#striking distance

[aurorawest]

Bargain of Blood and Gold by Kristin Jacques - 3.75/5 stars

Reminiscent of Jordan L Hawk's Widdershins series, but with vampires and werewolves. Also takes place in Maine, which isn't a very common setting. Unwittingly, I bought the second book in the series months ago, and I realized as it got to the top of my TBR that I didn't have the first book! I had to scramble to order it and I was happy I enjoyed it since, obviously, I already have the second book.

Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa - DNF at pg 2

Captive Prince by CS Pacat (reread) - 5/5 stars

Prince's Gambit by CS Pacat (reread) - 5/5 stars

Kings Rising by CS Pacat - 5/5 stars

I think I loved these books even more on my reread.

Gravity by Tal Bauer - 4.25/5 stars

Probably my favorite hockey romance that I've read.

The Modern Mythos Anomaly by Juniper Lake Fitzgerald - DNF at pg 132

I actually liked the story, the characters, and the writing in general, but this book just needed another few edits to slim it down a bit.

Lose You to Find Me by Erik J Brown - 4.5/5 stars

Leeward by Katie Daysh - 4.5/5 stars

The blurbs on this book are hilarious, because they're all like, tall ships people, and then Mackenzi Lee, hailing it as a lovely queer historical romance. This was a really lovely book and I'm excited for the sequel. Also hoping for more kissing in the sequel since this was a serious slow burn.

Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball by Jason June - 3.75/5 stars

Starseer by Katya Hernández - 4/5 stars

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala - 5/5 stars

I loved this book so much!! Oh my god. Super funny, very romantic. It revolves around cosplay which is of course a special interest of mine.

Northranger by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo - 4.5/5 stars

Flying Without a Net by EM Ben Shaul - 2.75/5 stars

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley (reread) - 5/5 stars

Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan - 4.75/5 stars

I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. The graphic novels were good but changing to a novel format allowed for much deeper characters. Surprisingly devastating and also really funny.

The Old Haunts by Allan Radcliffe - 4/5 stars

The Gay Best Friend by Nicholas DiDomizio - 5/5 stars

Main character is the best friend of both the bride and the groom, and everything surrounding the wedding becomes a train wreck beginning on the weekend of the bachelor party, when the bride asks the MC, Dom, to keep tabs on the groom for her. As someone who is extremely conflict avoidant with friends but not family and romantic partners, I heavily related to Dom. There's also a romance that I really loved.

Romance Languages by AJ Truman - 4.25/5 stars

I think this was my favorite of the South Rock series. It deals with some more difficult topics—Julian's self-loathing over his body image is heartbreaking (and relatable), and Seamus's guilt over the way his gambling addiction hurt his ex was very well done. I'm a sucker for stories where a character learns to ask for help, not to mention difficult parent-child relationships, and this had both. I also appreciated Julian's arc re: sex and virginity.

Darkhearts by James L Sutter - 5/5 stars

Another bandmates-in-love treasure, with a twist—the main character, David, left the band right before they got famous. He ends up falling for one of his ex-friends/bandmates after they reconnect. The author is a musician himself, and it definitely shows (in a good way). I'm really a sucker for The Burdens of Fame, which this book definitely had, but there's actually a really good arc for David and how he deals with his jealousy and resentment over being left behind. Plus he wants to be a carpenter rather than go to college, which was cool.

Brute by Kim Fielding - 4.25/5 stars

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian - 5/5 stars

What can I say about this book? Why was it so lovely? Why did it make me feel so much? Why can I not rate things higher than 5 stars? It's a million stars in my heart. Aside from just being a gorgeous mid-century America m/m romance (my favorite), this one features an Italian-American main character. The stuff with Nick's family was spot-on. I just loved this book. I felt like I was wrapping myself in a big, comfy, historical gay romance blanket.

Drowned Country by Emily Tesh - 5/5 stars

The sequel to Silver in the Wood. Had a very mythic and sort of folk horror vibe. This one is from Henry Silver's POV instead of Tobias Finch's and takes place two years after Silver in the Wood, which is time that Henry has mostly spent sulking in Greenhollow Hall, sans Tobias. Really highly recommend this duology. Emily Tesh is a treasure.

