#I was planning on ordering the Winter King but after looking at the synopsis and first 2 chapters that were available online - no thanks

[wonder-worker]

Thomas Penn writes about 500 year old dead historical figures like they're celebrities in a gossip column

#it's funny to an extent but after a point it gets very grating #he has a wealth of information but he's far too sensationalistic and florid #and tends to choose the most unsympathetic and/or colorful interpretation of every situation and historical figure #he also has a habit of ... narrativizing history which doesn't really work for me #also his fatphobia re Edward IV was absolutely revolting #I was planning on ordering the Winter King but after looking at the synopsis and first 2 chapters that were available online - no thanks #I'm definitely not interested in reading about Henry VII supposedly being 'sinister' and 'Machiavellian' because he...ruled successfully? #because he did what kings (unfortunately) did all the time? How was he any different from the others? #also imagine calling *Henry VII* ruthless & unscrupulous when his predecessor murdered his own kid-nephews and his successor was Henry VIII #like please be serious #I had the same issue with the way he described Edward IV's reign. His descriptions were so theatrical and emphatic but #at the end of the day the things he was describing were very normal lol #or they would be normal if Penn didn't choose the most critical (and mocking tbh) perspective for every single thing #the way he described Henry VI's reign was also annoying but it thankfully had far less pagetime and was not the focus of his work #so it was comparatively more tolerable #i'm glad that he acknowledged the propaganda against Margaret tho. I didn't like how he described her but at the very least he acknowledged #that she was being slandered #also calling Warwick 'the regime's biggest headache' lmfao #and ig some of his analyses on Richard III were interesting. It helps that R3 had a very short and very dramatic reign from start to finish #so Penn's flourishing tone doesn't really feel out of place for it

[zemodaddy]

Hey so i finally completed the first chapter of the zemo x reader fanfic. Make sure to read the authors note at the end and i hope you enjoy.!

Synopsis:

Y/n is an ex-avenger who, after the blip was forced to work for the US government. You trained to be an assassin/spy and your gifts of wielding flames made you invaluable. When you were assigned to follow Bucky you find him helping Helmut Zemo escape from his prison cell. What is he up to? Should you stop him?

Warnings: violence, lots of swearing, angst, fluff and in later chapters extreme acts of hatred towards John Walker :)

Shades of Him

They replaced him. They replaced him with a random guy and stuck Steve’s shield on him. You were staring at the TV in disbelief. You thought of Steve like a brother and he definitely wouldn’t have wanted this.

After the blip you had no job, the avengers pretty much all separated and that left you without anything to do, and that meant no income and no income meant no home or food. You couldn’t exactly find a normal job because most people were afraid of you. A trained assassin and spy who could wield flames wasn’t really considered normal. That left you with no choice but to accept the deal the US government offered you. Do their dirty work and you wont end up homeless.

Your newest mission was to track Bucky to make sure he followed the rules set upon him for his pardon. You are close to him, like you were close to Steve. Hiding the fact that you were following him everywhere he went was kind of hard but you managed. You had to manage.

So finding him and Sam visiting a German prison kind of surprised you. Had this got to do with his therapy? Surely not. They left around an hour later and from then nothing more suspicious happened. A quick google search and a deep dive into some public records showed that a high security prisoner resided at this prison. Not just anyone. Zemo.

Interesting you thought. Later that night you followed Bucky and Sam to an old garage. You waited outside for 5 minutes before entering, trying to keep to the shadows of the room. The two men seemed to be in the midst of a heated discussion. “You want Zemo to help us?” Sam looks exasperated. Bucky looks a bit apprehensive as he says “Look let me walk you through a hypothetical, can I do that?” He begins to explain an elaborate escape plan for Zemo. Your mind was wizzing with thoughts as you tried to figure out your next move. He really isn’t in the right headspace, same old Bucky, you roll your eyes. “What are you guys doing?” You step out of the darkness. The two seemed to jump out of their skin, clearly not expecting you to be there.

“Y/n? What are you doing here?” Bucky asks. They both looked so shocked by your sudden appearance that you had to suppress a laugh. “I was following you.” He doesn’t look happy. “YOU WERE FOLLOWING ME?” He raises his voice. You weren’t scared because you knew he loved you really. Keeping the same tone as him you shout back “YES AND YOU’RE HELPING A CRIMINAL” “I SAID HYPOTHETICALLY DIDN’T I”. Sam looks like he could start laughing any moment. You weren’t even sure if you should laugh or arrest them. Suddenly your phone buzzes. “Then please explain to me why I just got a message saying that ZEMO HAS ESCAPED FROM PRISON?” Sam looks mad now. “You’re kidding me Bucky” he says. “Look we don’t have any other leads, we were at a dead end.”

You knew that the two were looking for information on the new super soldiers serum. “He blew up the UN, he killed king T’Chaka!” Before Bucky could reply to Sams argument, the sound of a door shutting sounds through the garage and guess who walks in. Helmut fucking Zemo. Your hand flies immediately to the dagger on the side of your thigh. “Woah woah woah” Sam starts walking towards him as Bucky tries to hold him back. Too bad he didn’t see you slip past them and push Zemo against the wall with said dagger against his throat. “Your going back to prison” you pass him a sickly sweet smile. He looked surprised by you holding him against that wall but didn’t fight back. Not with the blade in your hand starting to heat up against his skin. “y/n let him go” Bucky looks frustrated.

“He can lead us closer to the serum, just let him breath for a second” Zemo did start to look a little breathless. Good, he should be scared of you. Reluctantly you let him go. He starts to talk “if I may”. At the same time the three of you go “NO”. He looked a little displeased by the response but didn’t have any other option but to oblige. “Apologies”. After further debating and a lot of disagreements you and Sam finally agree to trust Zemo.. for the time being anyways. “Alright Zemo, where do we start”

You mentally set a reminder to always have an eye on Zemo, how could you not with a guy like him. He seemed to be sending you anxious glances in return, which to be fair you did nearly choke him to death. He leads you to a large warehouse containing numerous cars of different ages, sizes and colours. Probably stolen you think. After grabbing a case full with clothes for zemo you all head to an airstrip. In the middle of which was a private jet. You look at it in awe. “So you were rich all this time?” Sam asks. “I’m a baron Sam, my family was royalty before your friends destroyed my country”. Shit. Those cars weren’t stolen then..

The mention of his country makes you think back to that battle against ultron. You were very tempted to leave the avengers after nearly wiping out the entirety of a population of a country. But they convinced you to stay, where else could you have gone anyway? You think a little longer about the aftermath, when you helped after the battle with the injured, and loved ones finding their dead. It was one of the saddest moment of your life, until the blip. No one else helped from the avengers, they didn’t even visit the memorial..

“Y/n you coming?” Sam was saying from the top of the stairs. Lost in thought you were stood in front of the plane. Maybe I should stop getting distracted you thought. Entering the jet the seats on the right were already occupied by Sam and Bucky, leaving the only other seat opposite Zemo free. Great. As a gentle reminder you check your dagger on your thigh, almost like a warning that if he tries anything he’ll know what’s coming. Zemo swallows looking where it would be and ask his butler person for a drink. Was that his butler or the pilot? Rich people problems you thought. The plane sets off and you look out of the window daydreaming a little.

The other three talk lightly until the mention of Buckys list, which ends in zemo being choked yet again. You smile a little, enjoying the mini acts of revenge for the people he’s hurt and killed. You feel a bit sleepy but then they start to discuss where you were going. “Do we want to live in a world full of people like the red skull” Zemo shakes his head lightly “that’s why we’re going to Madripoor”. Confused, Bucky explains the place’s history in the Indonesian archipelago. “It’s kept its lawless ways but we cannot go in as our selves” Zemo says. Uh oh that can’t be good.

You were right. Zemo had handed you a bag full of clothes and a pair of heels. You stared at yourself in the full length mirror that resided in the toilets. “You have got to be kidding me” you say aloud. Your were wearing a dark purple silky dress that reached only just halfway down your thigh. It exposed most of your arms, shoulders and a lot of your chest. Thankfully there was a black leather jacket in the bag too, however on the shoulders sat a blanket of fur, similarly to Zemos coat that he took from the warehouse. Your heels were also purple. You thank the lord you took the time to train in heels too because you never know when the situation arises when you happen to find yourself in those monstrous shoes.

“This” you point at yourself “is not happening”. “Ah my baroness has arrived” Zemo says, amusement glinting in his eyes. You glared at the word ‘baroness’. “Here put this on darling, to finish it off”. He holds what seems to be a lipstick in his hand. You already knew what shade it was before taking it from him. “Do you have some thing for purple or is that just me?” Sam and Bucky both laughed.

You had to admit, the dress didn’t look bad, in fact it looked expensive. To say you were uncomfortable was an understatement, not necessarily for what you were wearing, but for the hand now draped around your waist. Zemos hand. He said that no matter what, you couldn’t break character. Bucky was playing the role as the winter soldier; you felt bad for him, the memories this must bring up. You can’t even begin to imagine. Sam however, wore an extravagant and abstract red suit that kind of looked like a dress. It was funny to see his reaction to which he comments that he looked like a “pimp”.

A car pulls up beside you and you all pile in. Of course you were sat next to zemo in the back. After around five minutes you arrive in lowtown. A place where you could apparently find a gall called Selby. That hand snaked back around you as you intermingle with the crowded streets. The high density of the crowd forced you even closer to Zemos side leaving practically no space between you now. You could feel his warm body against yours, sending a shiver down your spine. He looks down on you. His eyes seem to be softer now than they were before and he gives you a quick kiss on the temple as if to reassure you that you’re safe. You tried to keep yourself from shaking him off of you but as you carried on walking, you got used to him a bit more. Sam and Bucky followed the two of you, both with grim faces.

Finally, you come to a bar, most people around you watching carefully as you all enter. Zemo orders the both of you a shot and Sam gets his usual. This turned out to be something containing whatever the barman cutout of a snake. The sight of it made your stomach drop, and to your astonishment, Sam actually drank it. He looked like he wanted to be sick but, no matter what he had to stay in character. Bucky gave a slight nod, he didn’t get a drink, not as the winter soldier.

You had let it be known of who you wanted to see and as you waited a man came up behind Zemo and you. He immediately guided you away from this man so he was in front of you and Zemo in front of the man. He knew you could hold your own, you had made that clear already, but he wanted to protect you. For the act of course. “You ain’t welcome here” the man stated, placing a hand roughly on zemos shoulder as he turned to face him. “I have no business with the powerbroker, but if he insists he can either talk to me” Zemo points at Bucky. His hand then slipped to yours, holding it tightly. “Or bring Selby for a chat”. The man looks displeased and walks away. You had many things you wanted to say to Zemo at this moment, but sticking to your character was more important. As he continued to grip your hand, other men started to menacingly prowl towards you all. Zemo gave Bucky the order to attack and so he did. A fight quickly broke out between them all but Bucky was far too strong for them all. This ended in Bucky holding one of the guys that remained standing against the bar table. Finally someone called to say selby was ready to see your group. This was going to be interesting.

Notes

Okay i left this on a little bit of a cliffhanger but the next chapter should be out in a day or so. This is my first fanfic i have published so I’m interested to see what everyone thinks. If there’s any spelling or grammar mistakes then umm you didn’t see anything. I hope you enjoyed!

