#which i may or may not be bringing back my norse loki blog

[dxrthvxdr]

//I have decided that Hayden Christensen from Outcast is gonna be my ‘older’ Anakin. I realize that’s not much of a stretch, but honestly, i have them and i need a reason to use them. Like, have you seen him in that movie

#ooc #i talk like i've seen this movie #but i haven't #gonna need to #i have like 200 icons from this movie and i've been DYING to use them #it makes me long for my viking things #which i may or may not be bringing back my norse loki blog #i am #but i want to see if i can't get a hold on my drafts here first #don't think i have that much selfcontrol tho

[pooshnulooshnu]

I saw a post recently that I wasn't able to reply to because my wifi was down, but I wanted to come back to it because it really interested me. The post centered on the chains Loki had on in the beginning of TDW.

The op wanted to know if the chains were representing Jormungand, Loki's son in myth. If you look close enough you can see the pattern on the chains, which is:

To me, it looked like a snake with two heads, immediately bringing me to think of this:

That's not the best picture, but it's Loki's symbol (two snakes wrapped around eachother in and "S" shape). I figured that if the chains held this symbol, they would hold more power over Loki, constricting his magic and making him a true prisoner.

I also took into account the fact that only the chains around Loki's hands have this design, which I think furthers my theory. If you look at the gif, you can see in the left corner one of the guards holding a chain that connects to the ones binding Loki. The chains he's holding is normal. Why? Because it's not touching Loki at all. It holds no magically properties like the other ones do.

However, I want to go back to the Jormungand theory. It could very well represent Jormungand. In the Avengers (2012), Loki's outfits have hints towards his sons in myth.

Once again, not the best picture, but on that harness thing (Sorry, I don't know what it's called) Jormungand is pictured. Fenrir is also on his shoulder plate.

Jormungand being in Loki's chains could hold as much power over Loki as his symbol could, given Jormungand is his son. Nonetheless, I think it's not as probable. Marvel isn't exactly one to follow Norse myth in their movies. For one example, Fenrir and Sleipnir weren't shown as Loki's sons, which could mean Jormungand would hold no power over Loki because in the MCU he may not be his son.

Anyway, if anyone knows which post I'm talking about, please tag the other blogs involved, and if you could, add a link to the post. I want to give all blogs involved the credit they deserve. I just wanted to add my two cents because it was bugging me that I couldn't before.

#loki odinson #loki #loki friggason #loki of asgard #loki of jotunheim #loki god of stories #loki god of lies #loki god of mischief #Loki's outfit #jormungand #fenrir #thor tdw #tdw #avengers #avengers 2012 #marvel #loki marvel #Loki's chains

[flame-and-vyski-tricks]

Life Less Ordinary

“The night you came into my life Well, it took the bones of me Took the bones of me. You blew away my storm and strife And shook the bones of me Shook the bones of me”

- Life Less Ordinary, Carbon Leaf

Ever since I started looking into Lokeanism over a year ago, I noticed how comfortable Lokeans are with talking about themselves in the tag, sharing themselves and their experiences. I figures, since I’m starting this blog to parse my own relationship with Loki, that it’d be appropriate to talk about myself a bit, and well, to start with the beginning.

So, greetings everyone. You can call me Vyski, Jay, or JD. I’m a 28yo non-binary(or gender fluid? idk) non-professional artist, professional historian. My favorite pronouns are Xe/Xem/Xyr, but They/Them is fine too. Honestly I’ll accept any pronoun. I’ve been married almost a year, and we live with three of our friends from college in a pretty ramshackle house outside Washington, DC. I also have a precious 8yo Corgi!

As far as interests, I love sewing and embroidery, playing video games (horror and action RPGs are my favorites), watching anime, and studying both folklore and fandom. I also collect both resin and vinyl ball-jointed dolls. Oh, and I’m a furry. 

Loki came into my life kind of like a tidal wave. Starting as a ripple, a mention, an interest in Marvel’s Loki, then an increasing magnitude. I attend a major SCA event (Pennsic) and I felt a connection to the norse traditions there. God of War’s portrayal of Loki I latched on to....sudden urges to name my favorite doll Loki or some variation. I found great joy in learning about Loki’s queerness. It all culminated a year ago last May, when I heard the Carbon Leaf song in my head and felt a connection to Loki so strongly I was left shivering and crying.

So, I reached out to them, and they reached back. Since then I’ve tried to forge a relationship with Loki, but without much success. Which brings me to the reason behind this blog.

I am not religious or spiritual. My parents, having been raised in Christian families, both went agnostic/atheist as adults, and raised me as such. In the retrospect they chose a pretty awful place to raise a child as agnostic. Despite being outside of the Deep South, the part of Virginia I grew up in is horrendously Bible Belt conservative. Hell, bible study was a weekly event at my elementary school (in a trailer just far enough off school property for it to not be a crime). I was ostracized and actively bullied because I wasn’t Christian.

Suffice to say I quite abhorred Christianity for most of my life, and stayed away from all organized religion as a cautionary measure. I’ve since matured enough to recognize that just because I was treated like shit by Christians doesn’t mean all of them are bad, and just because religion or spirituality wasn’t for me didn’t make it inherently bad. And for a long time that’s how things have been.

But, after exploring the various paganism and witchcraft tags here on tumblr and well, feeling an attraction to it, I began to seriously consider if I could follow a deity, and Loki found me. And I’ve kinda been floundering in it.

I just never feel like I know what I’m doing---how do I pray? how do I make offerings? how to i cast a circle? how do I purify my space? how do I talk to my god(s)? how do I know they’re listening? how do I know they’re real?

I’ve tried off and on to talk more earnestly to Loki, and I’m certain my lack of consistency and insecurity wore on them. Finally I caved and asked for an outside source to communicate with Loki on my behalf, to ask if they really even wanted this, and what I needed to do. 

I was told that yes, Loki wanted me, and that I should get creative. Honestly I could have cried. Loki wants me. They care about me! And I can take my own approach. I can forge my own path and my own relationship with my deity. It feels both scary and incredible to say that.

So here we are. I’m going to use this blog hopefully as a space to share and reflect on my experiences, and to make myself comfortable with the fact that I have found a deity, and that I am in fact, a Lokean. I have no idea how to tell my husband or friends or family, but hopefully, through this blog and with Loki, I’ll figure that out.

I had hoped that a year ago was my real starting point on this journey, but it seems I needed more time to become comfortable with the notion. 

Here’s to the real beginning of a new journey.

#lokean #norse loki #norse paganism #lokideity #loki*

[asifindmypath]

Pop Culture Paganism: A Mental Exploration

My own personal thought experiment regarding a mental exploration of Pop Culture Paganism and Witchcraft. Don’t like it, you don’t need to read it. Flamers will be ignored. Constructive discussion and rebuttal is encouraged.

It’s worth noting that I’m a fairly recent “convert” to a pagan setting. I consider myself an eclectic polytheistic pagan witch. I worship a number of gods from different pantheons, and have a generally mixed Eclectic spirituality. I’m still learning and experimenting and discovering my craft and my path. I am not an expert by any means, and the following are my personal opinions. The only reason this post is not Private like most of my entries on this blog is because I feel this discussion may be validating for some who are put down for their faith. 

Now without further ado, if you’re interested, check under the Cut. ;)

I’ve been doing a lot of research recently. It started by my looking up if it’s offensive to the gods to watch/enjoy/associate them with pop culture. Is Hades offended by my love of the Disney version of him? Would Bast or Serket be offended by my using images of them as they appear in video games like Smite? 

I’ve come to answer myself with; it depends. It’s going to require experimentation, meditation and asking each specific god their preference, but in general, I think the answer is mostly no. If you have the proper intent, I think the gods appreciate it all the same.

I found an interesting Reddit Thread in which their was a discussion about Pop Culture Paganism. I didn’t realize that was even a thing, but reading the discussion was fascinating, and validating. While some are offended by the mere thought of not strictly following the old ways as closely as we can, others argue that myths of the old gods began as stories. 

It’s doubtful that if these gods existed as real people or divine beings before humans, that these stories we know of them are one hundred percent accurate. Humans are fallible, we embellish, we exaggerate, and even when trying to be as accurate as possible, we still insert personal bias into everything. We can’t help it, it’s in our nature. So any story, true or not, is going to, at it’s core, be subject to the bias both of the original first-hand account, by every subsequent retelling, and by the person hearing it. 

Therefore, why is it offensive to the gods to follow a new retelling of them? a modern version of a god, like, Loki and Thor, for instance, should be just as valid. It’s doubtful that the comic writers and film producers over at Marvel have consciously been contacted by Loki and Thor to tell them how to depict them, but does that mean that the gods weren’t influencing their own stories? Could Loki not have inserted the ideas, placed sources of inspiration into the lives of the writers? Of course he could have.

Another point that was brought up was that new gods spring up all the time. There is a new goddess being worshiped in India by the Dalit community. There are authors who have unwittingly created new gods or religions with their writings. There are sects of people who worship the Valar from Tolkien’s universe, the Jedi Way is a recognized religion now, Lovecraftian monsters are widely accepted as actual ancient beings and have permeated so many areas of culture. Some Celtic deities are traced back to seeming works of fiction.

Some people use pop culture figures as associations for their gods; more tangible, relate-able and realistic than their ancient stories. I recently made a strong association between Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock and Thoth. I’ve also used a Tolkien Mantra of sorts to honor Anubis; Patience being a struggle for me, and one of His attributes, I will occasionally find myself thinking of Treebeard’s signature philosophy, “do not be hasty.”

Some do actually worship fictional characters, even those not intended to be deified. Some use archetypal characters for worship and find pop culture associations for them, but some literally worship Batman or Sailor Moon. Some use fictional characters in spirit work, or create spells around them. The concept of the energy, the love and adoration, the living and breathing history and collective thought poured into and about these characters, this whole process makes absolute sense to me. I’m not sure if I’ll go quite so deep into it, though perhaps. Vi has already mentioned potentially worshiping Clavicus Vile. I’d be okay with that. 

Given that many works of fiction draw from real life mythology, legends or properties, a lot of fictional deities and characters have some real-life counterpart. One can find strong correlations to the Gems in Stephen Universe having similar properties to their real-life crystal and stone counterparts. Many fictional deities are amalgamations of real gods. Hell, many “primary” sources of old gods are works of fiction in and of themselves, such as the works of Homer. While there may be truth the stories, they are embellished and theatrical to make it interesting to read, and are at best an artist’s interpretation of events.

I saw another post today that was so validating. Can’t find it right now, or I would link it. Basically it said that a god becomes a god when someone believes they are one. It could be a single person. They are a god. The older the god, the more energy put towards it, the more followers they have, the stronger they become. So in my mind, old gods like the Egyptian, Roman, Norse, Celtic, ect. gods, those of ancient civilizations, most of these will be far more powerful than a new god with a small following. Millions of people did and still do worship Anubis. There are probably only a select few who worship Dipper Pines (though given GF’s cult following, I’m sure I’d be surprised at that number-). Therefore Anubis has more influence and power as an established god, able to reach out even to those unaware of him at the time, and sometimes bring people to the fold this way. Versus Dipper, if deified, would have a harder time calling to a random new child to join the cult of the Mystery Twins. 

My concept, which I originally considered a sort of excuse or explanation of my odd and unusual spiritual beliefs, is that energy is a force, it’s neither created, nor is it destroyed. If magic is just channeling one’s will into existence, expending your energy and maybe using other energy aids (a burning candle, a charged crystal, stored energy in plant matter, ect) to yield a desired effect, then why can’t the same concept be put towards anything? If we can will the spirits to read our futures, if we can will two people to fall in love, or will the universe to cause someone bad luck or harm, why can we not will a new being into existence? 

In the same way that offerings, prayers and even uttering the name can strengthen older, established gods; in the same way, why can I not make offerings, prayers and epitaphs to Smaug, or Winnie the Pooh, or any fictional character? 

Personally, the concept of pop culture magic is also fascinating to me, and that makes even more logical sense to me. If we take a character like Ash Ketchum. A character of indomitable spirit, fierce determination, immortality, and innocence; a character beloved by millions, who’s journeys have inspired generations of children, even shaped the lives of some - there is magic there. There is so much collective thought, energy, love, adoration there. So many know his name, his image, his stories. There are myths and legends about him, theories about other adventures, other possibilities. Artwork is made, statues created, there are buildings dedicated to his world, his friends and family, the animals and creatures of his world. 

Even if you don’t see the correlations to a god from an outside perspective, that amount of power centered around some pixels on a television screen is real. It’s there, it exists. No witch or magic user should be able to deny that. Using that stored energy in a spell would be simple when looking at it from this perspective. In the way we can take an animal, look over all its aspects, and channel it into our spells. In the same way we can invoke Mother Bear for strength, maternal protection and love, we could invoke a character like The Doctor for wisdom, compassion and a drive to do what’s right. 