The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro - DNF at pg 11

#bargain of blood and gold #kristin jacques #captive prince #prince's gambit #kings rising #cs pacat #gravity #tal bauer #leeward #katie daysh #be dazzled #ryan la sala #fence #striking distance #sarah rees brennan #the gay best friend #nicholas didomizio #romance languages #aj truman #darkhearts #james l sutter #we could be so good #cat sebastian #drowned country #greenhollow duology #emily tesh #reading tag

[cynosurus]

One of the favourite lines my brain likes to quote to me:

Seiji Katayama, world's most unexpected class warrior

from Fence: Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan

#fence comic #fence striking distance #striking distance #sarah rees brennan #c.s. pacat #seiji katayama #Seiji Katayama world's most unexpected class warrior #capitalism #fence

[m4el-1t0]

This is how I feel reading Striking Distance

#fence comic #striking distance #why is everyone characterized SO WEIRDLY #specially Seiji #fence redemption

[passed-out-real]

Andre Braugher Filmography Part 1

Glory (1989)

Striking Distance (1993)

Primal Fear (1996)

City of Angels (1998)

Homicide: Life on the Street (1993‑1998)

Louisville (1998)

Frequency (2000)

Duets (2000)

Thief (2006)

Poseidon (2006)

#Andre Braugher #Glory #Striking Distance #Primal Fear #City of Angels #Homicide: Life on the Street #Louisville #Frequency #Duets #Thief #Poseidon

[insult-the-glory]

"After a date, we should leave the practice at the door."

As opposed to taking it inside. Into the room. With the beds in it. Harvard's mind felt like it was bending and might fracture under an immense weight.

#fence #striking distance #aiden kane/harvard lee #reminds me of a quote from the bolthole

[anxious-black-hottie]

#striking distance #sarah jessica parker #jo christman #bruce willis #tom hardy #90s #my upload #mine #mines

[1990s-2000s]

#90s #age of innocence #airborne #striking distance #bruce willis #winona ryder #daniel day lewis #michelle pfeiffer

[libertyreads]

Book Review #93 of 2023--

Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan. Rating: 3.75 stars.

Read from July 20th to 21st.

To a degree, I struggle with rating this one. It is just as dumb and young as Nick looks on that cover, but I cannot help but enjoy my time with the boys from Kings Row. They’re all so smart and so talented but at the same times just complete and total himbos. I love them for it. But especially the longing and the mutual pining between Harvard and Aiden. Stop it. I love it. Everything I’ve been missing for the last two weeks is just sitting there in their relationship and I had such a good (and terrible) time with it. Good job. No notes.

It was weird because you definitely should read the comics before you read this novel. There’s so much you’re missing if you don’t which is part of what took away from the rating for me. I wish people could pick this up randomly and fall into the Kings Row life seamlessly. It was also a bit strange for me that while the comics were so heavily fencing focused, the novelization was so heavily friendship and relationship focused. Which is something I was missing in the comics. So, I loved that, don’t get me wrong. It was just such a whiplash moment for me.

This was silly and stupid and I really had an amazing time. I’m so sad that my library doesn’t have the next book. But I’m hoping to swing by a shop and pick up a copy in the next couple of weeks. (I just have to know what happens with Aiden and Harvard!)

#book review #striking distance #Sarah rees brennan #books read in 2023 #2023 reading challenge #goodreads challenge #goodreads #booklr #bookblr #bookstagram #fence #fence comics

[hate5sixofficial]

Striking Distance 2022-07-22 Metro Gallery Baltimore, MD

#Striking Distance #Metro Gallery #hate5six

[il-predestinato]

6 TENTHS?!

Charles’ brake issue in Bahrain cost him 6 tenths per lap! 😭 Imagine the race we could have had!