@killsandthrills @aisling1985 @booklover2929 @arianalilyblack @your-pixels-are-showing @kenna-1904

#mcu #helmut zemo #sugar daddy zemo #baron zemo x you #baron zemo x reader #helmut zemo x reader #baron zemo #daniel brühl #marvel #tfatws

[avengerscompound]

The Sometimes Friend - 11

The Sometimes Friend:  A Loki Fanfic

Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing:  Loki x OFC (Svana)

Word Count:  1902

Warnings:  angst and canon typical violence (basically this is the thor movie from someone else’s perspective)

Synopsis:  Sometimes at odds, sometimes friends, sometimes lovers, Loki and Svana share a bond that stretches millennia and few truly understand.  This is their story.

Chapter 11

Svana retired to bed alone that night, knowing that Loki had further plans.  She knew he was to spend time with his mother at Odin’s side playing the dutiful son.  She knew he would return to Jotunheim and speak to Laufey.  He had told her so much of what he had planned.  How he was going to make it look like Laufey was planning to murder Odin, only to save the old king last minute and earn his spot as Odin’s most trusted son.

Svana wasn’t completely on board with that part of the plan, but she figured the worst that could happen would be that Laufey was successful in his attempt and she would never have to worry about Odin again.  Her role, for now, was minor.

So while she slept Loki put things into play.  He visited with his mother for a while and then went to Jotunheim and tempted Laufey with the offer of eight of the realms.  Upon his return, he was accosted by Heimdall.  Heimdall, always suspicious of Odin’s youngest son, yet even he was subdued with a few words.

While Heimdall was always suspicious of Loki, the same went in the other direction, so Loki watched the bridge from one of the palace balconies.  When he saw the Bifrost open he knew he needed to act.  He rushed to the treasure room and collected the casket of ancient winters before meeting Heimdall on the bridge.

The seer was standing outside waiting for him.

“Tell me, Loki, how did you get the Jotuns into Asgard?” Heimdall asked.

“You think the Bifrost is the only way in and out of this realm?” Loki sneered.  “There are secret paths between the worlds to which even you, with all your gifts, are blind. But I have need of them no longer, now that I am king. And I say, for your act of treason, you are relieved of your duties as Gatekeeper, and no longer citizen of Asgard.”

“Then I need no longer obey you,” Heimdall said impassively, and lunged at Loki, swinging his sword in a long sweep aimed at the trickster’s throat.

Loki pulled the casket from the shadow dimension and opened it, releasing its powers onto Heimdall, freezing him in place.  He vanished the casket again and began striding off toward the palace. With Sif and the warriors three on Midgard, he was going to need to be more proactive about keeping Thor there.

He wished that Svana was with him to discuss what to do next.  He hated the idea of hurting his brother, but the only way he could see to make sure this all worked out for him was to send the destroyer after him.  Perhaps if Svana was awake she could perform a binding spell, but even that would not buy him the kind of time he needed.  He’d have to do it, and hopefully, his brother would be smart enough to stand down.

He summoned the mystic armor that had been built to kill gods and immortals using Gungnir and pressed on it his desire to have Thor’s surrender.  As it went to Midgard to carry out his orders, Loki began to scheme.  Things weren’t quite going to plan and he needed to adjust things to make sure they still did.  As he reached the throne room he was just resigning himself to waking Svana and asking for her help, when he felt the hit from Mjolnir striking the Destroyer.

He turned and in his anger sent out the will to kill Thor.  It was rash and came from his frustration, but he knew that if Thor did survive he would do whatever he could to get back here and stop this, and Loki needed to succeed.  He needed Odin to say he was wrong and that Loki should be king.

“Go wake the lady Svana,” Loki said to one of his guards as he swept past him.  “Tell her her king needs her.”

He rushed back to the Himinbjorg to retrieve Laufey and finish this once and for all.

Svana woke, startled by the banging on her door.  She got up and pulled on a robe, answering with her brow furrowed.  “What is it?  Has something happened?”

“I was just told to wake you, you will have to speak to him yourself,” the guard said.

She shut the door and went and changed as quickly as she could before heading down to find Loki.  There was no sign of him in the throne room and Svana wasn’t sure where she should go to find him.  She wondered if this was a bedroom summons and went to the wing that housed the royal’s chambers.  She knocked on his door and when there was no answer she let herself in.  His bed looked undisturbed and Svana furrowed her brow as she considered what to do next.

There was a loud explosion from further down the hall and Svana ran in the direction of it, only to be passed by Thor, Mjolnir in hand.  She stopped in confusion for a moment before hurrying after him.  She arrived at Odin’s chambers mid-argument between Thor and Loki.  Frigga was embracing Thor while a frost giant lying dead on the floor and Odin continued to slumber.

“Why don't you tell her how you sent the Destroyer to kill our friends, to kill me?”  Thor snarled at Loki as he pulled away from his mother.

Svana froze in place.  She had agreed to help make Loki king, but she hadn’t agreed to kill Thor.  He shouldn’t be king, but he was good at heart and had always treated her kindly.

“What?”  Frigga said shocked.

“Why, it must have been enforcing Father's last command,” Loki lied.

Thor moved to the opposite side of the bed holding Odin, staring his brother down.  “You're a talented liar, Brother. Always have been.”

“It's good to have you back. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to destroy Jotunheim,” Loki said and blasted Thor with Gungnir.  Thor flew back, slamming through the palace wall and toppling down the edge of the building.

Loki ran from the room past his mother without a word.  “Are you coming?” he snapped at Svana, but the woman just stood frozen in place, shocked by how things were turning out.  Loki let out a derisive sound but didn’t break stride leaving Svana behind.

“Did you know about this?” Frigga asked, staring at Svana.

“I - I knew about some,” Svana admitted.  “Not that he tried to kill Thor.”

“Why would he do this?  To his own brother.  His father?” Frigga cried, the pain dripping off her voice.

Svana shook her head.  “He has felt less than for so long,” she said.  “And Thor… you had to have seen how arrogant he can be…”

Frigga slapped Svana hard across the cheek.  “I let you into our home!  Our family!”

Savana’s head rocked to the side and she automatically clutched her cheek.  “You think this is my fault?  After everything that has happened?  You reap what you sow, my lady, and your husband has been planting these seeds in his children for centuries.”

“You could have warned me, I could have done something to stop it,” Frigga argued.

“Like what?  Force Odin to love his youngest child?” Svana asked.  “If you could have done that, surely you would have by now.”

“Odin loves Loki,” Frigga answered.  “He’s just…”

“What?”  Svana interrupted.  “Preferred Thor?  That was obvious.”

Frigga raised her hand like she was going to slap the girl again and then slowly lowered it, looking back at her husband in his Odinsleep.  “We need to wake him.  He needs to fix this.”

Svana nodded.  “I will try to redirect the flow of magic,” she said and turned to leave.  She turned back again with a frown.  “For what it’s worth, I am sorry.  I didn’t want harm to come to Thor.  That was never in Loki’s plans that he told me.  We both love Thor.”

Frigga frowned, her eyes a dark cloud of grief and fury.  When the queen said nothing, Svana left to return to the aerie.

The young witch worked in the tower room, redirecting the flow of magic as the two brothers battled on the rainbow bridge.  Loki’s anger had consumed him fully and all he could think about was how he didn’t even belong to this family.  All those years he’d spent trying to show his father what shame was and it was for nothing because it wouldn’t have mattered what Loki did - how good or bad he could be - Loki was not Odin’s son and it meant nothing to him.  Loki might as well destroy worlds and kill the golden child because there was nothing Loki could do to show Odin he was worthy.  Loki was just another frost giant unworthy and unfit to even inhabit the same space as Thor.

He fought with all his might and used all his tricks, but in the end, Thor was always the better warrior.  Thor pinned the trickster to the bridge using Mjolnir, and Loki struggled to get up from under it.  It didn’t matter.  Everything had been set into motion.  Jotunheim was currently being destroyed by the Bifrost and there was nothing that Thor could do to stop it.  Loki may not have won, but neither had Thor and tonight, that would have to be enough.

“Look at you - the Mighty Thor, with all your strength, and what good does it do you now, huh? Do you hear me, Brother? There's nothing you can do!”  Loki sneered from his position, pinned to the rainbow bridge.

Thor looked around and summoned Mjolnir to him.  Loki was confused for a moment, and then Thor began to beat the hammer against the thick glass of the bridge, the bridge splintering under the force.

“What are you doing? If you destroy the bridge, you'll never see her again!”  Loki screamed.

Loki got up and charged at his brother, leaning in the air and aiming Odin’s spear at Thor’s back as Thor continued to pound against the bridge.

“Forgive me, Jane,” Thor said, his voice cracking, and just as Loki was about to run him through, he slammed Mjolnir on the bridge and it broke, sending both brothers flying from the force of the blast that disintegrated the bridge and sent Himinbjorg toppling over the side of the falls and into space.

Both brothers began to fall, Thor grabbed hold of Gungnir but he wasn’t sure if it would achieve much, both were free-falling over the side of the shattered bridge.

A hand wrapped around Thor’s boot and they both stopped falling, dangling over nothing.  Loki looked up to see Odin looking down over the edge at them, holding Thor in place.

“I could have done it, Father!” Loki yelled, tears running down his face.  He could see the anguish in Thor’s face, but all he wanted was for his father to tell him he was worthy too.  “I could have done it! For you! For all of us!”

“No, Loki,” Odin said quietly.

Loki looked up at Odin and knew, there was nothing he could do.  He would always be the disappointment, the lesser brother.

“Loki, no,” Thor said, reading his brother’s features and knowing what Loki had only just figured out.  The trickster let go of the spear and fell.

// NEXT

#loki #loki odinson #loki laufeyson #loki x ofc #loki x oc #loki fanfic #fanfiction #the sometimes friend

[amarabliss]

Galahdian Dreams (Nyx Ulric/Reader)

It’s Valentine’s Day and I have a whole new story in my head about Nyx…but I refuse to write it right now cause I want to finish Oaths and Hearts… so I will indulge a little for the sake of V-Day…

Synopsis: Your father was the king of Insomnia. He was good and just. You never thought you’d meet anyone like him after he was taken from the world. You Uncle Regis, has taken the throne and followed through on your father’s plans. It was good to see the city in capable hands. Enter Nyx Ulric, refugee, Glaive, fighter…how is it he can see all your secrets? He knows how to set you off and he’s promised to not let you go…(AU for sure, Regis wasn’t supposed to take the throne, and our lovely Nyx has more of a past then we thought…)

WARNING: Be aware, this may be triggering for those who deal with thoughts of suicide. If you need help please reach out. I love you, and no I will not let you go.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

“You will escort my niece from this point on. Do you understand, Nyx Ulric?” King Regis held his gaze at the young man before. 

Nyx’s eyes shifted just for a moment toward the former princess of Insomnia. She looked so sad and something in him stirred. He knew exactly how she felt in that moment. 

Her home was no longer her’s. Forced to change in order to survive. Orphaned…

“Of course, your Majesty. I will do as you command.” Nyx planted his hand over his heart and bowed.

“Good…it is important for a bodyguard to understand his charge. Y/N,” Regis turned to you placing a hand on your arm, “this is for the best, I hope you will cooperate so he may do his job properly.”

“Yes uncle…of course.” You spoke quietly before glancing at this Glaive, “I appreciate everything you’re doing…under the circumstances…”

“I wish I could have done more…Your father was a great king and you mother a loving queen…I know they would have done the same had they ever been in the position I am in now.” Regis sighed his features softening, “I do this because I love you…and I do not want the same fate to befall you. It is only by the Six you were not in that caravan…”

“I won’t trouble you, I promise.” You stared into his eyes as you forced a smile, but your eyes were cold and distant, “I will do what is necessary…your Majesty…”

Nyx eyes widen slightly as you turned stepping away from Regis. He’d never seen anyone just leave the King’s presence before without being dismissed. Granted he and his people had only been filtering into the city within the last year, thanks to Regis’ extended hand of help, so his knowledge of Insomnian royal protocol was next to none.