The other angle here, is that anyone who subscribes to the Many Worlds Theory can’t really deny the possibility of most of this. This theory proposes there are an infinite number of universes full of infinite possibilities. There is a world where the Roman Empire never collapsed and we’re all living under the new Caesar. There is a world where modern day man is still living alongside dinosaurs. There is a world where ours does not exist. There is a world exactly the same as this one, except that you ate cereal for breakfast today instead of scrambled eggs. There’s a world where dogs are the dominant species and keep humans as pets. There is a world where the Avengers are fighting against Thanos. One where Luke Skywalker is teaching younglings in the Jedi Temple. One where Ash and Pikachu are traveling to another new region in the Pokemon world. One where we live in a giant computer simulation. Infinite. Possibilities.

I’m not here to convince anyone, I may or may not even practice any of this, it’s just some interesting thought exercise. I like thinking about things like this sometimes. I also think that in a world where we are beginning to pave our own Paths; we’re inventing identities for ourselves, discovering new genders, sexualities, magics, gods, everything; that we should be kind to each other as we discover these new avenues. To each their own, and live and let live <3

Blessed be, everyone, and may you all find whatever Path you wind up on fulfilling and full of joy.

#pop culture paganism #pop culture pagan #pop culture magic #pop culture witch #theology #pc paganism #thought exercise #an exploration #my journey #beliefs #spirituality #pop culture witchcraft #pc witch #pc witchcraft #pc pagan

[laniakeabooks]

2018 Wrap-Up

Hey guys! So, this is my first post on my first book blog – bear with me! I’ve posted my introduction so if you’d like to know more about me check it out!

Many of these statistics are taken from my Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/LaniakeaBooks) which I use to track my reading… as many others do.

I pledged 30 books for 2018 (I don’t have a lot of time to read which sucks) but managed to surpass that goal, and not going to lie, I am hella proud of myself!

Number of books read: 68

Number of pages read: 21080

Average rating: 3.1 stars

Books and ratings: All synopses are pull directly from Goodreads along with the page count. If you’d like a review from any of the books I’ve read in 2018, feel free to request it!

The Trickster’s Lover by Samantha McLeod - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Caroline Capello doesn't take chances.

A graduate student at the prestigious University of Chicago, Caroline dedicates her carefully-planned life to the serious, academic study of mythology.

Until a god shows up in her bedroom.

Loki, the enigmatic and irresistibly sexy Norse god of lies, appears late at night in Caroline's apartment, cuts her clothes down the middle, and rocks her studious world in ways she couldn't even imagine. The next morning, she's convinced it was a dream--until she sees her clothes on the floor, cut in two.

When Loki's appearances stop as suddenly as they began, concern for her lover forces Caroline to risk everything in an attempt to reach Val-Hall, the ancient home of Óðinn's army. Once there, she must put all she has learned to the test.

If she fails, there's far more than Loki's life at stake...

509 pages

 Hungry by H.A Swain - ⭐⭐⭐

 In the future, food is no longer necessary—until Thalia begins to feel something unfamiliar and uncomfortable. She’s hungry.

In Thalia’s world, there is no need for food—everyone takes medication (or “inocs”) to ward off hunger. It should mean there is no more famine, no more obesity, no more food-related illnesses, and no more war. At least that's what her parents, who work for the company that developed the inocs, say. But when Thalia meets a boy who is part of an underground movement to bring food back, she realizes that most people live a life much different from hers. Worse, Thalia is starting to feel hunger, and so is he—the inocs aren’t working. Together they set out to find the only thing that will quell their hunger: real food.

H. A. Swain delivers an adventure that is both epic and fast-paced. Get ready to be Hungry.

384 pages

 Shift by Em Bailey - ⭐⭐⭐

 Olive Corbett is not crazy. Not anymore.

She obediently takes her meds and stays under the radar at school. After “the incident,” Olive just wants to avoid any more trouble, so she knows the smartest thing is to stay clear of the new girl who is rumored to have quite the creepy past.

But there’s no avoiding Miranda Vaile. As mousy Miranda edges her way into the popular group, right up to the side of queen bee Katie – and pushes the others right out – only Olive seems to notice that something strange is going on. Something almost . . . parasitic. Either Olive is losing her grip on reality, or Miranda Vaile is stealing Katie’s life.

But who would ever believe crazy Olive, the girl who has a habit of letting her imagination run away with her? And what if Olive is the next target?

A chilling psychological thriller that tears through themes of identity, loss, and toxic friendship, Shift will leave readers guessing until the final pages.

320 pages

 The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - ⭐⭐

 Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... she might become his next prey.

327 pages

 Hourglass by Myra McEntire - ⭐⭐

 One hour to rewrite the past…

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may also change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should've happened?

390 pages

 The Program by Suzanne Young - ⭐

 Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.

And The Program is coming for them.

405 pages

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2340984030?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

 The Pledge by Kimberly Derting - ⭐⭐⭐

 In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

323 pages

 Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier - ⭐⭐⭐

 Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

354 pages

 This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp - ⭐⭐⭐

 10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.

Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

288 pages

 The Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sofie Flores by Danielle Vega - ⭐⭐⭐

 Sofia is still processing the horrific truth of what happened when she and three friends performed an exorcism that spiraled horribly out of control. Ever since that night, Sofia has been haunted by bloody and demonic visions. Her therapist says they’re all in her head, but to Sofia they feel chillingly real. She just wants to get out of town, start fresh someplace else . . . until her mother dies suddenly, and Sofia gets her wish.

Sofia is sent to St. Mary’s, a creepy Catholic boarding school in Mississippi. There, seemingly everyone is doing penance for something, most of all the mysterious Jude, for whom Sofia can’t help feeling an unshakeable attraction. But when Sofia and Jude confide in each other about their pasts, something flips in him. He becomes convinced that Sofia is possessed by the devil. . . . Is an exorcism the only way to save her eternal soul?

Readers won’t be able to look away from this terrifying read full of twists and turns that will leave them wondering, Is there evil in all of us?

320 pages

 The Merciless III: Origins of Evil by Danielle Vega - ⭐⭐⭐

 Brooklyn knows that there's no good without evil, no right without wrong. And when a helpless girl calls her teen helpline, whispering that someone is hurting her, Brooklyn knows that she needs to save her anonymous caller, even if it means doing something bad.

Her parents and friends assure her the call was probably a prank but Brooklyn has always had a tendency to take over, whether someone has asked for help or not.

She discovers the call came from Christ First Church and finds herself plunged into the cultish community of its youth group. She's especially drawn to Gavin, the angelic yet tortured pastor's son.

Torn between an unstoppable attraction to Gavin and her obsession with the truth, Brooklyn is forced to make a devastating choice to rid Christ Church of evil once and for all. . . . But the devil has plans for Brooklyn's soul.

304 pages

 Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break.

339 pages

 Camp Follower: One Army Brat’s Story by Michele Sabad - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 In this memoir, Michele Sabad takes us on one army brat’s journey with stories about a childhood in Calgary, Germany, Labrador, and Saskatchewan; becoming a young Air Force wife and Hockey Mom in Edmonton, Kingston, Winnipeg, and Cold Lake; building a career in Information Technology; and finally, settling in a new culture and life in Ottawa and Aylmer, Quebec. Michele’s story will interest, inspire, and enlighten both those who grew up in “the life” and those curious to peek at how this kind of life turned out. A base brat life, sure, but one unique in Canadian history—kids don’t grow up like this anymore—not even base kids. Fascinating insight; a slice of Canadiana.

196 pages

 Nemesis by Brendan Reichs - ⭐⭐⭐

 He killed me. He killed me not. He killed me.

It’s been happening since Min was eight. Every two years, on her birthday, a strange man finds her and murders her in cold blood. But hours later, she wakes up in a clearing just outside her tiny Idaho hometown—alone, unhurt, and with all evidence of the horrifying crime erased.

Across the valley, Noah just wants to be like everyone else. But he’s not. Nightmares of murder and death plague him, though he does his best to hide the signs. But when the world around him begins to spiral toward panic and destruction, Noah discovers that people have been lying to him his whole life. Everything changes in an eye blink.

For the planet has a bigger problem. The Anvil, an enormous asteroid threatening all life on Earth, leaves little room for two troubled teens. Yet on her sixteenth birthday, as she cowers in her bedroom, hoping not to die for the fifth time, Min has had enough. She vows to discover what is happening in Fire Lake and uncovers a lifetime of lies: a vast conspiracy involving the sixty-four students of her sophomore class, one that may be even more sinister than the murders.

443 pages

 Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Welcome to a dark new world where lethal, beautiful archangels hold sway over immortals and mortals both, with the Guild Hunters caught in between, tasked with retrieving those vampires who break their contracts with their angelic masters.

Elena Deveraux is a Guild Hunter. She was hired to do the impossible - to hunt down a rogue Archangel - and she suceeded where none had believed she could. But in the process, she fell in love. And not just with anyone: with the Archangel Raphael. It a love that's as powerful as it is terrifying and dangerous.

But the world won't stand still while Elena and Raphael enjoy their new-found love. Vampires and angels still go rogue and it's still Elena's job to hunt them down and return them to their angelic masters. While she is exceptional, Elena isn't invulnerable - and the more obvious her talents become, the bigger a target she becomes...

336 pages

 The Gender Game by Bella Forrest - ⭐⭐

 A toxic river divides nineteen-year-old Violet Bates's world by gender.

Women rule the East. Men rule the West.

Welcome to the lands of Matrus and Patrus...

Ever since the death of her mother, Violet's life has been shadowed by bad luck. Already a prisoner to her own nation, now after two unfortunate incidents resulting in womanslaughter, she has been sentenced to death.

But one decision could save her life.

One decision to enter the kingdom of Patrus, where men rule and women submit.

Everything about the patriarchy defies Violet's identity, but she must sacrifice everything if she wishes to survive the forbidden kingdom... including forbidden love.

How much of yourself could you give up to keep yourself alive?

418 pages

 The Girl Who Dared to Think by Bella Forrest - ⭐⭐

 The Tower's survival is humanity's survival, and each must serve it faithfully...

Twenty-year-old Liana Castell must be careful what she thinks. Her life is defined by the number on her wristband -- a rating out of ten awarded based on her usefulness and loyalty to the Tower, and monitored by a device in her skull. A device that reports forbidden thoughts.

Liana is currently a four, the lowest possible acceptable score, and despite her parents' perfect scores of ten, she struggles to increase it. Rebellious ideas come all too easily, and resentfulness seems part of her being. She is an overseer-in-training, but her future will be dark if she cannot raise her worth...

Threes require drug treatment.

Twos are isolated.

Ones disappear.

When Liana's worst nightmare comes to pass and she drops to a three, desperation spurs her down a path few dare to tread. A chance encounter with a cocky young man whose shockingly dissident attitude toward the Tower couldn't possibly have earned him the perfect "ten" on his wrist, sets her on a trail to save herself--even at the risk of dropping lower.

Stalking the young man seemed like a simple enough task, but after events take an unexpected twist, Liana finds herself taking a treacherous dive into the darkest depths of the Tower... and the decades' old secrets buried within.

In a society where free thinking can make you a criminal, one girl dares to try...

410 pages

 Banded by Logan Byrne - ⭐⭐

 In dystopian Manhattan, society is divided into six zones, with each one representing a citizen’s benefit to society: Stalwart (strength), Astute (intelligence), Collusive (greed), Radiant (beauty), Quixotic (no life direction), and the Altruistic (willingness to help others). On a citizen’s sixteenth birthday, a computer suggests a new zone for them based on their inherent benefit to society. When Kalenna Slater is sorted out of her home zone Quixotic and into Altruistic, she thinks things can’t get worse. Life looks dismal until she meets Gavin, a boy also just sorted into Altruistic who becomes the light needed on her cloudy days.

During sorting she receives a device known as ‘The Band’. It’s a large watch-like device that never comes off, and it measures a citizen’s karma on a scale from one to one hundred. If a citizen does good, they gain points. If a citizen does bad, including breaking laws, they lose points. When your number reaches zero, the band acts as judge, jury, and executioner, and you are injected with toxins that kill you within minutes.

After sorting, recruits are taken to a three month long mandatory school named HQ. It’s at HQ she meets new friends from different zones, and finally begins to feel at ease. Everything goes well until a rare trip home makes her discover that her father, who has been missing for a decade, may have taken part in a terrible program that stands to shake the fabric of society.

342 pages

 Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

602 pages

 Archangel’s Consort by Nalini Singh - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nalini Singh steps back into the shadows of her heartbreakingly original world where angels rule, vampires serve, and the innocent can pay the greatest price of all ...Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil ...A vampire has attacked a girls' school - the assault one of sheer, vicious madness - and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders. The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear. An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed ...

324 pages

 They All Fall Down by Roxanne St. Claire - ⭐⭐⭐

 Every year, the lives of ten junior girls at Vienna High are transformed.

All because of the list.

