators/academics but it could also mean #the isolated or lonely or the people who are waiting for something. now combine all the possible meanings into one english word. you just #cant carry the same meaning and depth even for such a simple phrase. the entire line would be #the point of love made the contemplators heart bleed. except heart is also love/stomach/life/soul/etc etc. point is also dot and the sharp #point of a blade. to make bleed could also be to be bloodied or to become blood. its not that #آتش آن است که در خرمن پروانه زدند #fire is that which burns the harvest of the moth. except it has the implication that the moth is also burned whole and #that love is a form of annihilation. moth is also butterfly. khorman means harvest but it also means crop and mass and product and shock #and halo around the moon and the aura of something bright and unseperation. now combine all of that into one english word. #it is also what made me mildly frustrated with non-persian scholars writing on hafez and persian poetry arguing about what translation is #correct when the point of persian lyricism is that the beauty of the verses stems largely from the layers and layers of meaning. love is #annihilation but inherently it is also an unseperation. love is all consuming in the way the halo of a moon is and the way laughter #that wraps you in light is. you are destroyed unwillingly. you are both the butterfly unravelling and the moth burning. #all one short line. i want you to understand why i chose this name and also to understand the poetry i was born from #and why it rests on the table in our new years table and why it is used to cast fortunes and why poetry is pilgrimage and a point of #worship for us and the sheer weight this language carries!!! #(خرمن) #(beside every definition given above it also means thrill and fruits of labours and Time and panic and damage) #my brain was built around a poetic construct from the moment i was born im so happy about that

[canyon-of-chaos]

“Have you heard the story

of the rabbit and the moon?”

-Cosmo Sheldrake, the moss

Tw: Bright Colors

#my art #kodaxians original species #OC #Rabbt #tw bright colors #tried to copy the vibe of that one old flipnote I first heard the song from #the moss cosmo sheldrake #wait oof it’s rabbit in the moon #I think this lyric fits more tho

[forecast-rain]

my room is going to be so blue cool once it's renovated haha

or. is that even the word for it? hm.

ehh whatever. I can't wait to have my special wall! :D

#cloud posts #it's gonna be so cool #the bright blue sky contrasted with a painting of the moon... #ahh I can't wait!!

[kaistar03]

Decided to revamp some of my old Mlp unicorn ocs to fit more into my own worlds, I love that they have became so dark compared to their original ideas

#I don’t fully know what I will call them but that’ll wait for the comic #probably the blood moon disease the cult of Haidien the curse of Castor the Bright #unicorn #unicorn oc #old Mlp ocs #revamp ocs #original characters

[iwantyoursexmp3]

wait the moon is full tonight? hot

#good for her! aries! #sometimes i feel like an astrology girlie but like fake cause im not immersed in it but my mom was so i like adopted it vaguely #wait not to autofiction but what if 'under the full moon i read from my dead moms tarot deck' its giving microfiction title #shes sooooo bright she's casting geometric moonlight shapes onto my room bc i do not sleep w the curtains closed #feels like im in a dallonwrites novel