“Uh…” Nyx glanced at you as you passed him. He cleared his throat bowing to Regis, “Your Majesty…”

“Go with your charge Glaive…keep her safe.”  Regis’ eyes met Nyx’s directly as if to serve as a warning.

Nyx nodded once before turning briskly. He ran to catch up with you. He didn’t miss how you looked at him slightly irked by him placing an arm out to stop you, “Ma’am, I will go first.”

“As you see fit.” You took in a breath clenching your fists for a second.

He waved you out when he cleared the hallway and began following you down the many corridors, “Ma’am?”

“Yes?” You didn’t stop or look at him even for a second as he spoke to you.

“It would be a great benefit to know our destination.” He told you quickly, “So I can be better prepared…”

“You have nothing to worry about…” You looked at him finally pushing open a glass door, “We’re here.”

He hadn’t been to this part of the citadel before and he felt his mouth drop slightly as warm humid heat hit his face. A wide open greenhouse lay out before him. Colors of every kind sparkled from the flowers and leaves. It was winter in Insomnia, and this was…

“Are you going to stand there all day and gawk?” He looked over at you as you took off your cape hanging it up near some tools, “Or are you going to come in?”

“Forgive me ma’am…it…” He stopped as he shut the door to keep the heat inside.

“It what?” You asked as you tied an apron around you waist.

“Uh…” He tilted his head a little before he answered, “It reminds me of home, ma’am…”

You looked at him eyes flashing a little, “Like…Galahd?”

“Yes ma’am.”  He nodded stepping in slowly.

“Hm…my father would bring back specimens from all his trips…” You spoke softly as you pulled on a glove, “Perhaps there is some piece of Galahd here…you’re welcome to look.”

“Thank you…ma’am.” Your eyes met his for the first time. He swallowed a little unsure of how to proceed.

Finally, you walked up to him holding out your ungloved hand, “I have a name…it’s certainly not ma’am…Y/N  Lucis Caelum.”

He took your hand in his noting the softness of your skin, “Nyx Ulric.”

“Hm…” You shook his hand before letting it go, “Do you know plants?”

“Know? Uh, not particularly. No.” He shook his head as you walked back grabbing a watering can and a small handled carrier holding tools.

“Shame…I fear you’re going to be very bored.” You smiled, genuinely, and Nyx felt blessed to see it because it was lovely. Even if it did only last for a second.

“I learn fast…if it matters.” He sprinted to catch up with you as you walked through the garden, “I have a friend and we did know a thing or two about hops…”

“Hops? As in beer making?” You looked at him quzzically.

“Yes, ma’am…best brew of the capital…” He smiled and it slowly faded, “Well it was…”

You stopped and stared at him for a moment. You looked as if you had a thousand conversations you wanted to speak but not a single word made it past your lips. He could see such a strong wall behind your eyes. He understood it…

“Libertus had the green thumb.” He finally said to break the awkward tension, “I was more the face…”

“Ah…I see…” You nodded slowly turning from him silence falling again as you watered some plants. He shifted on the balls of his feet looking around the area. It was beautiful here and so unlike the rest of Insomnia. Here things felt alive.

“You can ask your questions if you like.” Your voice drew him back to the task at hand. You glanced over your shoulder, “But don’t expect it to be one sided.”

“…what happened?” He asked you seriously. A small breeze made the leaves sound like a wave as he watched you stand up stiffly.

You looked at him nose reddening from suppressed tears, “They were coming home from talks with…I think Lestallum…I don’t really remember…and a Nif hit squad bombed the caravan…”

“Why weren’t you with them?” He watched as it became a struggle to speak, “Y/N…why weren’t you with them? The Royal Family is supposed to travel together at all times…”

You took in a sharp breath, “…it was my birthday…and I stayed behind here with a friend and couple guards…I just….”

“You don’t have to say anymore…” Nyx took a step forward, “I understand.”

“Do you?” You looked up to his face an anger coming to your eyes.

“Yes…” He spoke straight faced, “You’re not the only one who’s lost people because of the Empire…you’re not the only one who’s lost a home because of it either…”

He watched as you took a step back looking at the ground, “This place…it’s all I have of my father anymore…He wasn’t a man who liked things.”

You went on taking off your glove before reaching out touch the leaves of a plant, “He liked to leave things behind…he wanted things to grow…”

“I’ve heard he was a kind king, that it was actually his idea to open the borders to us, Galahdians…” Nyx told you quietly, “I probably owe him my life, so it’s only fitting I protect yours.”

“For what it’s worth…” You whispered shutting your eyes, “which isn’t much anymore…”

“Whoa…” You looked at him as concern fell over his features, “Let’s make one thing clear, all life is sacred and created equally…Y/N, you’re not…”

“I’m tired…” You turned from him throwing the gloves in the box you carried as you walked away.

He stood there watching you for a moment before he followed you. Warning signs began signalling in his mind as he followed you all the way to your room. He stepped in clearing the room as his thoughts raced.

“All clear.” He stopped in front of you as you held the door.

“Thank you, you can go.” You waved for him to leave.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that ma’am.” Your eyes widened. Good you could still be surprised.

“Everything is clear…I don’t need your assistance any longer.” You told him quickly.

“No ma’am, there is a clear danger present.” Nyx stepped up to you leaning into your face becoming very serious, “I promised to protect you, that means even from yourself.”

You looked away from him shaking your head, “I have no intention…”

“Say it to my face.” His eyes narrowed in for the kill, “If you really mean it…say it to my face.”

The same emotional tells from before. Cold distant eyes full of a hurricane of self loathing. He knew that storm well, weathered it from time to time still himself, “I…”

“So…what…the plan was get a guard…a good one…” He reached up for the door pushing it closed, “Try to get them relaxed…disinterested in your hobbies…come back here…”

He moved across the room scanning everything until your eyes flickered toward the bookshelf. He walked over reaching for a decorated box as you spoke, “You have no right!”

He glared at you holding up the box from your reach. He turned reaching inside pulling out a pill bottle…one of many… He turned back clenching his jaw, “Well here…”

He shoved the box into your hands roughly making a few of the bottles fall out as he spoke, “You can do it, but I’m going to be right here to save you.”

Tears welled up into your eyes as your face reddened, “You don’t even know me!”

“I don’t need to know you to know that you’re hurting!” He shouted back at you, “I don’t need to know you to want to keep you safe!”

You let out a scream throwing the box at him. He shielding his head with is arm only lowering it when you looked him in the eye, “Get out!”

“No.” He flexed his hands as he shook his head, “I’m not going to leave you like this.”

“I don’t want you here!” You came up to pounding your fist into his chest, “Leave!”

“I won’t.” Six, he knew this pain. He knew this process and he wished someone had been there with him, “I won’t ever leave you like this.”

You screamed as tears pooled down your face. A years worth of holding it all in coming out all at once. You pushed him, punched him, and he just stood there until you couldn’t stand anymore. 

His arms wrapped around you as he helped you to the floor. You cried into his chest, wails of loss, of resentment and shame. He sighed rubbing your back slowly trying to help you find a steady breathing pattern again.

“Your ladyship!” Guards burst into the room no doubt alarmed by the commotion from a moment ago.

Nyx looked at them shielding you from the world as he pledged he would, “We’re fine here…”

#galahdian dreams #nyx ulric #nyx ulric reader #nyx ulric/reader #kingsglaive #glaive #ffxv imagine #ffxv #nyx ulric imagine #final fantasy xv #final fantasy xv imagine

[som3thingcr3ative]

Voluspa Part 7

I PROMISED DIDNT I

synopsis: Astrid and Ivar spend more time together: they talk about defenses, the future and Ivar’s *gasp* feelings. 

PART 1 2 3 4 5 6

previously:  I wave off her near-apology. “My abilities are not easy for a christian to accept.” I say. She flinches, clearly knowing the C-word doesn’t mix well in a heathen country. “I understand your uncertainty, Rita. We can talk about your questions tomorrow, after I have rested.” I glance at her as I tuck myself back under my furs. “Do try to rest now, the hours left to us until the dawn will be uneventful.”

My breath frosts in the air as I stand outside the great hall, waiting for Ivar to emerge. Speaking to him before Bjorn spins a web of lies is critical, especially this early and despite my status as a witch. Einar sits ever faithfully to my right, leaning against my leg as he watches vikings go about their business. Rita is to my left, her curiosity never ending.

“So your powers come from actual gods, who actually speak to and through you?”

“My powers were passed down through my family line for longer than you can imagine,” I tell her honestly, thinking of the thousands of my ancestors who’d come before me, all in times after those I currently live in. I can’t dwell on it too long or the thought weirds me out. “I came into them when my father died, and he when his mother before him passed. It is given to the first born child, and if that child is dead, then through the siblings until none remain. If there are no siblings, it goes to the closest blood relative, and if the whole family has been destroyed, the gods choose a new völva.”

Her mouth drops open. “Did Christ truly exist?” She questions, a logical next query. “Is my god real, or just yours?”

The doors to the great hall open just on time. Her god is not one I feel comfortable commenting on for good or ill; I have seen what it does to people in my time. “My King,” I say, drawing Ivar’s attention as his crutches pass over the threshold. He looks at me curiously, turning toward me. “I was wondering if I could join you to spar this morning?”

Ivar’s smile is genuine as he glances at the sword resting on my hip, the vambrace of throwing knives on my arm that I’d had packed in my saddlebags. “How could I say no to that?” He tilts his head toward the woods, where I can feel the chaotic energy of warriors blowing off steam. “I’ve heard what the scouts said about your weapon and I’d love to see it for myself.”

I walk next to him through the city, Einar on my other side and Rita following demurely behind. Ivar seems barely limited by his legs; in fact he moves rather gracefully on the crutches, the shirt under his leather armor straining over his chest, shoulders and arms. I don’t let my gaze linger, no matter how badly I want to. “I confess to having an ulterior motive.” I say, and if he’s surprised, he doesn’t show it. “I wish to speak to you about the city’s defenses.”

His eyes turn to the walls rising along the wooded line of Kattegat, where guards pace on their watches. So far away they appear as small moving bumps. “What of them?”

“The defenses you do not have are the ones that concern me, My King.”

“You honor me with the title, Seerschild, but among peers it isn’t warranted.” Ivar’s eyes are crystal, glinting playfully in the light. “What changes would you have me make?”

“I’d start with enclosing the beach with walls, leaving two entrances; one for traffic in and one for traffic out, on busy days. The houses there would have to be moved, of course, in order to find solid ground for the walls- or we could have some houses outside the walls, at their own peril. They would have to be stone, to be maintained against the water and attackers, but if the city expanded into the mountains beside us, we would have enough.”

“In the same design as a saxon city?” Ivar questions. 

“The same.” I say. “I intend to protect you against future attackers, to allow the Viking way to thrive. To do that we must keep up with what lasts the longest; wood burns. Stone does not.”

“I have personally visited and conquered many saxon cities.” He says. “I must admit, the walls can be...tricky.”

“Many cities will use them for hundreds of years to come.”

He looks back the way we came, toward the undefended beach. “I will announce the work tonight. Many will grumble, but in this time before raiding season, we must stay busy and in shape.”

“And prepare for the winter. This one will be harsh.” I say, feeling the energy of the ground beneath me. Something dangerous slumbers, ready to awaken in the deadening cold. “I’d advise a longer raiding season, with as many fighters as can go. The fewer left here, the better.”

“Can we finish the walls before the season?” Another glance toward the beach. He shakes his head. “No, it wouldn’t be possible.” 