Kenzie Summerall can't imagine how she's been voted onto a list of the prettiest girls in school, but when she lands at number five, her average life becomes dazzling. Doors open to the best parties, new friends surround her, the cutest jock in school is after her.

This is the power of the list. If you're on it, your life changes.

If you're on it this year? Your life ends.

352 pages

 What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang - ⭐⭐⭐

 I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

343 pages

 Remake by Ilima Todd - ⭐⭐

 Nine is the ninth female born in her batch of ten females and ten males. By design, her life in Freedom Province is without complications or consequences. However, such freedom comes with a price. The Prime Maker is determined to keep that price a secret from the new batches of citizens that are born, nurtured, and raised androgynously.

But Nine isn't like every other batcher. She harbors indecision

and worries about her upcoming Remake Day -- her seventeenth birthday, the age when batchers fly to the Remake facility and have the freedom to choose who and what they'll be.

When Nine discovers the truth about life outside of Freedom

Province, including the secret plan of the Prime Maker, she is

pulled between two worlds and two lives. Her decisions will test

her courage, her heart, and her beliefs. Who can she trust? Who does she love? And most importantly, who will she decide to be?

304 pages

 The Tale of Dueling Neurosurgeons by Same Kean - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike-strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, lobotomies, horrendous accidents-and see how the victim coped. In many cases survival was miraculous, and observers could only marvel at the transformations that took place afterward, altering victims' personalities. An injury to one section can leave a person unable to recognize loved ones; some brain trauma can even make you a pathological gambler, pedophile, or liar. But a few scientists realized that these injuries were an opportunity for studying brain function at its extremes. With lucid explanations and incisive wit, Sam Kean explains the brain's secret passageways while recounting forgotten stories of common people whose struggles, resiliency, and deep humanity made modern neuroscience possible.

416 pages

 The Compound by S.A Bodeen - ⭐⭐

 Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy.

For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day.

As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their sanity—Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside.

Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—or sorry?

256 pages

 Enclave by Ann Aguire - ⭐⭐

 New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters--or Freaks--who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight--guided by Fade's long-ago memories--in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

Ann Aguirre's thrilling young adult novel is the story of two young people in an apocalyptic world--facing dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known.

259 pages

 Slated by Teri Terry - ⭐⭐

 Kyla’s memory has been erased,

her personality wiped blank,

her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

439 pages

 Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Emily Carroll - ⭐⭐⭐

 "Speak up for yourself-we want to know what you have to say."

From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless--an outcast--because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. Through her work on an art project, she is finally able to face what really happened that night: She was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her.

374 pages

 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - ⭐⭐⭐

 Brave New World is a dystopian novel written in 1931 by English author Aldous Huxley, and published in 1932. Largely set in a futuristic World State of genetically modified citizens and an intelligence-based social hierarchy, the novel anticipates huge scientific developments in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation, and classical conditioning that are combined to make a utopian society that goes challenged only by a single outsider.

288 pages

 Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney - ⭐⭐

 Walking around New York City was what Mitty Blake did best. He loved the city, and even after 9/11, he always felt safe. Mitty was a carefree guy: he didn't worry about terrorists or blackouts or grades or anything, which is why he was late getting started on his Advanced Bio report.

Mitty does feel a little pressure to hand something in if he doesn't, he'll be switched out of Advanced Bio, which would be unfortunate since Olivia's in Advanced Bio. So he considers it good luck when he finds some old medical books in his family's weekend house that focus on something he could write about.

But when he discovers an old envelope with two scabs in one of the books, the report is no longer about the grades: it's about life and death. His own.This edge-of-your-seat thriller will leave you breathless.

200 pages

 Falls the Shadow by Stefanie Gaither - ⭐⭐⭐

 When Cate Benson was a kid, her sister, Violet, died. Two hours after the funeral, Cate’s family picked up Violet’s replacement. Like nothing had happened. Because Cate’s parents are among those who decided to give their children a sort of immortality—by cloning them at birth—which means this new Violet has the same smile. The same perfect face. Thanks to advancements in mind-uploading technology, she even has all of the same memories as the girl she replaced.

She also might have murdered the most popular girl in school.

At least, that’s what the paparazzi and the anti-cloning protestors want everyone to think: that clones are violent, unpredictable monsters. Cate is used to hearing all that. She’s used to defending her sister, too. But Violet has vanished, and when Cate sets out to find her, she ends up in the line of fire instead. Because Cate is getting dangerously close to secrets that will rock the foundation of everything she thought was true.

In a thrilling debut, Stefanie Gaither takes readers on a nail-biting ride through a future that looks frighteningly similar to our own time and asks: how far are you willing to go to keep your family together?

352 pages

 The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle - ⭐⭐⭐

 Every October Cara and her family become inexplicably and unavoidably accident-prone. Some years it's bad, and some years it's just a lot of cuts and scrapes. This accident season--when Cara, her ex-stepbrother, Sam, and her best friend, Bea, are 17--is going to be a bad one. Cara is about to learn that not all the scars left by the accident season are physical: There's a long-hidden family secret underneath the bumps and bruises. This is the year Cara will finally fall desperately in love, when she'll start discovering the painful truth about the adults in her life, and when she'll uncover the dark origins of the accident season--whether she's ready or not.

320 pages

 Legend: The Graphic Novel by Marie Lu, illustrated by Kaari - ⭐⭐⭐

 Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a military prodigy. Born into the slums of the Republic’s Lake Sector, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives are not as sinister as they often seem. One day June’s brother is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Now, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June tries desperately to avenge her brother’s death. And the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together and the lengths their country will go to in order to keep its secrets.

160 pages

 A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel by Madeleine L’Engle, illustrated by Hope Larson - ⭐⭐

 Late one night, three otherworldly creatures appear and sweep Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe away on a mission to save Mr. Murry, who has gone missing while doing top-secret work for the government. They travel via tesseract — a wrinkle that transports one across space and time — to the planet Camazotz, where Mr. Murry is being held captive. There they discover a dark force that threatens not only Mr. Murry but the safety of the whole universe.

Never before illustrated, A Wrinkle in Time is now available in a spellbinding graphic novel adaptation. Hope Larson takes the classic story to a new level with her vividly imagined interpretations of Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who, Mrs Which, the Happy Medium, Aunt Beast, and the many other characters that readers have loved for the past fifty years. Winner of the 1963 Newbery Medal, A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet.

392 pages

 Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past...but Dmitri's need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.

Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel's right hand and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality...the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.

As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more...

310 pages

 The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton - ⭐⭐⭐

 Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a bird.

In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.

That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo.

First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.

301 pages

 Once We Were by Kat Zhang - ⭐⭐⭐

 "I'm lucky just to be alive."

Eva was never supposed to have survived this long. As the recessive soul, she should have faded away years ago. Instead, she lingers in the body she shares with her sister soul, Addie. When the government discovered the truth, they tried to “cure” the girls, but Eva and Addie escaped before the doctors could strip Eva’s soul away.

Now fugitives, Eva and Addie find shelter with a group of hybrids who run an underground resistance. Surrounded by others like them, the girls learn how to temporarily disappear to give each soul some much-needed privacy. Eva is thrilled at the chance to be alone with Ryan, the boy she’s falling for, but troubled by the growing chasm between her and Addie. Despite clashes over their shared body, both girls are eager to join the rebellion.

Yet as they are drawn deeper into the escalating violence, they start to wonder: How far are they willing to go to fight for hybrid freedom? Faced with uncertainty and incredible danger, their answers may tear them apart forever.

352 pages

 Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout - ⭐⭐⭐

 Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

335 pages

 Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins - ⭐⭐⭐

 Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (a.k.a. witches, shape-shifters, and faeries). But then she discovered the family secret, and the fact that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie's a demon, one of only two in the world-the other being her father. What's worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will either destroy her powers for good-or kill her.

But once Sophie arrives, she makes a shocking discovery. Her new housemates? They're demons too. Meaning, someone is raising demons in secret, with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they're using Archer to do it. But it's not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

359 pages

 The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - ⭐⭐

 Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private life and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna facing the trials of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming--both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. It is the chronicle of a girlhood and adolescence at once outrageous and familiar, a young life entwined with the history of her country yet filled with the universal trials and joys of growing up.

Edgy, searingly observant, and candid, often heartbreaking but threaded throughout with raw humor and hard-earned wisdom--Persepolis is a stunning work from one of the most highly regarded, singularly talented graphic artists at work today.

341 pages

 The Wendy Project by Melissa Jane Osborne, illustrated by Veronica Fish - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 16-year-old Wendy Davies crashes her car into a lake on a late summer night in New England with her two younger brothers in the backseat. When she wakes in the hospital, she is told that her youngest brother, Michael, is dead. Wendy — a once rational teenager – shocks her family by insisting that Michael is alive and in the custody of a mysterious flying boy. Placed in a new school, Wendy negotiates fantasy and reality as students and adults around her resemble characters from Neverland. Given a sketchbook by her therapist, Wendy starts to draw. But is The Wendy Project merely her safe space, or a portal between worlds?

96 pages

 Torn by Amanda Hocking - ⭐⭐⭐

 When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story...

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits... and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted... in both worlds.

324 pages

 Ascend by Amanda Hocking - ⭐⭐⭐

 Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself.  If she doesn't surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe.  But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind... even if it’s the only way to save them?

The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn't the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice... who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end.

Everything has been leading to this moment.  The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.

326 pages

 The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings - ⭐⭐

 Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

398 pages

 Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children

No Solicitations

No Visitors

No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

173 pages

 Red by Allison Cherry - ⭐⭐⭐

 Felicity St. John has it all: loyal best friends, a hot guy, and artistic talent. And she’s right on track to win the Miss Scarlet pageant. Her perfect life is possible because of just one thing: her long, wavy, coppery red hair.

Redheads hold all the power in Scarletville—and everybody knows it. That’s why Felicity is scared down to her roots when she receives an anonymous note: I know your secret.

Because Felicity is a big fake. Her hair color comes straight out of a bottle. And if anyone discovers the truth, she’ll be a social outcast faster than she can say strawberry blond.

Felicity isn’t about to let someone blackmail her life away. But just how far is she willing to go to protect her red cred?

336 pages

 Frostfire by Amanda Hocking - ⭐⭐⭐

 Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

321 pages

 Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking - ⭐⭐⭐

 In the majestic halls of a crystal palace lies a secret that could destroy an entire kingdom…

Bryn Aven refuses to give up on her dream of serving the kingdom she loves. It’s a dream that brings her to a whole new realm…and the glittering palace of the Skojare.

The Skojare people need protection from the same brutal enemy that’s been threatening the Kanin, and Bryn is there to help. Being half Skojare herself, it’s also a chance for her to learn more about her lost heritage. Her boss, Ridley Dresden, is overseeing her mission, but as their undeniable attraction heats up, their relationship is about to reach a whole new level—one neither of them is prepared for.

As they delve deeper into the Skojare world, they begin to unravel a long-hidden secret. The dark truth about her own beloved Kanin kingdom is about to come to light, and it will change her place in it forever…and threaten everyone she loves.

309 pages

 Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking - ⭐⭐⭐

 The kingdom she loves has turned against her. Can she save it before it’s too late?

Bryn Aven—unjustly charged with murder and treason—is on the run. The one person who can help is her greatest enemy, the gorgeous and enigmatic Konstantin Black. Konstantin is her only ally against those who have taken over her kingdom and threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. But can she trust him?

As Bryn fights to clear her name, the Kanin rulers’ darkest secrets are coming to light…and now the entire troll world is on the brink of war. Will it tear Bryn from Ridley Dresden, the only guy she’s ever loved? And can she join forces with Finn Holms and the Trylle kingdom? Nothing is as it seems, but one thing is certain: an epic battle is under way—and when it’s over, nothing will ever be the same…

432 pages

 High-Rise by J.G. Ballard, read by Tom Hiddleston - ⭐⭐⭐

 When a class war erupts inside a luxurious apartment block, modern elevators become violent battlegrounds, and cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on "enemy" floors. In this visionary tale, human society slips into violent reverse as once-peaceful residents, driven by primal urges, re-create a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.

 Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds - ⭐⭐⭐

 1 hour, 43 minutes

An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds’s fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother.

A cannon. A strap.

A piece. A biscuit.

A burner. A heater.

A chopper. A gat.

A hammer

A tool

for RULE

Or, you can call it a gun. That’s what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That’s where Will’s now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He knows who he’s after. Or does he? As the elevator stops on the sixth floor, on comes Buck. Buck, Will finds out, is who gave Shawn the gun before Will took the gun. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. And that’s when Will sees that one bullet is missing. And the only one who could have fired Shawn’s gun was Shawn. Huh. Will didn’t know that Shawn had ever actually USED his gun. Bigger huh. BUCK IS DEAD. But Buck’s in the elevator? Just as Will’s trying to think this through, the door to the next floor opens. A teenage girl gets on, waves away the smoke from Dead Buck’s cigarette. Will doesn’t know her, but she knew him. Knew. When they were eight. And stray bullets had cut through the playground, and Will had tried to cover her, but she was hit anyway, and so what she wants to know, on that fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if Will, Will with the gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, MISSES.