(Source: formu1a.uno)

#charles leclerc #f1 #technical #bahrain gp 2024 #6 tenths might be optimistic tho bc that would put him striking distance of max #BUT this is still good news in the sense that sf-24 clearly has some potential #unfortunately sainz clearly underperformed so we have no good reference for where they could have finished relative to max #fave #for reference #* #cuntos cuntz

[gummi-ships]

Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance Commands - Break Time

#kingdom hearts dream drop distance #khddd #sora #commands #my gif #flashing #this is easily one of my all time favorite commands i love that it exists and that they brought it back for this game #BUT the devs are cowards for making this exclusive to sora #you guys are seriously not going to give us ballerina spinning riku?? shameful. #anyways sora has a chance of striking one of three poses while performing this command and each has a different effect #the first one fills up the link gauge with your dream eaters #the second one heals you and the last one resets your drop meter

[dinitride-art]

“Mike wheeler’s armpit of a basement”

“I’ve seen Mike’s room look worse than this”

“I was being a total self pitying idiot”

“Why am I the bad guy”

“One day she’s going to realize that I’m just some random nerd”

“At least Lois Lane is an ace reporter for the Daily Planet”

“I’ve been bullied my whole life”

“Mike’s always whining about it”

“And yet you still have a C in Spanish”

“You can’t even write it Mike”

“You made it super clear that you’re not interested in anything I have to say”

“-and if I said that thing then maybe she’d want me there with her, wherever she is”

“The bad government dudes are after your super-girlfriend right? Right?! Okay, so, maybe the cops can help us find out where she is because they’re gonna kill her, man. And if they kill her, there gonna kill us!”

“Oh, no, no, no, no- it’s a shitty knock off, yeah”

“Who’s that twig with her?”

“That doesn’t mean he’s wrong. I mean, if that guy would’ve lived one more second- one more second- th- we could know where she is. Wh-why didn’t he just say the number? I-I should’ve explained myself, cuz then maybe, Eleven would’ve taken me with her and things would be different but I-I didn’t know what to say”

“And I feel like maybe I-I was worrying too much about El, and I don’t know, maybe I feel like I lost you or something”

“Y’know the last few days, I’ve had to think about the last talk we had. You know, before the cops and the whole word went to shit and everything? I- I guess- I just- I- I dunno- I guess I just wanted to- to say-”

“But… but what if after all of this is over… sh-she doesn’t need me anymore?”

“No I… it’s so stupid, given everything that’s going on. It’s just… I… I don’t know. I just”

“I, love you.”

Mike’s flopping on the floor like a miserable and suffocating fish out of water season. His friends make fun of him. Eddie made fun of his clothes. Karen told Dustin he’s welcome at the Wheeler’s anytime which implies that Mike isn’t really talking to his friends outside of school. Dustin and Mike didn’t know when Lucas’ basketball game was, which implies that they haven’t really been talking to Lucas a lot. Mike did call the Byers but wasn’t able to get through. El and Will are have been in Lenora for months and Mike hasn’t really been able to talk to either of them. El’s been lying to him in her letters and writing and signing letters is a reminder that he’s avoiding writing the word love. Everyone’s telling him that he’s doing something wrong. This kids going through it.

#Mike wheeler #byler #he’s got 0 self esteem #he’s been distancing himself from his friends #he’s got a history of depression/mental illness has a habit of striking back when you least expect it #he’s desperately trying to be normal #but he obviously doesn’t fit in with the freaks and losers like Dustin does #the only place he feels remotely alright being still isn’t right for him #he’s being confronted with not being able to tell el he loves her- and his sexuality #Will doesn’t call him #Nancy still doesn’t like him #and everytime I think about Mike in season four #I think about Will trying to knock some self confidence into him #and also Will looking concerned after Nancy made that comment about Mikes room #like that’s not normal for Mike. None of this is normal for Mike #and yet everyone’s just been like- yep. that’s Mike for you. #Will yelled at him once in episode two #and then picked up on Mike being moody and making comments to push people away #and not talking at breakfast. and then Will cut Mike a lot of slack after that #is Mike making good decisions? Hell no #but I think Will figured out that Mike is just struggling with everything. even if he doesn’t know what everything is. #Mike isn’t okay and that’s a problem because that’s the exact reason that everyone else got Vecna’d and yet they still can’t see it

[lendmyboyfriendahand]

More in the AU where Elrond and Elros are 16 years old rather than 6 when Sirion is sacked. Tag is "older kidnap fam fic" for previous installments

Elrond wakes up draped over the rump of a horse.

Not, to be clear, his own warhorse. His faithful stallion is being ridden by one of the few remaining warriors of the Gap, the great cavalry of the Noldor, who will be able to keep her seat regardless of what the horse tries.