“Halfway.” I announce. If we found saxon stone masons on the raiding trips, so much the better. The scheming wheels in my mind begin to turn faster as a plan arises. “Floki will need help building the boats needed; we will have many captives to bring back as workers- and so long as they are treated well, they will do beautiful work for us.”

I can feel Rita’s eyes on my back. She doesn’t like the idea of the vikings taking any more slaves than they already have- not to mention what I’m proposing sounds awful. “I know the people taken are viewed as weak, since they couldn’t fight off the Viking might.” I say, feeling Ivar’s eyes on me as well. “But if our ways remain as they have been, we will be the ones too weak to fight off invaders. We must integrate carefully, building our numbers with theirs without losing our way.”

“What are you proposing?” 

“Too much for one conversation, I fear. The simple truth is this; they can prove useful to us, and us to them. A people who love and respect their King are far more likely to protect him and their lands than ones who fear him. Fear breeds mistrust and hate. Respect must be earned.”

We step onto the training ground together. I’ve given Ivar much to think over- and for a moment I believe it to be too much, too fast- but then I see the plans behind his eyes, the clever mind at work. “Let us fight, Astrid Seerschild.” He says, drawing an axe from the holster on his thigh. “I wish to see your other skills now that I know a piece of your cunning.”

I grin, unable to help it. I’ve never been able to train the way I was born to; all out, a fight for my life. Now is my chance, and for it to be against such a famous Viking, well, I can’t be embarrassed to say that my heart flutters. “Einar,” I murmur. “I’ll be fine, go with Rita.”

My handmaiden takes the hint, drawing the wolf off to the side of the clearing where he whines just briefly, his amber eyes on me. I draw my sword, laughing at the wicked, greedy gleam that suddenly arises in Ivar’s eyes. 

Just like that, we enter into a fight that is more dance than anything else. I batter him back with a series of well-thought out blows and he replies with a violent grace, axe swinging as if it’s part of his own body. Around us the clearing goes quiet. I don’t know if it’s because my senses are so in tuned to the fight or if everyone’s watching, but the exhilaration fuels me as my muscles stretch and contract, quickly warming me up. 

“Nothing like a fight to start the day, huh?” I ask of Ivar, whose eyes narrow as he parries a particularly quick flourish and attack. 

“Gets the blood flowing,” He agrees, striking at my shoulder. I roll with it, spinning along the length of his arm and stepping into his guard, landing a solid blow with the pommel of my sword into his gut. The air whooses out of his lungs against my neck, and a bare second later I’m gone, a sword’s-length away. “Good move,” He concedes, recovering quickly. “Not many can land a hit.”

Sweat gathering under my layers of clothes, I smile, all teeth. “I’ve been well trained.” It’s the truth; my father had insisted on private tutors in martial arts, fencing, weaponry. I’d grown up being taught the value of hard work and sweat, often with too many bruises to count. He hooks his axe over the tip of my sword, twisting to pull me in; I hold fast, anticipating his strike. It comes quickly as he draws another axe and begins the fight anew, dual wielding. 

My grip switches to single hand and I pull a dagger from around my waist, settling into a ready stance. Block, strike, defend, strike, parry. Our blades clash together, bodies twisting and stretching, minds sharpened to just the single moment. I do not hold back, and after a few blows, neither does he. We fight in earnest, not a cripple and a woman, but two skilled bodies honed to the craft. 

It’s long minutes before Ivar gives me another opening. He’d over-extended in his effort to feint toward my leg, leaving his elbow too close to straight. I duck in, dagger curving over his forearm and pinning his wrist against my own arm, landing a quick hit with the vaguely-fist shape metal of my pommel. The blow lands true in the muscle just under his armpit and his forearm spasms, nerves going dead. He growls, his axe dropping from tingling fingers as he twists, the remaining axe swinging in a deadly arc toward my head. 

I tuck and roll, popping back up on my feet in a fluid motion, successfully avoiding his attack. Oh, now he’s angry. Ivar’s eyes gleam in the sunlight, sweat beaded on his brow, falling into a thin cut I’d given him a minute or so before, a bare scratch. He twirls his axe, teeth bared as he advances on me. I give a step, then two, and just as he lunges I move in, graceful as a dancer though my muscles ache. 

Ivar’s reaction speed is just a hair faster than I’d thought it would be; clearly he’s learned. He pulls his arm in, forcing me to abort the slice I’d planned. I regroup quickly, fast enough to avoid his strike, but not fast enough to get out of his range. No time, I think to myself. No one could escape his next move.

I know the fight’s about to end; I can feel it- his grip shifts on his axe as he moves and I come up short, finding the blade pressed against my throat. Ivar grunts, feeling the point of my dagger pressing into his side, just over his third and fourth ribs. My sword is against his back, putting the two of us in a lethal embrace. I could slice his spine open or drive my dagger home into his heart. He could decapitate me or let me bleed out. 

Both of us are breathing hard. I can feel his every breath through the solid muscle of his chest pressed firmly against my back. I’m panting too as we look at eachother, the vikings around us suddenly bursting into noise. They whoop and holler, seeing the fight end in a draw. 

I don’t hear them. Ivar’s eyes are brilliantly shining, his lips slightly parted, hair mussed in the fight. Our faces are scant inches apart, neither of us willing to cede first, both waiting for the other. So close to him I can see the individual drops of blood welling in the scratch above his brow, the sweat beading in his hair. Gods, I want to run my hands through that hair, just to see if it’s really as soft as it looks. It has to be. My heart pounds in my chest and for the first time during the fight I wonder if it’s from adrenaline at all. 

His eyes trace over my face as we catch our breath. “What did you do to my arm, little witch?” He questions, voice merely a whisper against my skin. I try not to shudder, my heart beating way faster than it should. 

“Pressure point,” I breathe, trying not to look at his lips. “It will be normal again soon.” A wicked idea forms in my mind. I offer him a feral grin. “Faster if I undo it.”

He lowers the axe, still watching me with curious, cunning eyes. I can’t help the lopsided grin on my face as I step away, trailing the edge of my sword ever so gently against his back as I go. Ivar watches me like a predator with prey, his gaze never faltering. 

“You know your way around a blade.” He points out, using his axe as a crutch to lean over and pick up his second weapon. 

“It’s not often that I could fight like that back home.” I say. “I fear I’m a little rusty.”

His brows raise. “I’d welcome the challenge of fighting you any day.” 

“My King,” I say with a smile, bowing my head to him. His eyes linger as I make my way to Rita and Einar, fluffing my wolf’s fur for being so good during the fight. 

“I have never seen such a terrifying thing be so beautiful before, My Lady.” Rita tells me, her eyes wide in awe. “You fight like no woman I have ever seen.” 

I laugh, taking an offered waterskin from a nearby warrior with a thankful nod. “It feels good to fight.” I say. “It’s in my blood.”

“I dare say it isn’t in mine.” She murmurs, still watching me with awe. “I much prefer tending animals or children.”

“Astrid,” Ivar’s voice comes from just behind me. I turn to him, holding the waterskin between us. He takes it, waiting to drink until he’s spoken. “Would you join me for lunch? I believe we have plans to draw up.”

“It’s not quite that time yet.” I say, giving a pointed glance toward the sky where the sun has only crested the mountains for two hours or so. “Perhaps we could go for a ride instead?”

There’s something in his eyes that draws me in, a scheme that I so badly want to be let in on. “So long as you’ll eat with me afterwards.” He murmurs. 

“I’d be honored, Ivar.” I say. 

Barely an hour later, I sit astride Hvardr with Einar frolicking through the woods before me, mapping out the scents among the trees. Ivars’ white pony walks contentedly behind me with his rider strapped into the saddle. For a while we don’t speak; the woods are calm and peaceful, birds chirping high in the trees accented by the occasional screech of whatever animal Einar has managed to sneak up on and scare. 

“You are quite a mystery, Astrid.” Ivar eventually says. “I haven’t met a völva before you, and I’m not entirely sure what to expect.”

“We are few and far between.” I respond carefully. “True witches, at least.”

“Bjorn met an imposter before.” Ivar reveals. “He was fooled by her, beguiled, and, I believe, entranced. She took what she wanted of him and left him bitter for the rest of us to deal with. It’s why he has such a mistrust of you.”

I hum, slowing Hvardr to walk beside Ivar’s pony. “He visited me in my room last night.” I say. “It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle, but it frightened my poor handmaiden half to death.”

Ivar growls. 

“I don’t say it to incite punishment on him, My King,” I say quickly, relieved when the suddenly tense line of his shoulders relaxes just a touch. Bjorn still has a part to play. “I humiliated him enough that he won’t come back for more.”

“I know he hates me.” he says. “I took our father’s love and attention from him. He could never understand why.”

I glance sidelong at him. Ivar expressing his feelings wasn’t at all what I’d expected of the legend. It certainly wasn’t how he was portrayed in the TV show Damon had made me watch. But damn if they weren’t spot on with the actor. All of them, really. For a minute I wonder if the show will change now that I’m a part of history. My heart hammers as I ponder the ramifications of my time travel; will I alter history so permanently that the events leading to my birth never happen? Would that then lead to an endless loop of me never being born, never altering history and being born again? If I’m successful, will my future child self grow up in a viking culture with no reason or knowledge to defend it once I grow older and possibly return to the past?

“You’re not like the others.” Ivar says, drawing me out of my thoughts. I look at him and am relieved for the distraction. His blue eyes are already focused on me, expression unguarded and wondering. “You haven’t once said anything about my legs, or treated me as any less capable than you. And you fought me all-out. Most people don’t do that until I’ve beaten them.”

“The only thing you’re less capable than me in is seidr, Ivar. Everything else is down to how you treat yourself.” 

A strange look enters his eyes and he looks away, thinking over what I’d said.  

As we walk in silence, I think about the prophecy Damon had me translate. “Do you want me to say something about your legs?”

“I am surprised you haven’t.”

I look over at him, taking in the details. Sunlight dapples over his shoulders and back, filtered through the trees above us. My eyes stray to the bracers and I almost flinch. They look borderline barbaric, but I’m not sure I could do any better given the materials and technology available. I’m no smith, and I know that for a fact. I can sharpen and care for any of my weapons, but I don’t know the first thing about different metals or the training needed to actually make weapons. 

“Your legs are not what people should concern themselves with, Ivar. It is your brain they should worry about. You have become someone to fear because that is what you had to be; you refused to be broken by the challenge set before you, and like a true Viking, you turned it into a strength.”

A half mile passes in silence. Hvardr takes everything in quietly, ears flicking back and forth as he takes in the new environment. It is at once the land he knows and also the land he doesn’t. We have walked through these trees thousands of years in the future, though I know they must be very different. My eyes fall on a small plant hidden among the darkened recesses of a tree’s roots. An idea forms in my mind, half-baked and quite dangerous, but my heart thrills at the possibility. For generations, my family has attempted to reconstitute this particular plant- with no success. I hadn’t thought of it for some time, but since I’m in the past, it’s available. 

I stop Hvardr, running my hand over his face when he looks at me curiously. Ivar’s eyes are also on me as I dismount, squatting by the tree roots to pick only from the plants that can survive. I take some to grow closer to Kattegat and some for future use. 

“Are you after a crown?” Ivar asks me while I am still on the ground, at a disadvantage. He knows this; I can read his body language too well to dismiss the threat. “Is that why you have come now, to beguile your way into being Queen? I can think of no other reason for your actions.”

My head tilts. “Truly? No other reason?”

He shakes his head just briefly. 

“Have you considered that I truly care for my people and I wish them to survive the coming change?”

“That is what you said, Seerschild, but it cannot be enough to face everything you are facing.”

“You mean your half-brothers’ threats, the anger and suspicion of a third of Kattegat and your many enemies once they learn of my abilities?”