And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator.

306 pages

 The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

409 pages

 The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron - ⭐⭐⭐

 While nursing a broken heart, Josh Michaels is outraged when a neighbor abandons his very pregnant dog, Lucy, at Josh's Colorado home. But Josh can't resist Lucy's soulful brown eyes, and though he's never had a dog before, he's determined to do the best he can for Lucy—and her soon-to-arrive, bound-to-be-adorable puppies.

Soon in over his head, Josh calls the local animal shelter for help, and meets Kerri, a beautiful woman with a quick wit and a fierce love for animals. As Kerri teaches Josh how to care for Lucy's tiny puppies and gets them ready to be adopted through the shelter's "Dogs of Christmas" program, Josh surprises himself by falling for her.

But he's fallen even harder for his new furry family, which has brought incredible joy into Josh's life. He barely has time to sit down, between chasing after adventurous Sophie and brave Oliver, but when he does, his lap is quickly filled by the affectionate Lola. And Rufus and Cody's strong bond makes Josh wonder about his own relationships with his family.

With Christmas and the adoption date looming, Josh finds himself wondering if he can separate himself from his beloved puppies. At odds with Kerri, Josh isn't willing to lose her, but doesn't know how to set things right. Can a surprise litter of Christmas puppies really change one man's life?

233 pages

 Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevive Tucholke - ⭐⭐⭐

 Every story needs a hero.

Every story needs a villain.

Every story needs a secret.

Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous.

What really happened?

Someone knows.

Someone is lying.

247 pages

 Enthralled: Paranormal Diversion by Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong - ⭐⭐⭐

 A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.

443 pages

 The 100 by Kass Morgan - ⭐⭐⭐

  No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.

323 pages

 Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.

This is the story of what happened first…

Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter—polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.

Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter—adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got.

They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted.

They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.

187 pages

 Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Sumi died years before her prophesied daughter Rini could be born. Rini was born anyway, and now she’s trying to bring her mother back from a world without magic.

174 pages

 How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff - ⭐⭐⭐

 Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she's never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.

As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it's a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy's uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way.

194 pages

 Defy by Sara B. Larson - ⭐⭐⭐

 Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

336 pages

 Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve - ⭐⭐⭐

 Fever Crumb is a girl who has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. In a time and place where women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only female to serve in the order.

Soon though, she must say goodbye to Dr. Crumb - nearly the only person she's ever known - to assist archeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project. As her work begins, Fever is plagued by memories that are not her own and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. Fever has also been singled out by city-dwellers who declare her part Scriven.

The Scriveners, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people. If there are any remaining Scriven, they are to be eliminated.

All Fever knows is what she's been told: that she is an orphan. Is Fever a Scriven? Whose memories does she hold? Is the mystery of Fever, adopted daughter of Dr. Crumb, the key to the secret that lies at the heart of London?

326 pages

 The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch - ⭐⭐⭐

 In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing--and their lives--forever.

278 pages

 Legacy by L.J. Swallow - ⭐⭐⭐

 Verity Jameson's day switches from mundane to disastrous when she runs down a stranger with her car. Fortunately for Vee, she can't kill Death.

Death, who just happens to be one of the Four Horsemen, and he's looking for her.

The Four Horsemen spend life preventing the end of the world, not bringing on an apocalypse. As gatekeepers of the portals which exist between the human world and other realms, the team fight to keep the portals closed and the supernatural forces under control. Without their fifth member, the Four Horsemen are losing the battle.

Now they've found Verity and what they tell her goes far beyond the conspiracy theories Vee spends her free time investigating.

A new life with four dark, sexy and dangerous men fighting demons, vampires and fae? Not what Vee had planned, but a hell of a lot more interesting than her boring job in tech support.

So what happens when the unbreakable bond of the Five takes control in a way none of them expected?

133 pages

 Bound by L.J. Swallow – ⭐⭐⭐

 Ewan's shock revelation sends Vee's life further into chaos, and she faces an uncertain future in a secret world she never knew existed.

Vee joins the Four Horsemen's hunt for those behind the plot to murder a fae queen, where she discovers society faces bigger dangers than she realised.

One night changes everything and increases Vee's determination to harness her power and step into her new role.

The Four Horsemen now have their missing link and will each do anything to protect and support her, but Vee's determined to show them she can be their equal.

The group are about to find out exactly how powerful Truth is

170 pages

 Hunted by L.J. Swallow – ⭐⭐⭐

 Who is Vee? Where did she come from? And what is the darkness the fae can see inside her?

Xander's reaction to these questions drives a bigger wedge between the fae and the Horsemen. His move isn't popular with the others because right now they need fae help more than ever.

A bloody message and a series of murders lead to a search for a threat from the past. Instead, the Horsemen encounter something new and dangerous. The race is on to find out what the creatures are and how big a threat they are to an already chaotic world.

Vee discovers using her powers has a strange effect on her relationship with the Horsemen. Although this pulls her closer to the guys, the conflict between Vee and Xander continues. But is the greatest conflict within himself?

And as the Five search for answers, someone watches. What does he know? Can he help? Or does he have an agenda of his own?

180 pages

 Guardians by L.J. Swallow –  ⭐⭐⭐

 Assassins, ancient magic, and the mysterious Collector bring new challenges to the Horsemen. Can the five find the answers they need before it's too late?

Three humans are dead, and the search is on for the surviving member from Vee's online group. If he's alive, Seth could hold the key to who's behind the attacks -- and why the group are targets.

Thanks to their broken alliance with the fae, the Four Horseman and Vee must turn to others for help and are pulled deeper into the supernatural underworld. The danger the world faces is greater than they imagined and someone is determined the Horsemen will fail.

The Four Horsemen will each do whatever it takes to protect Vee, but as Vee's relationship with the guys intensifies, so does her power. How powerful can she become and at what cost to the Four Horsemen's future?

171 pages

#booklr #booktube #bookstagram #ya books #young adult books #ya book #young adult book #2018 wrap up #goodreads #books #book #fanatasy #thriller #dystopia #mystery #the raven boys #the four horsemen #wayward children #every heart a doorway #down among the sticks and bones #beneath the sugar sky #the 100 #illuminae #graphic novel #graphic novels #novel #novels #novella #novellas

[moonwitch-grimoire]

Thursday December 21st 2017, Yule & Winter Solstice

Final day of Sagittarius, 6:39 pm, Waxing Crescent Moon

Today’s Post includes:

Yule traditions

old gods vs monotheistic gods

balance of dark and light

wheel of the year

some Yule stuff to do

Blessed Yule and Happy Holidays, brothers, sisters, and angels on earth!

As avowed, today shall begin my chronicles, logging magic knowledge and my personal activities. Where possible i will provide resources, and a lot of my information can be found elsewhere on my blog in other posts! 

As usual I didn’t wake up into 4:20, which is a lit more distressing than it is funny, actually, and since I’m lazy, i ordered a pizza and watched the latter half of a Thor movie, WHICH got me thinking about winter and it’s gods! 

History Time:

As I’m sure many, but probably not all, of you know, Yule and Christmas and Hanukkah all contend for time in December (though i don’t see why we can’t all just get along) But they all used to be during different times! Yule used to be in mid January, Christmas was late spring, and....i actually don’t know about Hanukkah, so I’ll do some research and get back to you (or you can drop me a line and teach me!) After Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the first century, it spread through the empire, and once it was made the official religion of Rome, people started spreading the good word (for better or worse).

What the priests and monks did was migrate the real date of Jesus Christ’s birth to winter to better line up with the Yule Festival, the Druid Alban Arthuan, and Saturnalia, which had previously been the Empire’s Winter festival celebrating Saturn/Kronos, lasted for 7 days, and let all classes and races interact equally in ancient Rome and it’s colonies. By grouping the ‘Wild Northerners’ festval and the old Roman festival together with the new official religion of the Empire, the Christian church managed to ease a transition of power through the late 1st century and dark ages. 

So what does this tell us? Other than a lot of aggressive anti-whatever-religion-i-am-not stuff, multiple festivals were celebrated in winter. It was a time of feasting, peace, and revelry where everyone was seen as equal and good, which is a comforting thought. There was a whole lot of meat to feast on, since feed for the animals was short, there was no war or battles (George Washington is an outlier and should not be counted), and the night was long, which meant everyone was inside around their fires and candles, with nothing to do but eat. 

This meant there was singing and dancing, lots of drinking alcohol, laughter and games, and, my personal favorite, story telling. People would gather in the largest house in their village, or in their family’s main house, the town hall maybe, and feast and celebrate. Obviously in places like Egypt where there was no snow, things were a bit different, but as Yule was a mostly northern Germanic and Scandinavian festival, we can comfortably exclude the Egyptian’s (for the moment). This was a time of unity and connection. Check your weapons at the door, give the poor money and food, unite in revelry and sing loud enough the ceiling shakes. 

Saturn (or the Greek Kronus/Chronos) was the center of the festival Saturnalia, as he was the titan king of time. Demeter and Persephone would also receive tithes, as Proserpine was in the underworld with old Pluto, and Demeter was moping in the overworld. It was a time of renewal and rebirth, sacrifices for  a return of the light and quick return to spring. The Norse Aesir also got their fair share, Loki among them, as he was both the snow they fled and the fire they thrived on. Odin, as cheif of the Aesir and the Allfader was of course top of the list, leading men on the hunt and sitting at the head of the table for feast. Thor and his goats got involved, and everyone prayed and worshiped the sun goddess, in hopes that she would be reborn and return. And the Christians celebrated St. Thomas day and the relocated birth of Christ festival

Traditions:

Yule was chiefly a festival for rebirth, the end of the old year and birth of a new one. As the Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, early cultures who lacked knowledge of a round Earth found the briefness of the sun distressing if not downright terrifying. So they worshiped their sun deities while placating their winter deities and hoped and prayed. Lucky for them the days got longer shortly after after even if the winter carried on. 

In order to preserve the power of nature subdued under all that snow, people would bring in evergreen boughs, winter plants and greenery to decorate their homes, which is now the boughs of holly, trees, and garlands we know so well. The survival of life was crucial and these evergreen boughs gave both hope and joy, since everyone knows there’s nothing quite like the smell of a pine tree. 

The giving of gifts started relatively simpler than presents, but as a gift of money, food, clothes, or some other item someone needed desperately. Inviting the poor into the homes of the rich to feast and be warm and safe in this dark time was a tithe to your fellow man and to the gods. This was especially prevalent in Scandinavian culture, since Odin was known to walk about disguised as an old man and they who brought him into their home would be richly rewarded on good fortune or more practical payment. 

Story telling. In a time where there were little to no roads, freezing weather, and only the rich had horses, donkeys or steeds of that kind, travelers were considered stupid, brave, or both. In the old days, many of these travelers were bards and storytellers. They too were invited in, bringing familiar tales everyone knew but the very youngest, always with a new element or twist, or else tales of far away from different lands. In exchange for a warm bed and a good meal these bards spun tales of the gods, heroes, magic, and adventure. 

The gods and God:

 Being Omnitheist (a tale for another day), I have a very peculiar look at how the old gods and the Abrahamic gods interact. but looking at it from a step back, we can all agree to some extent that Christianity moved throughout the empire pushing out the old gods to make way for He Who Is Three (the Christian God). For better or worse, those are the facts. However, clearly, we haven't forgotten them and they are still with us. No one is the good guy or the bad guy, no one god is to be blamed for what has happened (though I think some of the tricksters and lords of chaos and conflict are in the line of fire for recent events) And Yule, of all time sis when people should band together in acceptance and love. I guarantee, your personal deity will not damn you to punishment if you hug someone with different religion this holiday season.

The Balance of Dark and Light:

In my opinion, the saddest truth of the universe is that no matter how much we wish it, we cannot have joy without sorrow, happiness without pain, or Light without Dark. The world must stay balanced, not necessarily perfectly balanced in a single position, as this generated stagnation such as the Egyptians experienced. In order for the motion of the world to continue, there must be loses followed by victories allowing the scales of Dark and Light to tip and lean, never upending themselves but never still. 

Furthermore, Dark is not always Bad, and Light is not always good, but again, that is a tale for another day. 

Yule is a time of balance, of rebirth, it is the darkest time of year when the world is (supposedly) buried in snow and cold, the darkness hounding every moment and shows the end of time. And the beginning. This is a time of unity, compassion, camaraderie. Now is a time for love and acceptance, rich and poor, old and young from every culture, religion, background, race, and place. Soon a new year will come, bringing fresh flowers and sunshine and beauty and light. But for now we band together, Halfway through the dark.