Elrond isn't initially sure who is riding the horse that he's been set over like a sack of baggage. His arms are stretched out past his head, tied wrists dangling toward the ground, and his ankles are tied as well, tighter than the hobble that he had while walking. He can't see anything but horse flank.

Elrond wriggles around to try and get a better view, and someone notices.

"Lord Maedhros, it seems your guest is awake."

Maedhros pushes down the middle of Elrond's lower back to pin him more surely to the horse. "Lie still. If you fall off while riding in formation you're liable to get stepped on by the next horse, even if the rider wished to avoid you."

"I know how to ride properly."

"Yes, I saw that you were quite skilled when you killed my soldiers, which is why you're staying right there."

"Could I at least sit upright, even if I have to ride behind someone else like an infant?"

"Maybe tomorrow, if you give your word not to escape."

"I'm not stupid enough to try and bargain with you again, after you broke your word about setting us free from the cellar."

"I never said I'd set you free, I said I'd leave the city and wouldn't kill you. Sirion crumbled in the first assault, but I did no more damage after taking you and your brother into custody. If they're smart enough to repair the castle first, everyone should be able to keep warm this winter."

"And if they focus instead on burying their dead, or rebuilding their houses, or rescuing their kidnapped princes?"

"Who knows? But I'm not king of even the Noldor anymore, and the people of Sirion are not my responsibility."

"You would just let them die?" Elrond wanted to glare at the Feanorian, and nearly slipped backwards off the horse as he tried to sit up.

Maedhros caught Elrond deftly by the bound wrists and pulled him back into place. "Next time you do that, I'll let you fall"

"So you don't actually intend to even spare my life."

"I agreed to spare you, not to save you . None here will harm you, but I won't rescue you from consequences of childish stupidity, no more than I will rescue Sirion from winter. If you would rather bash your head open rather than remain my captive, I am not so cruel as to deny you that escape."

Elrond had nothing to say to that topic, as his first retort about more palatable escapes seemed likely just to enrage his captor, as did any question about cutting off hands. "Where's Elros? Was he at least left back in Sirion?" Elrond wanted his brother to be safe, and his people to have a leader with his mother drowned. But he, selfishly, also did to want to be alone with the kinslayers.

"He's here as well, don't worry. Nornmalo has him, and I trust him not to torture a prisoner, despite what it may sound like."

"The moans of pain might be a headache, he drank rather a lot of beer while we were trapped."

Maedhros laughed. "Well, a hungover child soldier. He will at least bother Nornmalo less with questions."

"Could I give him something to soothe the headache? I know a bit of healing."

"No. A headache won't kill him, and he'll get water when we stop same as you."

They stopped only once that day, to water the horses at a stream. Elros was pulled down from the saddle - feet first, luckily, though he still landed in a heap - and his hands untied. Maedhros tossed him a canteen, and said "if you need to piss, now's the best time. You won't get piss all over the horse or your clothes, and we're downstream of the rest of the company."

"My legs are still tied."

"The ropes low enough you should be able to unfasten your belt."

"Are you going to watch me the whole time?"

"Until I find another guard, yes."

Elrond drinks little enough water to avoid the issue, for the moment.

When it's time to ride again, Elrond puts up a fight about having his arms tied again. That just gets Maedhros pinning his face in the dirt while a soldier ties the rope.

Elrond is slung back on the horse like a parcel.

They stop again just before sunset to make camp.

Elrond's hands are untied again for dinner.

The food is simple, waybread and water, and Elrond wonders if he should mention that Men need to eat more than once a day.

Far more exciting than the food though is the figure dropped on the grass next to him, clutching his own canteen and waybread.

"Elros!"

"Elrond! By Ulmo, you're alright!"

"I am, just a bit bruised from the horse. You?"

"Here's something for your healer's notes: do not put people with hangovers upside down for hours. I must have thrown up a dozen times."

"That's terrible! Maybe we can ask-"

At that point the guard tells them to hurry up, they'll be taken to where they're sleeping in ten minutes regardless of how much dinner they've had. Elrond and Elros focus on eating.

They are not, apparently, going to be sleeping near each other. "Too much chance to plot."