“The same.” Though his voice is rough, his lips are drawn vaguely upward in the corner. I can tell he’s impressed that I’ve put so much thought into the threats I face. I’m a little concerned that he suspected any less of me.

“My intentions are pure, My King.” I say, meeting his gaze long enough to show the truth in my words. “I did not come here by choice, though I find there is nowhere I would rather be. My old life…” A long suffering sigh. “It had nothing for me. Here, I can be myself. I do not have to hide. I want that for future witches.”

He watches me tuck the plant into a bag strung across my back, rolling a leaf between my fingers. There is a faint blue stain left on palm from the stems. “Is that poison?”

“Of a sort.” I admit. Honesty is needed if I’m to gain his trust: clearly that is the only way forward. “A single dose will kill anyone without seidr. Enough will kill someone with it.”

I pocket the remaining leaves, wiping my hands on my jodhpurs. Ivar doesn’t protest when I swing onto Hvardr once more, gathering the reins. “Do your legs bother you?”

He blinks, probably wondering if he can trust me enough to answer honestly. I don’t make a big deal of it, nudging Hvardr forward. A minute passes in silence, then two. I wonder if he’ll answer at all. 

“I am used to the insults.” he admits. “Though no one except Bjorn dares say them to my face anymore.”

“That is not what I asked.”

“I do not care that I am a cripple.”

I level him with a look. “Still not what I asked.”

His anger simmers. I can tell it’s poorly restrained. Instinct wars with tradition: I am a völva, due respect equal to royalty, but he is the King, and he has had a lifetime of hating his legs and being poked at for them. He feels that is what I am doing now. 

“I ask because there may be something I can do to help. I do not pity you, Ivar. I only want you to succeed.”

The King remains quiet for a minute. When he speaks, his voice is soft, broken. “They hurt.” He says. “Every day, every night, endlessly. It’s worse in the winter, when the wind is harsh and cold. Then, it feels like I am being stabbed over and over.” A humorless laugh. “Many times I wonder if it would hurt less to just cut them off.” He doesn’t look at me as he speaks. His fingers twist in the reins. “I have broken bones more often and often worse than many others I have seen. I do not understand it.”

I bite my lip. Can I reveal the research I’d done after watching several seasons of Vikings and falling in love with his character? How do I relate the advanced medical knowledge without showing that I’m clearly not from anywhere near here- or this time?

“Ivar,” I say cautiously, “I may be able to help with the pain.”

“Do not give me false hope.” He growls, suddenly extremely irritated. “Floki has tried everything- herbs and pastes, tonics, even drinking myself into a stupor. Nothing works for long.”

Gods, Heat radiates off of him in his anger. With the path being only so wide, I can feel it clearly from him as our ponies walk wide-by-side. “I do not give false anything.” I snap in return, drawing his attention and meeting fire with fire. It’s a risk I’m willing to take with him. Still, I take a deep breath and relax, feeling his shock. “Where I come from, we have a great deal of medical knowledge. Our… healers-” I’d almost said doctors. Whoops. “-are the best in the land. They’ve studied people with your condition. They’ve come up with treatments that work. They’re not perfect, but they help.”

And there it is. Fragile, tenuous hope lights in his eyes. I can’t look away. “You know one of these healers?”

No, I don’t. I had google. My fingers go subconsciously to the herb in my pocket. “I can use their methods. I can help you.”

He stares furiously at the pommel of his saddle. I give him time to think. “Can you… I know I am not supposed to ask, but can you prophecy the outcome?”

“I will need help for this.” I say. “The herb in my pocket enhances my abilities, allowing me to follow choices instead of seeing the most likely outcome, but it comes at a great cost. I will be immobile during its use, utterly helpless, and very vulnerable.” I can’t believe I’m telling him this. “For it to work, I must take the first dose willingly. Any more than a carefully controlled amount can do irreversible harm- or it can make me extremely dangerous and out of control until it wears off. 

“If I am to do this for you, I will need you to swear to me that you will protect my earthly body during the visions. I need your word that I will be safe.”

His eyes flash in the light, brilliantly blue. “You have my word.”

Maybe it’s a mistake, considering the paths I can see are equally as likely to happen, but I trust him.

Tag list (open):  Voluspa: @tis-itheapplepie​ @thetwistedqueen @inforapound​ @wuxiesalt @readsalot73​ @themusingkitten @youbloodymadgenius​ @heavenly1927​

All Ivar tag: @inforapound​ @amy8220 @saldelys​ @youbloodymadgenius​ @i-am-a-teenage-dirtbaggg​

#Voluspa part 7 #voluspa: prophecy #prophecy #ivar x oc #ivar ragnarsson #ivar the boneless #ivar the boneless x oc #ivar ven bonlessi #vikings #time travel #multi part #multi chapter fic

[sserpente]

Mischief and Ice (Chapter 5)

Synopsis: Thanos’ cruel attempt to wipe out half of the universe failed and the titan is dead; but his actions came with grave consequences. Tears and cracks in the universe, all across space and time, formed wormholes within the nine realms and beyond, giving some old enemies a vicious opportunity to strike again. When the Jötuns invade Earth and the Avengers assemble to defend the planet once again, it is the help of none other than the former war criminal Loki they are reliant upon to drive the icy warriors back into their own realm. But then the God of Mischief encounters a young woman abandoned in the cold—your body mangled and altered with Jötun blood, a lab rat to the Frost Giants. He decides to take you with him and nurse you back to health, unable to comprehend the confusing affection he begins to harbour for you.

Loki was reluctant to leave you in the care of the doctors Stark had hired. Much rather would he have hidden you in his own room, far away from curious glances and the puzzled looks of the two questionably competent doctors.

He gnashed his teeth when one of them stood his ground, tilting his head reproachfully.

“You will have to tell us what we are dealing with here, Mr Loki. There is little we can do to help if we are unaware of any symptoms apart from her alarmingly low body temperature.”

“Don’t forget about her red irises.” The second doctor tossed in, carrying a clipboard and a blue biro Loki longed to snap in two as he kept clicking it.

“What is she, Mr Loki?”

“Right now? She is on the verge of dying. She was injected Jötun blood, repeatedly. It altered her DNA and I don’t know yet how badly it was damaged… beyond repair. She needs blood. Human blood.”

His plan was but simple, for there had to be a way to replace the Jötun blood quickly—he had seen this happen before, back on Asgard. One of his mother’s maids had suffered from an illness which had attacked her blood and grown liquid foreign bodies. Blood transfusions had helped to supersede the infection with the help of Frigga’s seidr. And Loki was willing to do the same for you.

“Humans have… different blood types, I’m afraid. It won’t be that easy. Do you… know her blood type?”

Loki frowned and slowly shook his head.

“That’s what I thought.” The doctor with the biro answered mockingly. Loki was about to throw him out of the window.

“We can take a blood sample.” The other doctor then explained matter-of-factly. “Will it… will that work on her?”

“That it should. She is still human. How fast can you get her the type of blood she needs?”

“In case of an emergency… within an hour.”

“Then get it. As much as you can. Then call me immediately. Until then, you make sure she stays warm. Use a heating blanket, whatever you can come up with. She has stopped shivering already, that is a good sign. The heat will help her recover.” He ordered, turning on his heel to leave the infirmary—but not before shooting your unconscious body another worried glance. You had passed out the moment he had removed you from the warming water, the temperature change too much for your body to deal with at the moment.

The way you had hung in his arms, helpless, weak and defenceless… he had felt his cock stir in his leather trousers, demanding to take pleasure from the delicate creature he was carrying. Necrophilia was not his thing. If he ever was going to take you… then you would be wide awake, with his name on your lips as you came for him, clenching around his length to take all of his seed.

He did not want to leave you.

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

“Mr Loki, you said she has Jötun blood. Wouldn’t any more heat harm her, if anything?”

“No. She was not born a Frost Giant… the transition process was never finalised as her body fought against it like a virus.”

“What if she comes down with a fever then?”

“You call me. Immediately.”

The first doctor nodded. “We will contact Mr Stark as soon as the blood has—“

“Me,” he growled. “You will contact me.”

Neither of the doctors dared object when he stormed out of the room; forcing himself to leave you behind if only for a short while.

“So? Who is she, Reindeer Games?”

Loki shook his head slowly. “I don’t know… but nothing special. A young mortal woman unlucky enough to have ended up in the clutches of the Jötuns… they seemed to have kept her for their sole amusement.” Disgust spread in his guts when he spoke the words out loud, his hatred for his own heritage growing even more. To think he had come to terms with being a Jötun, recognising the possibility of ruling the realm… if only he could stop the Frost Giants now and punish them for their stupidity and cruelty towards this poor woman, he would gladly accept the crown.

“But you think she could be useful?” Tony probed.

“Alive? Yes… which is why you will do all you can to keep her so. The Jötuns have injected her with their blood, what for I do not know as of yet. I need to get this blood out of her system as fast as possible or she will die… in a matter of days, at most. Your healers are on it already.” The ice on Jötunheim was different. It was colder, more deadly. There was a reason the realm had been abandoned by Odin so long ago, peace treaties be damned.

“She recognised me as her rightful king.” Loki spoke after a brief pause. Instantly, Thor sat up, frowning at his brother.

“How?”

“I am trying to find out. The question is not why the girl is willing to kneel before me but how the Frost Giants could tell her about me in the first place.”

“You mean they would recognise you as their king and let you guide them?”

“That sounds too good to be true…” Tony murmured.

Thor nodded. “How can they even know then?”

“I told you. Wormholes in space and time.” Doctor Strange mentioned with a shrug. “Until we know more, that would appear to be the most logical explanation.”

Bruce hummed absentmindedly. “Thanos messed with this universe big time, it wouldn’t surprise me.”

“God, I hope he didn’t accidentally revive Hitler too…” Bucky tossed in with a disgusted expression.

Thor stood, ignoring the Winter Soldier’s comment. He approached Loki with a serious expression, his gesture all but brotherly when he put his hand on his shoulder and looked him deep in the eye.

“Loki, you have to talk to them. If there is even a slight chance that they will listen to you…”

“Do you truly expect the Jötuns to follow my commands blindly, brother? Do you think it will be that easy?”

“But you said yourself…”

“I know what I said, Thor. I had hoped to… persuade them. And I will. But if they already know and have not bothered yet to seek me out, I shall doubt they will take kindly in my attempt to claim the throne without dealing with any resistance. I fear it will be much more complicated than that.”

“But they haven’t tried to kill you either, isn’t that a good sign?” Bucky asked. Loki gave him a mute glare.

“Loki…”

“Don’t worry, brother. You should know by now I always have a plan.”

 He did not have a plan. Not yet. He took it as it came and he always emerged as a winner of some kind—even if all that meant was that he had gotten to survive.

The doctors had kept their word. Roughly seventy minutes later, they returned with enough blood to feed a vampire army and timidly asked for Loki to meet them in the infirmary. He had rushed out without uttering a word to the still suspicious Avengers in the room.

Once he had watched them, scrutinising and strictly, set up the blood transfusion, he chased them out of the room to practise the spell in peace, one he had never cast himself. He hoped to the Norns that he would succeed. You needed to live. You needed to recover… and he needed information.

Yes. He nodded. That was why he did not want you to die. That was easier to believe than everything else. But even if this worked, there was no guarantee you would not remain a distorted hybrid of both human and Frost Giant. Jötun blood was aggressive, after all.

If only he could get you to survive though…

“How is she holding up?” Thor’s voice thundered through the infirmary. Hesitantly, he stuck his head into the room and glanced at your unconscious form on the bed, just when Loki finished casting the spell. Now he would have to be patient. He hated patience.