As For Me:

I gave up on Christmas a long time ago. I won’t tell anyone to stop celebrating it and i will not forget what it’s supposed to celebrate but for my Christmas has too many dark memories, now more than ever. But Yule! my souls sings the praises of winter and snow and shadow. Yule is my chosen winter festival, though some may choose to celebrate them all! So tonight, for the first time in longer than i care to admit here’s my game plan:

post this long ass post

set up my alter and light candles for my gods (more below)

cleanse in moon water and smoke, both myself and my space

rebuild and reinforce my wards (Tale For Another Day)

Worship (TFAD)

play (more below)

My alter is actually my bedside table. i do use it as such, however, as soon as i lay my alter cloth there, it becomes a sacred space. Tonight, my alter will have acorns for rebirth, a small oak branch that fell on my head once, a pumpkin from Samhein, a variety of crystals including bloodstone (which is good for yule) and moonstone (because i love it). my candles will be white tea lights, here used for purity and peace, and some moon water and fruit as an offering to the gods of winter, rebirth, snow, and spring.

by ‘play’ i mean revelry in as classic a form as i can. I have chocolate lava cakes in the fridge, there’s pizza in there and my room mate is also cooking. I’m going to listen to some old timey music and watch a couple movies about witch craft and yule magic. I can give out a list of that stuff if y’all’d like to know what i have in mind. I’ll do a little casting on myself. I’ll probably sing and read a bit and maybe convince my friend to go walk with me and play Pokemon GO. That may seem out of the mood, but going outside in the night, feeling the yule energy and saying hello to every tree i pass is something I feel is important. Catching the 10 new Hoenn region Pokemon they just released is just an added bonus. 

Above all Yule is a time for rebirth. Now is when you wanna cleanse and rework your wards, shields and protective spells. It’s a time for new ideas and concept, staring a new journey! Now is a good time to start new projects and become a better you. I have faith in you. 

If you read this far, you’re a champ! Lots of love this Holiday season and Blessed Yule!

Blessings upon you from whosoever you choose to accept them from and merry meet again!

-Echo Celani

#chronicles #text #yule #winter #winter solcitice #long text post #old gods #long post #under the cut #happy yule #yule festival

[thorkidumpster]

detail your sin

woooo boy i just can’t stop writing about these norse bros bein’ bros. warnings for bottom!thor and talk of pregnancy kink.

this was originally teased on my main blog, but is now obvs being posted here in its entirety.

Thor licks his dry lips, then licks them again. The plug inside him burns, but not as much as the humiliation that churns in his stomach at the thought of anyone finding out—his co-workers, his friends, his students...

He's a respected teacher at Shield High, well loved for his easy-going nature and tendency to forgo homework when the mood strikes him. He works out five times a week and volunteers at a food bank, always gives generously without strings, and loves when his brother fucks him in the ass and stuffs him with cum.

The final bell rings and Thor exhales long and slow, as though he were in the middle of a yoga stretch and not fighting back the halfie that's been chubbing up for most of the day.

(When his kids asked why he hadn't been bouncing around the room with his usual exuberance, he blushed red and said, “Leg day,” which made the football players in the room wince with sympathy.)

With shaking, but purposeful hands, Thor begins to pack up his desk as soon as the last student has walked out with a cheerful, “Have a nice weekend, Mister Odinson!” tossed over her shoulder.

Loki is waiting at home, he knows, probably lounging on the couch or eating all his junk food in the name of 'getting rid' of it because it's awful for him. As though, of course, it weren't equally as awful for Loki—but bring that point up and Loki gets shifty eyed, prickly. More that he wants to eat is so Thor can't have it, because apparently Loki's a four-year-old hiding in a thirty-five-year-old's body.

Getting up from his chair produces a sharp twinge in his ass, and Thor winces. He exhales slowly around the burn of pain and arousal. Just a few feet out of the building, then the parking lot, then up his apartment stairs—twenty feet to the door, and—

Thor licks his dry lips, very much in danger of getting a full on erection in his place of work and a building that happens to be stuffed to the brim with children.

Deep breaths.

And maybe his laptop bag in front of his crotch, just in case.

– – – 

Thor barely has the door unlocked and opened before a pale hand reaches out and yanks him into the apartment. Loki's beautiful like this, with his sharp smile and green eyes that always seem to be guarding secrets—even in old jeans and a worn thin shirt, Loki is capable of making Thor's mouth go dry with desire for him.

Loki pulls him close, his hands tangling in the fabric of Thor's button-down shirt. “And how was work?” he purrs, those eyes flashing with amusement.

“Funnily enough,” Thor replies, grabbing Loki by the hips and kicking the door closed behind him. His shoes are carelessly toed off and knocked aside. “I was pretty distracted.”

“Oh?” Clever fingers undo Thor's buttons and Loki guides them back into the living room. “I wonder why?”

Thor catches those teasing lips in a kiss. “You know why.”

“Because my dear brother is a cock hungry slut?” Loki chuckles, low in his throat, dark and thrilling. “Want me to fill you up again?”

Before Thor can answer, Loki's spun them around and a hand presses on Thor's back, pushing him towards the couch. Thor tears off his shirt, yanking it off over his head and tossing it wherever. Humming, Loki's fingers skim the waistband of Thor's slacks, dipping in just an inch.

“I kept thinking about you,” Thor confesses. He reaches behind and catches one of Loki's hands to bring around to the front of him—Loki molds to his back, the ever-present sly voice in his left ear, and murmurs a pleased curse when Thor kisses those fingers. “I could barely teach.”

“Oh, dear,” Loki says, voice a deep purr, “Am I to be responsible for the ruination of today's youth?”

Thor snorts. “Don't give yourself so much credit.”

Loki nips him on the ear for that, just hard enough to hurt. “I may have been distracted today, as well.” His hand drops to undo Thor's belt and fly, carelessly brushing over his brother's cock. Hard and wanting, it has pretty much permanently stained Thor's underwear over the course of the day. When Thor's pants are finally undone, Loki presses his palm to it, holding his brother's cock like it were a treasure.

“Oh?” Thor says, but the noise comes more like a gasp.

“Thinking of this,” Loki murmurs, stroking his hand over the covered shaft. “Thinking of your asshole and how you begged to be plugged this morning. Is my come still in you, brother?”

Thor licks his lips and tugs down his pants, boxers and all. Eager to get his hand on Thor's naked cock, Loki only helps until it's freed, then he's plastered himself to his brother again, tugging at his thick cock with one hand and combing through the smattering of hair on Thor's abdomen with the other.

“Only one way to find out,” Thor replies. He leans into his brother, feels the soft rub of that old shirt against the skin of his back—when Thor turns his head, Loki kisses him, a rough thing with the press and nip of teeth.

“Indeed. I want to see...” Loki shoves Thor forward a step. “Come on, over the couch. Show me how desperate you are.”

And god, that's what Thor's been waiting for all day. He drops his trousers and settles on his knees, smirking at the sound Loki makes as he bends over, presenting his ass all scratched around that damn plug.

There's a rustle of fabric, then the t-shirt's thrown next to Thor's face. It's almost enough to make him turn back around, because Loki's chest is a sight he'll never get sick of—just the thought of sucking on one of Loki's dark nipples is enough to make him bite his lip.

Loki glides his hands down the toned muscles of Thor's back, his nails catching ever-so-lightly and making Thor shiver. “Look at you. Look how bad you want your brother's cock.” He kisses the divots right above Thor's ass, one after the other, his tongue darting out to taste the salt of his skin. “And this.”

Thor groans as Loki runs a finger over the base of the plug, and the sound echoes in the living room.

“What would they say, brother,” Loki's breath is hot sin in his ear, the words curling like rich wood smoke, “if all your esteemed co-workers could see you now?”

He doesn't mention Thor's students, and Thor's so, so grateful for that, because his world is already shuddering and cracking—what would they do? What would the old librarian say? Or Becca, who teaches English to freshmen right across the hall and flirts shyly with him over lunch?

If they could see him like this, bent over for his own brother, thighs shaking as Loki traces a lazy finger around the plug in Thor's ass... His rim tightens with each circle.

Thor knows it's impossible, but he swears he can feel the loads of come inside him—Loki had been randy when they woke up, whispering beautiful, loving filth as he fucked Thor in the watery and pale light of the morning.

The plug had been his own idea, and the look of heady wonder on Loki's face made Thor wish they were teenagers again.

Loki presses his lips to Thor's ear, then the pulse-point of his neck, down his shoulder-blades, and over the knobs of his spine.

“Look how wet you are,” Loki praises—he always has, forever dropping charming words like golden coins, well loving the way they make his brother tremble. “Did you think about me today? Hm?” A slender finger presses against Thor's rim, then pops into his slick hole along side of the plug.

“Yes,” Thor slurs, because of course he did. Every shift, every step, every time he sat, his hole clenched on the unyielding toy. “Brother—Loki, please...”

Loki chuckles. His other hand traces the hard flex of Thor's abdominals. “Do you need another load? Of course you do, what am I saying... I'm going to stuff you and plug you over and over, brother. If you're not fat and pregnant by the end of the weekend, I didn't do my job.”

Thor thinks he might choke; the couch cushion presses into his face, the fabric damp and stained dark with drool. “Loki—”

“Can you even imagine?” His brother whispers reverently. Loki's thumb strokes the ridges of muscle on Thor's stomach, tender, and Loki can't seem to stop kissing the dip of his spine. “Carrying my child? The world would know that you were my cockslut—mine, mine, all mine. Ohhh...” he exhales with a shudder. “I'd make you so much bigger, brother. Let me.”

Bigger, his brother says. But Loki has always loved Thor's size—ever since they were teenagers and Thor's biceps began to swell with the casual strength of a young man. Or when Thor worked on his pectorals, just to see Loki's lips part at the sight of that thick, meaty flesh.

Bigger.

Thor will be bigger for his brother.

Thor arches his back with a grunt—yes, god, yes, and everyone would know his depravity—fucking his own twin brother, his own flesh and blood, his mirror in every way—

Loki eases out the toy and hums in satisfaction. His hole must be so sloppy, so open and wet—a drop slides down his perineum and Thor can't tell if it's lube or his brother's come. Whatever it is, Loki chases it with his tongue, licking a hot stripe behind his balls and buries it back in Thor's ass.

“Fuck...”

There's a moment where Thor just closes his eyes and enjoys the feeling of his brother's tongue soothing the raw ache of his spread hole, but it's here and gone, because Loki pops off, intent on continuing his super-villain monologue. Still, Thor wastes no time in hissing his disapproval. “Loki, you bastard, I swear to god—”

He twists his head around to glare fully at Loki. There's a thoughtful, intrigued look on his face that bodes ill. Then his mouth, glistening with spit and lube, stretches into a wide, devilish grin. “I wonder how many times I can come in here before you get fat with it?”

Heat pours through Thor; he can just imagine, his belly swollen like he had a few too many beers, only instead of being evidence of a night out with the boys, it'd be because his brother unloaded his balls until they turned to prunes. Thor licks his lips. “I bet you couldn't,” he says, because nothing riles Loki up more than being told he can't. “I bet you'd be worn out after just one go.”

Loki cocks his head, a tightness coming to his eyes. Gotcha. “Do you think so?” he replies. His grin turns a touch crueler—it's a good look on him. He leans forward to bump his clothed hips into Thor's ass; a promise of a good, hard fuck. “I have more than enough to satisfy you, brother. But maybe I won't come in your ass; maybe I'll just fuck your tits, make you walk around with my spunk under your shirt.”

Thor can tell he's blushing; there's heat burning down his neck and his ears go hot. Of course Loki can tell—he can always tell—and his green eyes narrow into pleased, half-moon slits.

The zzippp! of Loki's fly seems to resonate in Thor's chest. His belly goes molten; his cock, so hard it leaks onto the nice rug. “But no, brother. I promised to get you pregnant, and I intend to do everything in my power to make that happen.”

Thor's all open and wet for his brother, and he wiggles his ass a little, stretching back to display himself further. Loki's belt clinks as he pulls his pants down, his breaths rough and forced. Then he can feel it, the blunt press of his brother's cockhead, teasing at his messy entrance.

“I should make you beg,” Loki hisses. But he's impatient—the game is well and good up until this point, and that's when Loki starts to let himself unravel, so eager to be buried in Thor's ass.

So Thor just smirks to himself and says, “Can you wait that long?” He pushes back before Loki's sharp reply comes. He's so loose that he takes the swollen tip of Loki's cock with no resistance; it slides in like it was made to fit.

In that moment, Loki's moan sounds almost worshipful. Loki fucks deeper into Thor's hole, far harder than he would be able to take if he hadn't already been stretched from the plug. Loki is near incapable of sweet, slow lovemaking when he's the one giving the fucking—that's Thor's expertise. No, there's always a barely concealed desperation to Loki's thrusts, his clinging, scrapping hands, the harshness of his panting as he drives himself into his brother as though he would not be allowed another chance.

“Thor,” Loki gasps, “Thor, Thor, Thor.”