The Feanorian soldiers have tents. Some of them share, some of them have their own. A few soldiers have tents obviously designed for two or three that they go into alone.

The horses stolen from Sirion are tied to a picket line. It's loped through the reins, but one person untying the end would let all the horses scatter.

The horses the Feanorians rode into town on are not tied at all. They are loyal old warhorses, and will not flee from orcs in the distance. If wolves do sneak past the guards into the camp, better for the horses to run, and come back at their masters' call when the danger is passed.

Elrond, by contrast, is tied to a tree trunk. His hands are tied in front of him rather than behind, and his legs are unbound. Maedhros's brother - and Elrond learned from a careless remark that their is only the one left - even tossed a blanket over Elrond's legs, to guard against the chill of the night air.

It is the most freedom of movement Elrond has had all day, but that's saying little.

He is stuck sitting up, feeling every root and rock underneath him, unable to reach his hands back to where the rope is tied behind the tree.

Elrond sleeps poorly, stirring at every noise, whether it's a guard on their rounds or an owl hooting its warning.

In the morning, Elrond is given a breakfast of water and waybread again.

Maedhros says "You know it would be suicidal to flee, alone in the wilderness, yes?" and lets Elrond ride behind him sitting up.

Elrond's hands are still bound, and a rope leads passed Maedhros to the saddle horn. If he fell off, he better hope he can keep pace with a cantering horse, or else be dragged on the ground.

Elrond stays on the horse. He figures out his balance well enough to turn, and sees Elros riding similarly.

Thing continue like this for over a week, until they reach Amon Ereb.

#older kidnap fam fic #my fic #silm #silmarillion #Nornmalo means oak friend #he was originally one of Curufin's followers I think; he is more used to defending a fortress than riding long distances #but all the best riders in the Feanorian host were either a) in the Gap during the Bragollach and so a lot of them died in fire #or b) on the riverlands of Ossirand under Amras and so extremely pissed off at Elrond and Elros now #Maedhros trusts /most/ of his soldiers not to torture or kill prisoners against his orders; but he does recall Doriath and Elured and Eluri #better to put the annoying enemy teenagers with someone who is grieving a bit less and so is less likely to strike them in anger #Maedhros is confident in his own self control in the field; he has scheduled to break down in tears three hours after they reach Amon Ereb #in the meantime he ignores all his emotions and doesn't attempt introspection

[autisticaradiamegido]

day 289

you know that episode of steven universe where ruby and sapphire are fighting because sapphire distances herself emotionally from her immediate surroundings in favor of looking at the big picture and ruby is focused on her emotional reaction to the immediate problems that surround them?

yeah dude

#day 289 #year 3 #aradia megido #jade harley #homestuck #arajade #they have. issues! #problems occur and aradia thinks she is being very comforting and level-headed about it all #but literally everything she says and does just further infuriates jade because to all appearances aradia doesnt seem to care #and SOMEONE has to fix the problem so it might as well be jade herself! #and the fact that aradia DOESNT share that impulse to take responsibility for the problems around her? #strikes jade as kind of careless and even selfish! #and maybe it is sometimes #meanwhile aradia thinks jade is getting awfully worked up about things that really dont need to be her problem and wow isnt that silly #i feel like she can end up being quite dismissive of others emotions #even though it really DOES matter to her that she treats others with kindness. she just thinks that redirecting peoples focus to like #THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS where their problems are rendered very small and unmeaningful #IS an act of kindness. because she finds that distance comforting so why shouldnt everyone else? #basically. #aradia optimistic nihilism vs jade optimistic existentialism: FIGHT

[thelvadams]

Karen Fukuhara in THE CALLISTO PROTOCOL

#the callisto protocol #tcpedit #gamingedit #horror games #karen fukuhara #striking distance studios #mistress-light #apocalypsekid #useranapples #thelvadams.gifs

[incorrect-hs-quotes]

DIRK: Too cringe for New York, too based for LA…

DIRK: Just miserable enough for the great state of New Jersey.

#submission #homestuck #incorrect homestuck quotes #dirk strider #mod terezi #hey leave new jersey alone #it's too close to where i live #and i do not want to be within striking distance of dirk