“She is alive, for now.” He responded quietly, refraining from reaching for your hand under the blanket, a barely visible smile on his lips. You had quite a lot of explaining to do once you had woken up again.

“Can you come join us? We think we might have a plan.”

“So do I,” he shot back, determination cursing through him with a start, his blue eyes on your sleeping form. He had just decided what he would do. “I am going to Jötunheim.”

A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, I’d be flattered if you supported me on KoFi! kofi.com/sserpente

#mischief and ice #chapter 5 #loki #loki imagine #loki x you #loki x reader #loki fanfiction #loki laufeyson #loki laufeyson imagine #loki laufeyson x you #loki laufeyson x reader #loki laufeyson fanfiction #loki odinson #loki odinson imagine #loki odinson x you #loki odinson x reader #loki odinson fanfiction #marvel #marvel imagine #mcu #mcu imagine #thor #thor imagine #the avengers #the avengers imagine #tom hiddleston

[gascon-en-exil]

Joining the Game Late: S1E3 “Lord Snow”

Synopsis

The Night’s Watch are for the most part pathetically incompetent but they and Tyrion continue to put Jon in his place. Jon’s older male relatives are all the proverbial two days away from retirement, sucks for all that exposition he’ll miss out on. Lots of quick intros for the king’s council that have assembled because Robert can’t manage money, no surprise there. Jaime plays the twisted knightly loyalty card for all it’s worth. Robert is a very visceral king in every way imaginable - no surprise too that his war stories include defecation. Two of King’s Landing’s biggest schemers head off Catelyn and reveal the former owner of the dagger used by Bran’s would-be assassin, which they do in a brothel because it’s funny secret. Cersei and Ned are both kind of bad at parenting but at least they’re trying. Viserys engineered his own impotence and only now realizes it, and also Dany is pregnant but that won’t last. Bran’s old nurse explains Westeros’s abnormal seasons, but not very well.

Commentary

As expected now that the bulk of the action in the Westeros storyline has moved to King’s Landing I’m getting more invested, as there’s a much wider range of characters and plot threads to take interest in. Granted some of the intros in this episode go by a bit too quickly to really appreciate them; of the king’s council I just had time to register the two schemers (one with balls, one without), the gay otter (yay!), and an old guy whose name I can’t even place after the fact. Of these only the schemer with balls, a.k.a. Petyr Baelish, a.k.a. Littlefinger shows some real early development through the crush on Catelyn he doesn’t bother hiding and his admittedly funny decision to bring her to meet him in a brothel - that he owns, no less - because it’s a safe location. Ned’s just a killjoy about it, and it’s hard to tell how much of that is basic prudery and how much of it is fear of being cuckolded. Ned strikes out with Sansa too, but he does get some good bonding in with Arya leading up to the episode’s ending scene where she’s allowed to learn from a sword instructor offering both development for father and daughter and combat-based worldbuilding.

Cersei’s own attempts at parenting are equally hit-or-miss, and you can get a feeling for why Joffrey turned out the way he did. Half her advice boils down to “when you’re king you can do what you want,” so when she follows this by trying to temper her son’s inability to understand any tactic other than adolescent aggression it doesn’t quite work as well as might have otherwise. I enjoyed more her scene with Jaime, as well as Jaime in general this episode. He reveals himself to be more than just an evil knight in shining armor, via an amoral opportunistic streak and a violent love (like that) for his sister. That last bit is especially noteworthy looking back on the show when one knows how it ends. Of the two of them Jaime is the one who undergoes a redemption arc only foiled at the eleventh hour, while Cersei becomes more solidly evil as the series progresses. Based on these early scenes though you’d be forgiven for expecting the reverse.

Taking a break from King’s Landing, Dany’s storyline fleshes out for the first time the Dothraki beyond abstractly racist stereotypes, with speaking roles for more of them and what looks to have been a real effort to craft a Dothraki language and use it realistically alongside the language rendered as English to convey a sense of the language barrier and where Dany and others are breaking through it. That’s more than can be said for the significant scene leading up to Dany’s confrontation with her brother, because the setup feels artificial. Dany asks about the slaves kept by the Dothraki, and this bothers her which introduces the hatred of slavery that becomes one of her defining traits and really muddles the message when she eventually becomes a Mad Queen. She then orders the horde to stop, dismounts, and wanders off the path alone for no apparent reason only to be assaulted by Viserys moments later. Granted the subsequent scene is pretty awesome (but for the fact that Viserys has never been much of a threatening antagonist), but what was Dany doing?

The Night’s Watch recruits got some screentime as well, appropriately since this episode is titled after the protagonist in their ranks. Tyrion and Benjen keep Jon from getting a big head though, and the two of them do some verbal sparring of their own that reminds us that while Tyrion is playing tourist up at the Wall he’s being implicated in Bran’s attempted assassination back in King’s Landing. Ooh, mysterious. At least Tyrion does follow through with his plan to piss off the edge of the Wall - priorities, you know.

Some bits of necessary exposition from the bedraggled men of the Night’s Watch and from Bran’s old nurse provide the first explanation for Westeros’s abnormal seasons, although at this point I’ve still got more questions than answers. It seems as though there are only two seasons in their world, and it’s universally assumed that summer = good and winter = bad which I’m calling foul on as someone who’s suffered a lifetime in the subtropics. Of course it must be awful for the temperate parts of the continent when the Night King is “Let It Go”ing all over the land for years on end, but what about climates where the winters are short and mild but the summers are a scorching, sweltering hell hostile to human life without the central AC that these people definitely do not have? That old woman ought to feel a Louisiana summer before she “oh my sweet summer child”s anyone. That line used to be a meme, right?

#Game of Thrones #GoT

[notimetoblog]

Thank you all so much for joining the World Book Day celebration! It was a pleasure getting to hear about your favorite books! I am a fervent believer that reading is so powerful. It expands your minds, takes you to places you had never even imagined, and can teach you so much about the world and ourselves.

I have compiled the list (in alphabetical order by title) of all the books that were recommended during this celebration. Each book links to the original recommendation, states the genre of the book, and has a brief synopsis of the book :D

If you would like to recommend more PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO!! We could always use more books in our lives!! Thank you all again and I hope you’re able to read some books on the list that you haven't read before!

BOOK RECS

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

Recommended by @wintersxsoul here

Genre: Young Adult / Romance / Fantasy

Synopsis: Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Around  the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Recommended by @just-add-butter here

Genre: Fiction / Adventure / Classics

Synopsis: One ill-fated evening at the Reform Club, Phileas Fogg rashly bets his companions £20,000 that he can travel around the entire globe in just eighty days - and he is determined not to lose. Breaking the well-establised routine of his daily life, the reserved Englishman immediately sets off for Dover, accompanied by his hot-blooded French manservant Passepartout. Travelling by train, steamship, sailing boat, sledge and even elephant, they must overcome storms, kidnappings, natural disasters, Sioux attacks and the dogged Inspector Fix of Scotland Yard - who believes that Fogg has robbed the Bank of England - to win the extraordinary wager. 

Burn for Burn Series by Jenny Han

Recommended by @marvelsangel here

Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal / Young Adult

Synopsis (of first book):  Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible. With an alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

Code Name Verity By Elizabeth Wein

Recommended by @notimetoblog here

Genre: Historical Fiction / Young Adult

Synopsis: Oct. 11th, 1943 - A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun. When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? 

Coming of Age in Mississippi: The Classic Autobiography of a Young Black Girl in the Rural South by Anne Moody

Recommended by anonymous here

Genre: Memoir / History / Nonfiction

Synopsis: Born to a poor couple who were tenant farmers on a plantation in Mississippi, Anne Moody lived through some of the most dangerous days of the pre-civil rights era in the South. The week before she began high school came the news of Emmet Till's lynching. Before then, she had "known the fear of hunger, hell, and the Devil. But now there was...the fear of being killed just because I was black." In that moment was born the passion for freedom and justice that would change her life.

Crazy Rich Asians Series by Kevin Kwan

Recommended by @marvelsangel here

Genre: Fiction / Romance

Synopsis (of first book): the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back.

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

Recommended by @just-add-butter here

Genre: Romance / Fantasy 

Synopsis: It begins in a cold and shabby tower room, where young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill prepared, a war that threatens the homes and lives of the very people they are trying to protect. But war is simple compared to what follows, when the bloody fighting is done and a fragile peace is at hand. Although she wants to turn her back on politics and the crown, Meliara is summoned to the royal palace. There, she soon discovers, friends and enemies look alike, and intrigue fills the dance halls and the drawing rooms. If she is to survive, Meliara must learn a whole new way of fighting--with wit and words and secret alliances. In war, at least, she knew whom she could trust. Now she can trust no one. 

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Recommended by @rosegoldlilacs here

Genre: Fiction / Young Adult

Synopsis: Ben Wolf has big things planned for his senior year. Had big things planned. Now what he has is some very bad news and only one year left to make his mark on the world.How can a pint-sized, smart-ass seventeen-year-old do anything significant in the nowheresville of Trout, Idaho?

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Recommended by @wintersxsoul here

Genre: Classics / Fiction / Fantasy

Synopsis: Dracula is an 1897 Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England so he may find new blood and spread undead curse, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Recommended by @softhairbarnes here

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Thriller

Synopsis: On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

Harry Potter Saga by J.K Rowling

Recommended by @agentpegcxrter here / First book recommended by anonymous here

Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult

Synopsis (of first book): Harry Potter's life is miserable. His parents are dead and he's stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he's a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.Though Harry's first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it's his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Recommended by @notimetoblog here

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle's dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast's booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. Generation after generation, Yaa Gyasi's magisterial first novel sets the fate of the individual against the obliterating movements of time

How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City by Joan DeJean

Recommended by anonymous here

Genre: History / Nonfiction

Synopsis: At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Paris was known for isolated monuments but had not yet put its brand on urban space. Like other European cities, it was still emerging from its medieval past. But in a mere century Paris would be transformed into the modern and mythic city we know today.Though most people associate the signature characteristics of Paris with the public works of the nineteenth century, Joan DeJean demonstrates that the Parisian model for urban space was in fact invented two centuries earlier, when the first complete design for the French capital was drawn up and implemented.

Love Style Life by Garance Doré

Recommended by anonymous here

Genre: Nonfiction / Memoir / Fashion

Synopsis: Garance Doré, the voice and vision behind her eponymous blog, has captivated millions of readers worldwide with her fresh and appealing approach to style through storytelling. This gorgeously illustrated book takes readers on a unique narrative journey that blends Garance’s inimitable photography and illustrations with the candid, hard-won wisdom drawn from her life and her travels. Infused with her Left Bank sensibility, the eclecticism of her adopted city of New York, and the wild, passionate spirit of her native Corsica, Love Style Life is a backstage pass behind fashion’s frontlines, peppered with French-girl-next-door wit and advice on everything from mixing J.Crew with Chanel, to falling in love, to pursuing a life and career that is the perfect reflection of you.

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

Recommended by anonymous here

Genre: Fiction / Japanese Literature / Cultural

Synopsis:  This leading postwar Japanese writer's second novel, tells the poignant and fascinating story of a young man who is caught between the breakup of the traditions of a northern Japanese aristocratic family and the impact of Western ideas. In consequence, he feels himself "disqualified from being human" (a literal translation of the Japanese title).

Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Recommended by @chocochipcookieyum here

Genre: Historical Fiction / Classics

Synopsis: A story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it -- from garden seeds to Scripture -- is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Recommended by @gamorazenn here / by @agentpegcxrter here / by @arosewithdaisies here

Genre: Fiction / Romance / Classics

Synopsis: The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami

Recommended by anonymous here

Genre: Fiction / Romance

Synopsis: Tsukiko is drinking alone in her local sake bar when by chance she meets one of her old high school teachers and, unable to remember his name, she falls back into her old habit of calling him 'Sensei'. After this first encounter, Tsukiko and Sensei continue to meet. Together, they share edamame beans, bottles of cold beer, and a trip to the mountains to eat wild mushrooms. As their friendship deepens, Tsukiko comes to realise that the solace she has found with Sensei might be something more.

Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeline L’Engle

Recommended by @thesaltyduchess here 

Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult / Science Fiction

Synopsis: When fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace Murry shouts out an ancient rune meant to ward off the dark in desperation, a radiant creature appears. It is Gaudior, unicorn and time traveler. Charles Wallace and Gaudior must travel into the past on the winds of time to try to find a Might-Have-Been - a moment in the past when the entire course of events leading to the present can be changed, and the future of Earth - this small, swiftly tilting planet - saved.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Recommended by @arosewithdaisies here

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Crime / Classics / Short Stories

Synopsis: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of twelve short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. It was first published on 14 October 1892; the individual stories had been serialized in The Strand Magazine between July 1891 and June 1892. The stories are not in chronological order, and the only characters common to all twelve are Holmes and Dr. Watson. The stories are related in first-person narrative from Watson's point of view.

The Bean Trees by Barbara King

Recommended by @nerdgirljen in a comment here

Genre: Fiction / Contemporary

Synopsis: Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis

Recommended by @agentpegcxrter here

Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult / Classics

Synopsis: Journeys to the end of the world, fantastic creatures, and epic battles between good and evil—what more could any reader ask for in one book? The book that has it all is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, written in 1949 by Clive Staples Lewis. But Lewis did not stop there. Six more books followed, and together they became known as The Chronicles of Narnia.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Recommended by @notimetoblog here / by @arosewithdaisies here

Genre: Fiction / Classics

Synopsis: This exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story is of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his new love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted "gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession," it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s. The Great Gatsby is one of the great classics of twentieth-century literature.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tart

Recommended by @lunardanvers here

Genre: Fiction / Contemporary

Synopsis: It begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a thirteen-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his unbearable longing for his mother, he clings to one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love-and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.

The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

Recommended by @wintersxsoul here

Genre: Fiction / Mythology / Fantasy

Synopsis: The novel is a brilliant first-person narrative of the rise and fall of the Norse gods - retold from the point of view of the world's ultimate trickster, Loki. It tells the story of Loki's recruitment from the underworld of Chaos, his many exploits on behalf of his one-eyed master, Odin, through to his eventual betrayal of the gods and the fall of Asgard itself.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Recommended by @marvelsangel here

Genre: Fiction / Young Adult

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr

The Immortal Rules Series by Julie Kagawa

Recommended by anonymous here 

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Paranormal

Synopsis: Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Recommended by @redandpurpleskies here

Genre: Science Fiction / Classic

Synopsis: The Martian Chronicles tells the story of humanity’s repeated attempts to colonize the red planet. The first men were few. Most succumbed to a disease they called the Great Loneliness when they saw their home planet dwindle to the size of a fist. They felt they had never been born. Those few that survived found no welcome on Mars. The shape-changing Martians thought they were native lunatics and duly locked them up.But more rockets arrived from Earth, and more, piercing the hallucinations projected by the Martians. People brought their old prejudices with them – and their desires and fantasies, tainted dreams. These were soon inhabited by the strange native beings, with their caged flowers and birds of flame.

The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai

Recommended by anonymous here

Genre: Fiction / Japanese Literature / Classics

Synopsis: The story is told through the eyes of Kazuko, the unmarried daughter of a widowed aristocrat. Her search for self meaning in a society devoid of use for her forms the crux of the novel. It is a sad story, and structurally is a novel very much within the confines of the Japanese take on the novel in a way reminiscent of authors such as Nobel Prize winner Yasunori Kawabata – the social interactions are peripheral and understated, nuances must be drawn, and for readers more used to Western novelistic forms this comes across as being rather wishy-washy. Kazuko’s mother falls ill, and due to their financial circumstances they are forced to take a cottage in the countryside. Her brother, who became addicted to opium during the war is missing. When he returns, Kazuko attempts to form a liaison with the novelist Uehara. This romantic displacement only furthers to deepen her alienation from society.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Recommended by @consttantina here

Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy / LGBT / Romance

Synopsis: Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

The Song of the Lioness Series by Tamora Pierce

Recommended by @just-add-butter here

Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult

Synopsis: The Song of the Lioness quartet is the adventurous story of one girl's journey to overcome the obstacles facing her, become a valiant knight, and save Tortall from conquest. Alanna douses her female identity to begin her training in Alanna: The First Adventure, and when she gains squire status in In the Hand of the Goddess, her growing abilities make her a few friends -- and many enemies. Books 3 and 4 complete Alanna's adventure and secure her legend, with the new knight errant taking on desert tribesmen in The Woman Who Rides like a Man and seeking out the powerful Dominion Jewel in Lioness Rampant.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Recommended by anonymous here

Genre: Historical Fiction / Classics

Synopsis: The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

#our world book day celebration

[the-insomniac-cat]

ENDGAME BIG SPOILERS

Complete synopsis of the entire film below the cut.

If you want spoilers but not the whole shebang, scroll down to my other Spoiler post.

Why post this? Because some people want to know, either before they go, or instead of going, or to decide whether to or not.

Look, if you don’t want to know, then use the tag filter. In case you didn’t set it up, then I’ve put in the ‘keep reading’ cut. So you should be covered. So please, no more anon hate! (Haters are so brave when they go anon!)

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT MY SYNOPSIS. I HAVE NOT SEEN THE FILM (and won’t) THIS IS FROM A REDDIT USER. BECAUSE LOTS OF SPOILERS OVER THERE ARE BEING TAKEN DOWN, I DECIDED TO CUT AND PASTE IT RATHER THAN JUST GIVE A LINK.

People who HAVE seen the film have been adding comments to this post on Reddit, saying it is ‘correct’, or ‘basically correct’.

CREDIT:  Reddit Posted byu/Wico90

12% credit to Brontcrab24 and others

First Scene is actually Hawkeye losing his family to the snap. He doesn’t actually see it happen as he is facing the other direction. We then get the Tony/Nebula sequence (paper football, etc). Tony records his message to Pepper. When he falls asleep, Nebula takes him to the front of the ship and sits him in the pilots seat. He wakes up and sees something glowing outside the window. Captain Marvel helps them return to Earth. Pepper, Rocket, Steve and Rhodey all come out to greet him. Tony is very shaken, particularly about losing Peter.

Movie starts with the Avengers trying to find Thanos. Steve wasn’t to know where Thanos is and asks Tony, but Tony says he doesn’t know, They argue. Nebula knows of Thanos’ garden he said he would once go to when he completed his goal. They found him because of the energy he released using the gauntlet. Thanos is alone, and tells them he used the gauntlet to destroy the gems. He is weak and Thor, angry, decapitates him.

Title Card and five years later.

Natasha is now basically in charge of what's left of the Avengers is talking to them via holograms. Basically the world is in ruins and they're trying to salvage it. Carol is there via hologram with a new haircut and uniform and tells them that she's covering thousands of planets and won't be able to come back to Earth for a "long time".

Steve and Nat talk about how the Avengers are family. Inside a storage shed is Luis’s van. A rat is crawling over the Quantum controls and activated the switch which brings Scott out. He’s now locked inside the cage but starts waving at the security cameras. A guard lets him out and he is walking the streets confused as to why everything is so overgrown and run down. He finds a memorial which lists the names of the ‘missing’ on large stones. He starts reading them panicking that Cassie might be listed on them. But she isn’t. He sees her at home, as an older version of herself. Scott drives to the Avengers facility and Nat and Steve let him in and he tells them about the Quantum realm and how they might be able to build a time machine to go back to the past before everything happened. They visit Tony, but he doesn’t want to help. He’s happy with the way that his life is, with Pepper and his daughter Morgan. They leave and to visit Bruce who is now Professor Hulk.

The plan becomes to start looking for the gems in the past. Initially Banner builds quantum time machine and sends Scott back to test but it is faulty, Tony refuses to help at this point, however, he returns Caps shield and they make up. He tweaks Banners Quantum Machine, The catch is that they need quantum particles for it to work.

Natasha goes to Japan to get Clint. He is mourning his family and is not certain of the plan. Rocket and Hulk go to get Thor who is drinking and playing video games with Korg and Meik. (Funny joke involving an online video game troll)

Finally the team then all suit up and discuss their plans to get the stones. They make it clear that they can not mess up because there is only enough Quantum particles for one trip for each of them.

Tony, Scott, Steve and Bruce go to the Battle of New York. Hulk meets the Ancient One at Dr Stranger's future home. Ancient One refuses to give the Time Stone to Bruce but relents when Bruce tells her that Dr Strange will give the stone to Thanos.

Cap, Iron Man and Scott tries to retrieve the Tessaract after Loki surrenders. SHIELD/Hydra agents Crossbones and that bald guy with glasses in Winter Soldier retrieve the brief case containing the Tessaract. Past Hulk funnily has to walk down lots of flights of stairs as he can't go on lift due to maximum capacity. Cap meets with Crossbones with the briefcase in elevator along with other Hydra agents. He convinces them to give him the briefcase containing the staff when he utters two words: Hail Hydra. Cap gets the briefcase. Tony in disguise as a SWAT soldier tells Scott to disable his past self's chest reactor to give him a minor seizure while his past self meets up with Alexander Pierce who demands the Mind Stone and Loki. Present Tony retrieves the briefcase but past Hulk accidentally knocks out Tony and Loki uses the confusion to teleport out with the Tessaract. Present Cap accidentally meets with his 2012 self, and 2012 self thinks he's Loki in disguise. They fought and 2012 has present self in chokehold when he tells his past self that Bucky is alive. He then taps his past self with staff to knock him out.

In Asgard, fat Thor and Rocket plans to retrieve the Aether out of Jane Foster's body. Thor's mother meets his 'son' and know he's from the future. Rocket retrieves the aether out of Jane by prodding her off screen and gets chased by guards. Before Thor leaves, he retrieves Mjolnir!

On Morag, War Machine and Nebula stays on Morag while Clint and Nat goes to Voromir via a ship that Rocket miniatures for Clint. Unknown to Nebula, her past self's nervous system and databanks are connected to each other and Thanos finds out where the stones are and how he meets his fate.

Cap and Tony transport back to 1970 at the SHIELD training site seen in Winter Soldier and goes underground to retrieve that era's Tessaract. Tony retrieves the Tesseract while meeting his dad. He calls himself Howard Potts. Cap makes a prank call to young Hank Pym and sneaks into his office to steal 4 vials of Pym Particles. Cap also sees Peggy. Cap and Tony teleport back to present.

WM and Nebula knocks out Quill during his dance in intro of GOTG. They got the stone and WM and Nebula was meant to teleport together but WM only succeeded. Present Nebula and past Nebula meets and fights and past Nebula takes her place to go back to present.

On Voromir, Clint and May meets the Red Skull as seen in Infinity War and is told how to retrieve the stone. Clint and Nat fought each other. Clint jumped off cliff but Nat catches him and held on by grappling rope. She falls off and dies like Gamora. Clint now has the Stone.

All members went back to present and everyone is devastated by Nat's death. Tony and Bruce constructs the Infinity Gauntlet and Thor wants to wield it but Hulk goes instead as he's the strongest one and the stones emit gamma radiation according to him. He wields it and snaps his fingers restoring all life lost. Clint's wife calls him on mobile. Hulk suffers extreme pain in his right arm due to IG. Past Nebula activates the Quantum teleporter and summons Thanos' warship and blasts the Avengers HQ to ruins with missiles.