Thor grunts in response, lifting his hips to accept his brother's fucking—he's dying from the hunger of it, the burning of his hole igniting the arousal that's simmered low his his belly all day, since their round that morning when Loki got that devilish glint in his eyes at the sight of the packaged, hot pink plug.

Loki's moans are more like whines now, high pitched in the back of his throat; his greedy hands palm Thor's meaty tits, squeezing and pulling at his nipples as if to milk him. “Ah!” Thor grits out, a steady stream of yes's and harder's and more like that, brother, please's falling from his lips.

But Thor's cock is pounding; he's been forced by the weight of Loki further up onto the couch and his cock is rubbing raw on the fabric. He worms a hand down only intending to rearrange to draw out this good fuck, but the tight grip he gets on himself combined with the pounding into his hole feels too divine to stop.

“That's it,” Loki says between hard draws of air. “Come on.”

It's a race now, as it always is—a race of who will come first. Thor jerks himself, eager to squeeze his orgasm out around the thickness of his brother's cock, and Loki fucks faster if only because he's driven to win no matter what stupid competition they might be having.

The air around them is thick when their gasps and the smell of sweat. Thor can feel his orgasm tightening in his balls, eager to burst out. He whines, high, and Loki digs his fingers harder into the meat of Thor's pecs, groping mercilessly.

“These... fucking... tits,” Loki grinds out. “Fuck.”

“Come on, brother,” Thor says, goading. He flexes his chest muscles and Loki swears and gasps and comes with a loud groan that resonates in Thor’s chest. Loki's strong hips keep pumping, driving his come deep inside his brother, as though it might truly find a place to take root.

Thor is, by his measure, patient to the point of sainthood as he waits, hard and wanting, for Loki to gingerly slide himself out.

“Ha,” Loki says as a fat drop of seed follows his cock and drips down the back of Thor's balls. “Maybe that'll knock you up.”

But for all his gloating, Loki eases himself back a few inches and guides Thor with a hand on his waist as Thor turns over to rest on his calves. His cock bobs in the air. Looking down, Thor can see the marks Loki's left on him—great red scratches along the ridge of his tits, partially hidden by the spattering of sandy hair that travels down his navel and nuzzles the base of his cock.

Loki purrs at the sight. “You always looked your best freshly fucked.”

Thor hums. “And how do I look after I've come?”

“Divine.” Loki slides back between Thor's open knees and leans over his brother. A smooth, soft hand grips Thor's cock and Thor groans at it; the other once again finds a hold on his pec, a thumb stroking over one of the scratches. As Loki works his cock, he bends his head down and presses his brow to Thor's—the heat of their breath mingles and Thor's heart overwhelms at just how intimate this feels.

Thor cups Loki's neck, keeping him close, always close, because twins should never be apart—his orgasm is coming, building, and Loki's hand moves faster, like he can sense it, his fist closing tighter. Thor chokes, drawing his brother closer, fusing their mouths together in a kiss that's artless and clumsy and perfect and Thor's gone, his abdomen seizing as he pumps out his love for his brother in thick spurts, all over Loki's hand as he whispers, “That's it, that's it,” against Thor's lips.

“Oh, fuck,” Thor gasps. His head falls back, not quite touching the couch cushion. “Shit, shit, don't let it get on the carpet—”

“What am I, fourteen?” Loki snorts. “Keep tight then, or you'll drip.”

Thor clicks his teeth. “What am I, fourteen?” he mimics back.

Loki just narrows his eyes and raises his hand. “I swear I will smear this in your beard.”

“Ew,” Thor huffs. “Go wash your hand, Jesus.”

Rolling his eyes and bitching under his breath, Loki gets up to do just that, though the act of standing brings on a fresh wave of complaints about knees and being old as he makes his way to the connected kitchen to clean up.

Now that the searing throb of his orgasm has faded to a pleasant warmth, Thor can certainly empathize with his brother—his legs are killing him, all bent up the way they are, and Thor unfolds them and clambers to his feet with a hiss.

The tap from the kitchen faucet turns off and Loki reappears with a handful of damp paper towels. “C'mere, old man.”

“I'm ten minutes older than you, brat.”

Loki snorts, but a small, secret smile lifts his lips. “I can't believe I'm with such an older man,” he teases. “A whole ten minutes. Scandalous.”

Thor reaches for the paper towels—and Loki makes a play at keeping them away until Thor snatches them—“I know. Who knew I'd get saddled with someone so inexperienced?”

“Inexperienced—”

With a laugh, Thor pulls Loki closer and kisses him, muffling the insults until Loki, with a very distinct huff, softens his mouth and lets himself being kissed properly. But he can't ever let Thor feel like he's won the round, because as soon as Thor pulls away and bumps their noses, Loki grumbles, “Just go wipe my jizz out of your ass,” and pushes Thor off.

Still, Loki follows him to the bathroom, crowding around the sink as he washes off his cock, because everywhere one goes, the other will always follow.

Except, Thor thinks with a touch of bitterness, when it seems like fate wants to keep them apart. Loki might stay for a few days, maybe a week. But as soon as a project at work catches his eye, he'll fly off back to the other side of the country to return to work and the flat Loki might call home but Thor refuses to acknowledge as such.

“Should we order in?” Thor asks after their post-sex rituals of cleaning have been completed and they're back sprawled on the couch clad in housepants or, in Loki's case, a pair of boxers that Thor strongly suspected might've been stolen from his underwear drawer. The windows have been opened to air out the scent of sex, and a breeze rolls its merry way into the living room.

Loki gives him A Look. Not a moment latter, the doorbell rings. Loki heaves himself up and answers the door, completely unashamed. “Oh,” Thor hears over the wave of Jesus fuck Loki why, “Well, put them over there, I suppose.”

He steps back to allow a pair of men through, both studiously avoiding eye contact with a nonplussed Thor, and carrying a packed cardboard box each.

“Uh?”

“What?” Loki says. “I told you I was coming to stay.”

“I thought—,” Thor stammers.

“Oh, don't do that.” Loki reaches over and pats his cheek. “It doesn't suit you. Now, where should I set up my desk...”

“But you—”

Loki turns to face him, and there's a moment—just the briefest moment—where Loki's face is open, vulnerable, like when they were children. But it's gone in the toss of sleek black hair of a broad and pale shoulder. “I told you,” Loki repeats, slow, like Thor's an exceptionally dim child, “that I was coming to stay.”

He comes over and reaches a hand to cup Thor's neck—a gesture that Thor mirrors without thought. Loki's come home.

“So stop being so fucking stupid, okay?”

“But your work?”

“Funnily enough,” Loki sniffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “it's pretty easy to find a job as an architect wherever you go. And there's some bank building a new headquarters downtown that needs designs.”

Thor touches their foreheads. “You're such a shit. A conniving, scheming shit.”

“Tell me you don't love my surprises.”

“Mm,” Thor hums. Mindful of the movers still carrying in package after package because apparently Loki needs every single one of his worldly possessions, Thor leans down and presses a soft kiss to Loki's ear. “I love you, brother.”

Loki's hand grips his neck a touch tighter; his thumb runs just under Thor's jaw and he knows Loki is returning the sentiment.

link for ao3. if you liked it, please consider dropping me a comment :)

#thorki #my writing #thor #loki #thunderfrost #thorki fic

[lenoirlivre]

A little about me and this blog.

Certainly, I do not expect everyone to agree with everything said here. As a matter of fact this blog is merely a way for me to transmit and record the knowledge I already possess and will acquire through research regarding the Occult subject, but not only that, it is also a way of reaching out to fellow people who might have a better understanding of certain parts if not the whole of the subject.

Now, who am I? My name shall not be revealed concerning my safety and privacy, though if you wish to address to me you can use the name LeNoir or the initials LN . I’m a 18 year old guy with a very curious mind and an affinity to things considered Occult or Supernatural. I consider myself a Solitary -Eclectic witch/warlock for te reasons that I’m still too young to join a coven (and i do not know if any exist near me) and because I am drawn to lots and different magical practices respectively. But enough about me.

What is a Witch?

Well, to begin, many people use the word “Witch” to describe someone evil and malevolent who worships the Devil and causes misfortunes with spells and curses. Non of that is true I can say and be sure of it. Although, people who worship the Devil will call themselves Witches and some witches (very rarely) have the potential to cause troubles with curses. But again, that is very rare, as witches only wish to bring good things in their’s and other’s lives, and it is known amongst witches that whatever you give to the universe, the universe gives back at the same rate.

For me, the word “Witch” defines someone who practices witchcraft which broadly means the practice of and belief in magical skills/abilities that are able to be exercised by individuals and certain social groups. If you learn about, and practice various rituals and perform certain aspects of the craft, you are considered a Witch. Though you do not have to necessarily perform any of the Rituals and the Practices to be a Witch. If you feel that you are a magical person and you can feel that you are connected to the universe and everything around you and that you have the power to influence some of it’s aspects with your will, than you are a Witch.

What can a Witch do?

Everything :) . Divination, Psychometry, Lithomancy, Palmistry, Scrying, Hexing, spells and curses are some of the most popular practices of witchcraft. Witches can do everything they want, intention and will power matters the most. Sure, moon phases, seasons, months, days and hours, planetary positions as well as affinities and understanding are important but a Witch always knows that mind rules over matter and will power is the key to everything.

Types of witches

Yes, there are certain types of witches and it all depends only on affinities and what someone may feel closer to or have a better understanding of it and they are referred to as “paths”. Now, you don’t have to necessarily put yourself under a tag but finding your affinities will definitely help you with your studies and practices.

Solitary  - Practicing by ones’ self; not included in a group.

Secular  - Non-religious / Not connecting with deity(s).

Eclectic  - An individual’s practice that has bits and pieces pulled from different magickal and/or spiritual practices, respectfully.

(Theistic) Satanic  - Witchcraft that is often centered around honoring and/or working with satan in spellwork and prayer.

Atheist /Laveyan Satanic  - Witchcraft worked with the idea that satan is a concept, rather than a real person or entity (loosely put; it’s a very detailed concept). Also known as Satanic witches who fit the secular description. 

Hereditary/Blood  - Including oneself in the practice of witchcraft on the grounds of having been born into a family who also practices. Knowledge and practice may also be passed down through generations, and honor old ways of magick.

Traditional  - One who practices witchcraft by honoring and using old and ‘traditional’ ways of magick; this type of witch might be one to practice modern methods of magick, but they might also stick to traditional concepts or techniques.

Christian  - Witchcraft that is performed to honor / or is performed in conjunction with the Christian God as the primary and only deity.

Hellenic  - A form of non-witchcraft practice in which the practicer follows Greek ideals/culture and honors the Greek pantheon.

 Celtic  - Magickal practice that is based from the Celtic culture, including its’ mythology, deities, old ways, and (occasionally) language / symbols. May also describe those who only worship Celtic gods.

 Science  - A form of magick in which both metaphysical ideas and scientific facts/theories are mixed in together by the individual practicer.

Types of Witchcraft

I took the information from another blog Rainy-Day-Witchcraft and assigned them in categories.

Keep in mind that each term’s explaination is the basic description of that type of witchcraft/magick; each individual witch might be a certain type but define it differently, as their practice may be different from the next Witch.

Spiritual :

Dream  - (A possible variation of Hedge) Mindful and internal magickal practice mainly based from interpreting dreams and/or engaging in lucid dreaming. Those who intensify as this may “de-code” symbols and messages in the dream world similar to how one would use a divination technique.

Hedge  - Also known as an astral title, a type of magick that is oriented around more spiritual work; astral travel/projection, lucid dreaming, spirit-work, healing, and out-of-body experiences are all practices included in this magick.

Faery/Fey  - Magick for those who communicate and work with the fey during spells and rituals. Usually, those who work with the fey may also leave offerings regularly, as thanks for the assistance of a faery in their spellwork.

Spirit Working  - A practice in which the person will perform spellwork in conjunction with or with the help of any manner of spirit. This includes Ouija, (sometimes) demon spirits, spiritual contact, etc.

Draconian - Refers to type of magick for those who call upon or work with dragons and dragon imagery in their practice; whether it be through astral matters or in spells and rituals.

Death/Necromancy  - A practice that may combine Bone, Animal, Spirit work, occasionally also Blood. Using spirits to empower one self, hoarding bones, using graveyards, graves, the spirits of them, as well as the dirt (or even plants) that are found in them. May also honor the dead and/or gods who work with the dead.

Chaos/Chaotic  - A type of magick utilizing new, non-traditional, and unorthodox methods. It is a new and highly individualistic practice, while still drawing from other common forms of magick.

Animal  - (A variant of Green) Magick that is strongly tied to the animal kingdom, which includes a deep appreciation for all animals, and most often: usage of animal materials in spellwork. An animal witch will most likely be one who loves animals, a person who animals are immediently “drawn” to, and those who appreciate the natural world. Some animal witches might also use bones, wings, feathers, fur, skin, scales, (etc). from deceased animals in their magick, if they choose to do so. 

Sigil  - A witchcraft working majorly with sigils, and the intent that can be put into them to active their power.

Grey  - A neutral witch, who practices magick that neither benefits or harms others. Grey magick may also both harm and benefit at the same time, balancing and neutralizing.

Lunar  - One who works magick with / honors the moon and it’s energy and phases. This type of witch is also one to favor casting magick during the night hours rather than during the day.

Astronomy/Space  - (A wider variant of lunar) Those who practice magick and correlate their beliefs in conjunction with the planets and stars! These witches may focus their magick with the properties of each planet, regularly read a horoscope or study astrology, and have a love of the stars and the night.

Energy  - Those who prefer to do magick through energy exercises and manipulation rather than with many physical tools or materials; using the enhanced power of the mind and the body’s natural energies to bring about a magickal result or feeling. (Also may include aura work).

Heathenry  - a practice in which the individual follows, works with, and/or worships the Norse deities.

Lokean  - Someone who works with/worships Loki and/or any of his relations (Hel, Jormugandr, Sigyn, Angrboda, etc) ; does not exclude other deities.

Odinism  - A faith that works mostly with Odin, Thor, Freyjr, Freyja, Frigga, and Heimdall.

Asatru  - Literally “Faith in the [Old] Gods” it is a more specific branch of Heathenry that worships the major Nordic pantheon, minus Loki, Fenrir, or other “adversary” gods.

Gaulish  - A practice that involves worshipping Gaulish gods.

Kemetic  - Worshipping and working with Egyptian deities.

Death/Necromancy  - A practice that may combine Bone, Animal, Spirit work, occasionally also Blood. Using spirits to empower one self, hoarding bones, using graveyards, graves, the spirits of them, as well as the dirt (or even plants) that are found in them. May also honor the dead and/or gods who work with the dead. 

Elemental :

Green  - Utilizing greenery/plants/herbs/flowers in herbal and natural magick, such as creating blends of different plants or using primarily herbs in spellwork.

Sea  - A type of magick derived from materials and abstract ideas involving the ocean and oceanic world. Sea/Ocean magick can be worked using seashells and bones, sea weed, beach sand, driftwood, ocean water, etc. and a sea witch might draw their energy from that of the sea! 

Storm/Weather  - Magick that is worked by combining one’s energy with the energy of the weather, and most commonly rain. Weather witches will do things like collect rain/snow water, absorb the energy of a lightning storm, “whistle up” or manipulate wind, predict the weather, etc. 

Garden  - While having a garden and/or working in any type of garden; magick that is mostly (if not all) herbal and botanical-related! Garden witches take pride and find it calming or invigorating to work the earth, harvest that which they have planted, and are closely related to Green type.

Elemental  - Magick that is worked by honoring/acknowledging the 4 or all 5 elements: Water, Earth, Air, Fire, and Spirit. Commonly an Elementalist will dedicate different areas of their altars to each element, call upon them during spells and rituals, and use symbols to represent each.

Water  - Specifically centered on the element of Water; water scrying, collecting sea/storm/snow/river/spring water, swimming/bath spells and other water-related actives, creating and using symbols associated with water.

Earth  - Specifically centered on the element of Earth; grounding exercises, rock/soil collecting, strong appreciation of the natural world, creating and using symbols associated with earth.

Air  - Specifically centered on the element of Air; working with wind, using air-related tools (such as the wand), creating and using symbols associated with air.

Fire  - Specifically centered on the element of Fire; Using anything fire-related (bonfires, candles, burning objects) in most spellwork, creating and using symbols associated with fire.

Flora - Much like a Green or Garden witch, those who work majorily with floral materials and flowers in their practice and in their spellwork! Their grimoire may be heavily associated with flowers rather than herbs, and likewise, one might use flower properties in spell or craft work.

Seasonal  - Witches who utilize and draw energy from the specific times of year for their magick, sort of how a person might have a strong love or connection to a certain time of year! This can also be spread out into Winter, Autumn, Spring and Summer witches.

 “Poison Path”  - Working with plants, herbs, other items that may be poisonous, deadly, cause hallucinogenic effects, or affect the mind or body in some way. (sometimes aphrodisiacs are included).  

 Desert  - Using and utilizing the desert environment. Lots of work with hardier plants such as Cacti or Tumbleweeds. Use of the moon, desert earth, fire, rare water (especially rainwater), wind, local plants and herbs, as well as animals/creatures of the desert such as snakes, spiders, scorpions, and so on.  

Swamp/Bog  - Heavy use of water and moisture, rich we soil/mud, sometimes incorporates the use of bones, animals, and insects, especially the local plants of the Swamp.

Material :

Cottage / Hearth - (A slight variation from kitchen) Magick that is weaved, worked, or embued into mundane tasks around the house or for loved ones. Cottage/Hearth magick may be worked into daily tasks such as cleaning, cooking, or any hobbies.

Kitchen  - Magick that is worked specifically through “kitchen craft” such as herbal mixtures, brewing, baking, and cooking, and honors many aspects of the natural world: including herbs, crystals, fey, and the elements.

Tea  - Those who drink tea, make tea, use tea-leaf divination, or enjoy blending herbal remedies! A variant of Kitchen/Cottage witch.

Embroidery / Sewing / Knit  - One who embues magick into household “stitching” or “string” hobbies such as embroidery, sewing, knitting, stringing, and knotting ~ Basically, one who identifies with using knot or chord magick in many different skills.

Paper  - Magick that is worked with, essentially, paper! Burning paper written with sigils, chants, symbols or spells, creating magickal offerings, items, or sachels from paper, etc.

Music  - Magick that is worked with music, musical chimes, or rhythm! Humming/singing, clapping, singing chants during spells, playing instruments (even simple ones, like the triangle or bells), or even just simply playing music during spellwork, magick, or during energy exercises are a few common things a music witch might fancy.

Art/Craft  - Witchcraft that can be worked through arts and crafts, simply put! One may embue macgick in creative activities such as painting, drawing, building, cutting, creating, etc.

Bone  - Witches who commonly collect, clean, and use animal bones in their magickal practice, and for things like altar decoration or magick-infused charms/jewelry. Materials used by those who identify as Bone witches are usually collected peacefully or after the being has passed on naturally!

Crystal  - Magick that is worked commonly with stones and crystals, such as during spellwork or for crystal healing techniques. This may also include chakra balance, crystal meditation… anything that uses crystals, really! A crystal witch may also have an extensive knowledge of stones, including how to identify them and using their properties.

Literary  - Those who practice magick through books and literature; a literary witch may do thing such as using book divination, often study witchcraft/magick even after the “beginner” phase of learning, etc. Also a term used to describe witches in stories, books, or movies.

Other :

Pop Culture  - Uses pop culture as a main focus or inspiration for the craft. Using lyrics or movie lines in spells, worshipping and honoring pop culture icons or idols, use of fandom, and more. It is a very wide practice. Examples may include drawing from Harry Potter spells or using invented sigils from shows like Supernatural.

Urban Primative/City  - For those who live or prefer the urban/city lifestyle; magick that can be worked without the seemingly “traditional” ways of witchcraft.

Like i said, I do not expect everyone to agree with me. I’m open to submissions and suggestions. There will be future posts in which I will attempt to explain everything in a deeper sense and add more information. Message me anytime if you wish to contact me. Also, please follow this amazing blog Rainy-Day-Witchcraft it contains a lot of very important informations and spells and generally everything regarding witchcraft. -LN

#witchcraft #witch #witches #witch types #about me #magick #masterpost

[imagine-loki]

House of Cards in the Wind

TITLE: House of Cards in the Wind CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter Two AUTHOR: wolfpawn ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine you were a powerful villain who was captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. and put in Cryogenic storage because there was no other way to deal with you. After doing some research, Loki learned about you and became obsessed. So much, that he looked for you and woke you up, knowing that you’d seek revenge and he would be more than willing to help. RATING: Teen and Up

NOTES/WARNINGS: This story is the result of an imagine I saw on another blog theartofimagining13. The credit for the imagine goes to the author on that page.

Warning death of minor characters and violence in this fic

To Loki’s great joy, she was everything he had read of and more, born in a war-torn region, she lost her father and brother young to fighting and her mother to the stress of it all. Angry and never willing to accept her lot, Rebecca fought authority and ran from every care facility and home she was kept in, what made it all the more amusing was the angrier she became, the more her gifts developed. In the end, she was able to evade capture, fleeing to America and starting a life there, until S.H.I.E.L.D. found her that was. She had just wanted a normal life, job, home and perhaps someone to care for, but Nick Fury caught her scent and had agents hound her. She stated their deaths had been in her self-defence, but she was overpowered and caught, before being sentenced to a fate worse than death, eternal darkness in ice. Loki swore that together, he would aid her to elude capture once more, and once their revenge was completed, he would bring her far away from Midgard, as he called it, and to a place where she would be able to have such dreams of a life free and her own.

Though she had been frozen through Loki’s time on Midgard before, she trusted him some little bit, after all, he had proven his magic to her, freed her from her prison, and promised her her revenge. She had read of him as a child, reading the Midgardian take on the God’s that the Norse used to worship, so she knew of his reputation as a liar, but she was given his consent to check him for falsities, something that then told her it was true, he wanted her for her abilities, yes, in that respect, he was using her, but in a symbiotic manner, her abilities and his combined to further their cause, and she immediately agreed.

“They have had to move again,” She stated as she walked into the room, knowing full well Loki was aware she was there. “It would appear that the wonderful Avenger’s are imploding.” “Too many egos,” Loki stated as he continued to look out the window he was standing at.

“I blame the number of men.”  She commented as she grabbed something to eat and sat on a safe nearby. “They are leaning toward going to Atlantic city next.” “Then I think it wise to keep an eye on them.” He turned and walked across the room.

“Do you think me so dumb as to leave them without a set of eyes and ears?” “No, but you do recall, they are looking for you.” “Let them look, they only lucked out last time because I was too young and foolish to see the whole picture.” “May I remind you that as far as your mind is concerned, that only happened a couple of months ago,” Loki pointed out.

“I may have been frozen, but I was still capable of thought.” Loki turned and looked at her. “Day after day, I didn’t know for how long, but I thought of where I went wrong, and I studied it all, I know where I faltered, and I will never make that mistake again.” “I was not aware you were awake.” “Can you call it awake, I was frozen, all I kept thinking about is how much I wanted to make them suffer. They attacked me, it is not my fault they died, yet I got blamed. Fury said if I had not the ability to do what I do… as though it is my fault I am different.” She hissed. “It is not easy knowing everything I know, I thought I was mad for years.” “Keep your patience.” Loki soothed. “If you get mad, you will trip up, if you trip up, we both may be on ice.” “Do you ever worry, about that brother of yours?” “That fool is too busy thinking with something other than his head.” Loki dismissed. “And how much of my mind did you scour?” “All of it.” “In that time?” “I am good at what I do.” Loki could not hide how impressed he was. “Why do you think I was hunted? It wasn’t because I can convince people the scrap of paper in my hand is a hundred dollar bill, or because I can make them think I have presented them a passport, it is because I am able to see what is in their heads, manipulate the strongest people in this world and no one can tell if I am doing it or not, but also they are terrified that I will find out their secrets. Have you any idea how many people commit infidelity in this city, sadly I can.” “I fear monogamy is too difficult a concept for too many to grasp.” Loki scoffed.

“Well, when I scan for our safety, I am forced to hear them all.”

“It is worth it.” “I know, doesn’t make it any less unpleasant, though.” “I do not envy that side of your gifts.” “So, the mind stone?” “It is an Infinity stone, and you are its human embodiment.” “Which did you prefer?” “Well, the stone seldom ate their own weight in confectionary.” Loki pointed to the trash can.

“I haven’t technically eaten in years.”

“Well, make sure you are not overburdened so you can run if needed.” “No getting fat, gotcha.” she walked to the window. “So, Atlanta?” “Atlanta.” Loki nodded. “When do we leave?” “Sundown.” She nodded. “Is there an issue with that?” “No, so long as you remember our bargain.” “You say that as though I am like to forget.” Loki eyed her. “Did you ever trust someone?” “I grew up in a place where cars could explode if you passed them, where the authorities shot people for being born to a different political thinking to them, to where anyone was a spy, no, I never trusted anyone.” “Do you trust me?” “You are the God of Lies, I would want to be an idiot to even consider it.” She scoffed.

“Do you search my head?” “Only on occasion, I want to make sure your scheming is not to harm me.” “Has it ever been?” “No.” she looked at him. “And that is what concerns you?” “Is this really you just wanting someone of like mind and ability to assist you to defeat your foes?” “That is exactly what this is.” “Why me? Surely there were others in that facility that would be better suited to your needs.” “I did not need barbarian murderers and petty thieves, I required someone with intellect, the ability to think on their feet, and not try and take over this situation.” “A minion?” She looked at him annoyedly.

“No, an equal, someone who would listen to my advice and add their own, who together we could wait and bide our time without fighting so to achieve our goal.” “We are not exactly amiable.” “I am not looking for a potential spouse in you Becky,” he scoffed, using the nickname she stated she used to be called by her family before their passing. “I am looking for a business partner, so to speak, and on that front, we are highly compatible. We do not argue the plan or dispute one another in a power struggle, that is why I am sure that when this is done, I will be back on Asgard and you will be in your own choice of realm, our thirst for vengeance sated.”

“They are moving again.” “Where to?” “Here.” She informed him, paying close attention to the minds she was invading.

“What?” Loki stared at her.

“You’ve been located.” “Me?” “Yes, they are on their way here,” She rose and walked over to the very few items they were after collecting for their plan. “We have five minutes.” “Well then, let us ready ourselves.” The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents climbed the stairwells of the to-be-demolished office building quickly and silently. When they got to the appropriate level, they waited for their commanding officer's command, on getting it, they burst into the office area and began to open fire, but were quickly given the order to cease and search around.

Rebecca took a moment to look at the leader behind the magic shield Loki had protected the with before getting to work. The leader brought his hand to his mic, “Sir, there is nothing here, there doesn’t seem to be a sign that there ever was.”

“We had a visual Reese,” came a bark down the earpiece.

“Well, as I just said you, daft idiot, I am here and there is no sign of any form of life being here at all.” Loki turned slightly and looked at Rebecca, who was grinning slightly as she heard Nick Fury reel abuse at the commander for his insubordination. The team began to walk back towards the door, one member walking close to Loki as they did. Loki studied how he clearly did not see the God, nor did he seem to sense him before the pair were alone again.

“They’re gone, but they are going to do random checks again in an hour.” “That is quite the gift you have.” Loki commended. “It comes in handy.” She shrugged, going over to the window. “I suggest moving to another location. They spotted you somehow.”

“Yes, that was somewhat inconvenient, very well, to the next location.” Loki looked at everything that Rebecca had readied to leave. “How?” “How what?” “How do you make them not see?” “They see what I want them to see, which was nothing.” “And the control?” “Do and say what I want them to do and say.” She dismissed boredly. “They have not realised I am in cahoots with you, but they know I am missing.” “I can only picture their surprise when they realise it.” Loki grinned as Rebecca walked over to him and the pair and their belongings disappeared.

#loki #other #submission #Submitted fic #Chapter Two #Wolfpawn #house of cards in the wind #Villain #S.H.I.E.L.D. #cryogenic storage #research #obsessed #Revenge

[forthegothicheroine]

Kamigami No Asobi recap, episode 1: Ticking Clock to Ragnarok

What’s more capital-R Romantic than a plucky maiden being romanced by otherworldly deities of questionable morality and common sense?  That’s my logic for recapping this anime on my blog, anyway.  We’re going to watch an extremely overworked Japanese high school girl deal with romantic entanglements involving gods from several different pantheons, but first let’s establish a few things.

I read a lot about Greek mythology as a teenager, but my friends who are actual classics students probably know these stories better than I do.  I know a little about Norse mythology, mostly stories that show up in operas or children’s books.  I know a smattering about Egyptian mythology, mostly about Isis (who does not appear in this show.)  I know almost nothing about Japanese mythology, so episodes focusing on that pantheon will have me dashing to wikipedia.

Also, there will be a few regular features in these recaps.

Ragnarok Clock: How close, as of this episode, are we to ragnarok?  This will be illustrated with that doomsday clock from Watchmen, altered appropriately.

(The snake is Jormungandr.)

Where is Odin?  Odin and Ra are the big, glaring omissions in this cast.  I don’t pretend to be able to fathom Ra’s actions, but I will take a guess each episode at what Odin is doing while his family is having high school anime drama.

Team ___: Look, it’s a reverse harem anime, I’m going to pick teams.  These teams will change with my whims.  Tough.

Does Thoth push Yui up against a wall?  Trust me, it’s going to be a thing.

Now, on with the show!

Aaannndd...it’s ragnarok time!  That was fast!  Beautiful men in silly outfits are ripping apart the sky as the world ends around them and a girl begs them not to fight.  We don’t yet know who any of these people are, but there’s a nubile blonde man flexing so hard his shirt and pants pop off!  If that doesn’t say classical mythology to you, I don’t know what does.  Our heroine is not particularly phased by this flexing, as she would really rather the world not end.

FLASHBACK!  Or, since this is the rest of the series, maybe I should have labeled that opening scene FLASHFORWARD?  I don’t know.

It’s time to formally meet Yui, a young purple-haired shrine maiden who will be our protagonist.  If I can be serious for a moment, I really think the fact that she’s a shrine maiden is what holds this show together.  The gods are important to her everyday life; sure, she’d be surprised to meet them in the flesh, but it wouldn’t existentially destroy everything she thought she knew about the world.  

Yui is endearing in the way reverse harem protagonists often are: she’s a sweet girl who is nowhere NEAR prepared for the amount of bullshit that’s about to be dumped on her lap.  We feel for her because really, no high school student should have to deal with this.

She’s busy practicing her swordsmanship for an upcoming ceremony, which makes her late for school.  (Again, I empathize with her here- that sounds way better than school.)  At school, everyone is talking about their futures, which is immaterial because RAGNAROK IS COMING!  REPENT!  Ahem.  Yui cries without understanding why, though I believe it’s because she’s realized she’s the protagonist and shit is about to get wacky for the rest of her life.

Yui barely has time to get home and reflect on not knowing what she wants to do with her life when the plot attacks!  Color turns negative, a mysterious voice calls her name, and the shed out back starts to glow!  The source of the glow appears to be a magical sword, but there should be a caution label on it, since touching it may lead to you being struck by lightening and transported to Narnia.

Which is exactly what happens to poor Yui.

Okay, it isn’t actually Narnia.  (Although maybe it is?  Lion Jesus and the Greek gods seem to cohabitate there peacefully, so I guess it’s in the same spirit?)  Anyway, it’s a big fancy mansion/university with tweeting birds and glorious architecture, and Yui awakens there on the floor.  The magic sword has shrunk to a convenient pendent, there for when she finally awakens as a magical girl.  Presumably.

Yui takes this all in stride, calmly wondering if she’s travelled in time.  Hey, it could happen.  The whole place is eerily empty except for one tall drink of goth...

Hades!  He’s my personal pick for most attractive of the gods, although you can’t convince me that Hades, a man who lives underground and never comes out, would take such good care of his flowing locks.  He laments that Yui is so unfortunate as to have been caught up in this cruel game, because kidnapping girls is only okay when he’s the one doing it.

Actually, I’m not sure if Persephone exists in the world of this show or not, but more on that later.  The arrival of Hades is heralded by blooming poppies.

Yui is quite rightly stunned by his mopey good looks, but Hades warns her not to come near him for it will only bring her misery.  She is admirably unimpressed by this statement, but gets distracted by a cute rabbit.  (A girl after my own heart.)  The rabbit leads her to a classroom with a lilac-haired pretty boy whose arrival is heralded by blooming irises.  He is...

...Tsukito, god of the moon!  The lilac ponytail may seem a bit much now, but trust me, once you’ve met the rest of the gods he will look positively conservative.  He’s more reasonable and easier to talk to than Hades, but also doesn’t know what’s going on.  But there’s no time to get acquainted, because our conversation is interrupted by...

...Takeru, god of the sea!  It may not look that bad in this picture, but holy frick does this hair piss me off when it’s onscreen.  He looks like green Naruto!  I am automatically set against him, and it will take a good deal to win me over with this handicap.  His special flower is...um...I don’t know, I’ve seen these flowers before but I have no idea of their name.  They’re blue with white stripes.  Anyway, he’s our token tsundere, so that’s another strike against him.

Thoroughly annoyed by this asshole, Yui continues exploring and discovers, once and for all, that she’s in a giant building on a magical world with floating islands and flying horses.  All of this is a lot to take in at once, so she runs down the stairs and immediately bumps into...

...Loki.  Let me get this out of the way, since it’s what I’ll be thinking the whole show long: WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS HAIR?  The black nail polish is a respectable tradition (I’m wearing it right now), but that hair is inexcusable.  That hair is a blight upon the concept of divinity.  That hair is one of Loki’s monstrous children, right alongside Hel.  In fact, Hel is probably glad she got the skull face instead of that hair.

That said, hair that bad is totally in-character.  He gets pink and white chrysanthemums for his introductory flower.

Loki is interested in two things- invading Yui’s personal space and tracking down his blonde friend.  These two things will continue to be his main interests throughout the show.

Loki doesn’t find said blonde yet, but Yui does.  He’s a regular Disney prince, chilling out with friendly woodland animals attracted by his purity of heart.  He is, of course...

...Balder!  Balder is very cute, even though he looks exactly like Legolas.  Looking like Legolas isn’t a bad thing, anyway.  He gets a bunch of introductory lillies, and is the only person so far who is actually nice to Yui.  Unfortunately, he has incurable clumsiness, the weakness usually given to female love interests.  Fortunately, he cannot be hurt by any of his many trips and falls, because everything in the world made a vow not to hurt him.

Almost everything.  Tick tock goes the ragnarok clock...

This clumsiness results in him falling on top of Yui and knocking them both into a bed of flowers.  Unlike if this had happened with literally any of the other characters, I genuinely believe Balder did not do that on purpose.  They tell each other that they have beautiful eyes and it’s all very romantic because Balder is actually capable of being attracted to a person without becoming correspondingly hostile.  (Take note, half the rest of the cast.)  

One of the people who should take note is Loki, who runs onto the scene to fly into a jealous rage over Balder touching anyone else.  We’ll get into the Balder/Yui/Loki dynamic in future episodes- it’s more complicated than a simple love triangle- but here we see Loki having a snit, one of the show’s major themes.  It’s hard to be very scared of his snits, though, since he has mostly short hair with two long bits on the side and a skinny braid in the back.  Seriously, what is with his hair?

But we’ve got bigger gods to worry about!  That voice and accompanying color-negative are back, and she has to track their source.  And now, ladies and gentlemen, the man you’ve all been waiting to see.  Possessor of the best hair on the show (in that it’s both flattering and character-appropriate), the king of heaven himself, it’s time to meet...

...Zeus!  Now I know what you’re afraid of, because I was afraid of it too.  Don’t worry- Zeus has no predatory intentions towards Yui aside from kidnapping her.  He’s much more interested in using her presense to torment the other gods while he sits back and cackles.

While she comes to know and befriend most of the other gods and call them -san, Zeus stays -sama throughout the show.  You’d BETTER call Zeus -sama.  He is not a love interest, and so gets no flowers.

And he has a horrible terrifying child form he sometimes turns into for no reason.  I will not inflict it upon you, because unlike Zeus, I am merciful.  Seriously, it’s like a horrible creepy doll with reflective gold eyes.  Brrrr.

Zeus’ ostensible purpose in kidnapping a bunch of gods and a teenage girl and forcing them all to go to high school for his amusement is that the gods are growing too remote from their worshippers, and need to personally experience and learn about humanity.  This doesn’t sound like the kind of thing Zeus would give a shit about, so I assume the real purpose was something like “Hey, wouldn’t it be funny if I forced Hades to go through puberty again?”  Yui is there to help make the gods into better people.  I guess it’s kind of like the plot of Small Gods, but with less turtles.

Yui is still not terribly pleased about having been kidnapped, and accuses Zeus of being tyrannical.  Which...yes.  Yes he is.  Tyrant is a Greek word.  If Zeus decides you’re going to be in a reverse-harem anime, there’s really not much you can do about it.  As Yui storms out we get a quick glimpse of our other resident hot dad Thoth, but he’s still in shadows both literally and figuratively.

As she collapses on the ground outside in fear, Yui is approached by another blonde- a friendly, preppy, incessantly cheerful lad who is introduced with a burst of sunflowers.  Surprise surprise, he’s...

...Apollo!  (The show calls him Apollon, but I refuse.)  Apollo is going to annoy me in future episodes by giving everyone irritating nicknames, but he doesn’t do anything annoying in this episode so I’ll go easy on him.  Unlike all the other gods, he’s delighted to be here, trusting that his father knows best.  (Whether he actually does or not remains to be seen.)  Apollo goes into full gallant flirt mode, sparkling at Yui as he kisses her hand and pulling her in for a full-on kiss.

Zero to I’m-your-boyfriend-now, that’s our Apollo.

With the episode over, it’s time to check in!

Ragnarok Clock

Where is Odin?  During this episode, Odin is wandering the halls and enjoying the peace and quiet that comes from Loki and Thor not being there.

Team ___: Team Balder.  Birds flock around him to sing!

Does Thoth push Yui up against a wall?  No.  Takeru pushes her up against a desk, though.

#kamigami no asobi