Hulk lifting up rubble similar to Secret Wars cover where he lifts up a whole mountain except this is less in film lol.

Clint finds the gauntlet and is being chased by Outriders creatures in last film. He kills them and is met by past Nebula. Gamora and present Nebula meets up and Nebula kills her past self.

Cap, Tony and Thor teams up against Thanos. Thor is losing against Thanos even though he has Stormbreaker and Mjolnir. Thanos is about to kill Thor with SB when:

Cap lifts up Mjolnir and beats Thanos with hammer and shield.

Thanos uses his double blade weapon to break Cap's shield in half.

Thanos summons his whole army including the Black Order and some new creatures. Cap is all by himself against a whole army.

He hears Sam's voice and he turns around and see EVERYONE who has vanished PLUS huge armies of Wakandans, sorcerers and Asgardians (no signs of Warrior Three). Wong, Valkyrie, Wasp and Pepper Potts as Rescue turns up as well. Ant Man becomes Giant Man.

Clint plays American Football with IG and passes it to Black Panther then Spidey. Quill meets past Gamora and gets hit in the balls, not believing he is the one she loves lol. Scarlet Witch overpowers Thanos but Thanos orders missiles to hit everyone including his forces. Captain Marvel shows up to destroy Thanos' flagship and gets the IG and dashes towards the goal. There is a bit where Hope and Scott goes to the van with the Quantum teleporter in the middle of battlefield. Was lost in the moment so forgot why they doing that, sorry.

All female Marvel characters fight Thanos. Spidey's armoured suit goes autokill mode with the extra arms.

Thanos tries to take the gauntlet off Marvel by headbutting her but didn't phase her.

Thanos retrieves the gauntlet away from Stark and he snaps his fingers. Nothing happened. The stones went to Stark and before he snaps his fingers, he says 'I'm Iron Man'.

White flash of light.

All of Thanos' forces turn to dust including Thanos himself.

Tony dies from using the gauntlet. Everyone mourns.

The battle is won but at a cost.

Holographic Tony gives a message to everyone present including his daughter.

A wreath with Tony's chest reactor is laid to rest at the lake near Tony's hut.

Everyone is present including GOTG, Peter, Maria, Ross, Nick and Hank and Janet.

Thor, still fat designates Valkyrie as Queen of New Asgard in Tonnsberg. Thor is now travelling with GOTG to find Gamora and maybe more Asgardians. Quill and Thor are about to fight for leadership lol.

Scott, Cassie and Hope are together again. Wakanda is back with his King.

Cap goes on a mission to put back the stones and Mjolnir to their proper places. Hulk says to Sam and Buck that he should be back in 5 secs. He didn't. Sam sees a old man at a bench and it's Old Man Steve (who looks like Clint Eastwood now but less wrinkles and bit younger than he is lol). Steve has wedding ring and passes his shield to Sam. Sam is honoured.

Ending shows young Cap dancing with Peggy at their house. That's it.

Credits music is set to 1930s music then shows all cast members. The main cast is shown with their signatures on it.

There is NO post credit scenes which is a first for a MCU.

Stan Lee cameo is set in 1970s where he is shown in his 70s younger self driving a car with a woman, driving past a army base where Cap and Tony retrieves the Tesseract there.

#ENDGAME SPOILERS #end game spoilers #ENDGAME #end game #SPOILERS #big spoilers #AV4 #AV 4 #AVENGERS 4

[glassdollreviews-blog]

Admin Cade is baaack. Still kind of odd to refer to myself like that, but eh that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, I ordered five books from Thriftbooks.com, and four of the five are here (they send the books separately, based on where they have them). Since the tracking info for the last one hasn’t really updated, I decided to go ahead and to a review on the conditions of the books I do have.

I placed an order through the website on July 16th, and received an email the next day saying that my order has shipped. Tbh my slow self didn’t quiiite understand how mail works but hey I got that cleared up. The website says shipping takes 4-8 business days, and I recieved 4 of 5 books five days after placing my order (the fifth says it’s been received by the shipping partner, but still not much of an update.) Also, I got this random hardcover book I definitely didn’t order?? Yeah, I’ll be sending them an email within the next few days.

Anyway, let’s get into the books!

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

This book has been on my TBR list since sometime last year, and I’m so fucking excited that it’s here.

Back cover synopsis:

Meghan Chase has  secret destiny she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth- that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Y’all I can’t even say how hyped I am for this book, I love fae and faeries sooo much.

The book is bent in the middle, as I hope you can see from the last image. There’s also a bit of dirt here and there, but all in all nothing too bad. Plus, no strange odors so that’s great. There’s a couple of stickers on the spine but they seem easy enough to get off. I can also tell where there was adhesive left over from a sticker on the cover- there’s a bit of dirt stuck to it that doesn’t seem like it’ll be coming off as easy as the stickers.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Back cover synopsis:

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Out of all the books, I think Daughter of Smoke and Bone is in the best shape. There are a couple of stickers, as well as a small bit of wear on the inside cover (third photo). A couple of the pages have been dog-eared, but they’re not starting to wear thin or anything like that.

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

Back cover synopsis (well, inside cover):

Olivia Mead’s father wants to eliminate her rebellious thoughts. But the hypnotist he hires to stamp out her independence ends up giving her a gift: the ability to see people as they really are.

Monsters. Victims. Madmen. Friends.

Terrifying and enlightening , Olivia’s visions tell her who is trustworthy and who is dangerous. But only she can find a way to make her mind her own again.

This was another one I was excited for- I read In the Shadow of Blackbirds a few years ago and I absolutely loved it. If I’m being honest it made me cry a little, but I’m a crier anyway.

The dust jacket for this book looks like it’s been cut (along with a few of the pages inside, but nothing of importance as far as I can tell). The jacket doesn’t bother me all that much because the spine and lettering of the hardcover are absolutely beautiful. However, in the process of removing the dust jacket, my dumb  self also managed to tear the parts of the inside it was attached to. Totally crying on the inside, not going to lie.

Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran

Back cover synopsis:

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s rival, Octavian, sweep into Rome. When their orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, only two- the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander- survive the journey. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings deep within their own hearts.

Y’all. I fucking loved her work The Heretic Queen. I swear this woman is a Goddess when describing shit.

I’m not sure how well you’ll be able to see it, but on more than a few pages it looks like something’s been spilt? Or rubbed onto the pages, I have absolutely no clue. Aside from that and a few dog eared pages though, everything looks good.

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

I was so confused?? This is definitely not one of the books I ordered. I don’t even know wtf this is other than a translation of a Russian book.

I think I’ll be using Thriftbooks more in the future. For how cheap most of the books are, I don’t really mind stains and things. Whatever it takes to read and not be broke lmaoo.

I’ll post either a small update or include the missing book in a future Thriftbooks haul, depending on when I plan on buying from them again.

Thanks for reading!

~Admin Cade

#admin cade #thriftbooks #book haul #glassdollreviews #cleopatrasdaughter #daughter of smoke and bone #the iron king #the cure for dreaming #Michelle Moran #cat winters #laini taylor #julie kagawa

[gadgetgirl71]

December Reading List

This month, I’ve only chosen one ARC to read as I’m trying to catch up with all of my book reviews before the end of the year. So you will find that the majority of this months books are from my GoodReads TBR list. I also hope that I do manage to read all of the books on this months list because that will mean that I have completed my GoodReads 2020 Reading Challenge.

Don’t forget to pop by again on the 6 December to see what book I pull out of the Random Jar of the Month.

December’s Books

Late Love by Scarlett Hopper, Pages: 208, Publication Date: 13 October 2020

Protecting Caroline (SEAL of Protection #1) by Susan Stoker, Pages: 282, Publication Date: 2 September 2014

The Vine Witch (The Vine Witch #1) by Luanne G Smith, Pages: 263, Publication Date: 1 October 2019

A Typical Family Christmas by Liz Davies, Pages: 282, Publication Date: 15 September 2019

Influential Magic by Deanna Chase, Pages: 318, Publication Date: 6 March 2013

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, Pages: 286, Publication Date: 1 July 1995

The Blood Covenant (Medici Warrior #1) by Emily Bex, Pages: 550, Publication Date: 18 February 2019

Synopsis: Lottie Night didn’t expect her year to turn out this way. After finding out she’s carrying more than just the emotional baggage of her breakup, life as she knows it quickly changes. Panicked, she attempts to balance everything alone until she meets Owen. Owen Bower didn’t know what he was missing until Lottie crashed into his life. She’s everything he never knew he wanted, but a relationship is the last thing on Lottie’s mind. Yet when a chance encounter between the two reveals Lottie’s biggest secret, a bond is immediately formed.   Owen quickly becomes Lottie’s closest confidant, but it’s clear their connection is anything but platonic. Emotions can only be ignored for so long until someone cracks, and it looks like Owen will be first. Forced to confront her feelings, Lottie must decide, can she move forward without her past getting in the way?

Let me know if you’ve read or reviewed any of these book, and tell me what you think of them. Or just let me know what books are on your reading list for December.

Synopsis: **Protecting Caroline is a stand-alone love story. It’s Book 1 in the SEAL of Protection Series.**

Matthew “Wolf” Steel hated flying commercial. Luckily his job as a Navy SEAL meant he didn’t have to do it very often. He’d been unlucky enough to be assigned a middle seat on the cramped jet, but fortunately for him, the woman next to him was willing to switch seats with him. Hoping for a relaxing flight, Wolf was pleasantly surprised at the good conversation and sense of humor the woman had as they flew 36,000 feet over the countryside.

When Caroline boarded the plane to Virginia to move across the country for her new job she never expected to be seated next to the hottest guy she’d ever seen. She also never expected he’d be so easy to talk to. She knew he’d never be interested in talking to her if he hadn’t been trapped in the seat next to her, but it was a nice way to spend a long plane ride.

Neither Wolf nor Caroline were prepared for a terrorist hijacking of their plane, but if Caroline thought that would be the last time she’d see, or need, Wolf, she’d be sorely mistaken.

Synopsis: A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.

For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.

Synopsis: For once, Kate Peters would like a happy, family Christmas; the kind of Christmas seen in the movies. She wants harmony and happiness, smiling, glowing faces, tables groaning with food, carol singing around the tree. She wants love, kindness, and goodwill to all men, especially in her own house.

What she doesn’t want is drama. Absolutely no drama, whatsoever.

But what she gets is three stroppy children, two equally stroppy grandmothers, a husband who can’t manage to change a lightbulb, and Pepe the poodle.

It’s no wonder she feels unappreciated, overworked, and ignored. At the end of her tinsel-coated tether, and with the only Christmas spirit being in the form of a bottle of raspberry gin, Kate decides to leave them to it, and see how they manage without her.

A quiet little hotel somewhere near the sea, where she can pretend Christmas doesn’t exist, is just the thing she needs. Isn’t it?

Synopsis: It’s tough being a faery in New Orleans, a city fraught with vampires… especially when their very existence drains your life-force.

Willow Rhoswen, owner of The Fated Cupcake and part-time vampire hunter for the Void is having a rough week. Four years after her twin brother’s mysterious death, Willow’s life is threatened and the director saddles her with a new partner—her ex-boyfriend, David. To her horror, he’s turned vamp, which causes her physical pain whenever she touches him… and any other specimen of the undead.

In order to save Willow’s life, David agrees to turn double agent against the most powerful vampire organization in New Orleans. Or so he says. And she’s convinced they know something about her brother’s death. Unsure where David’s loyalties lie, she turns to Talisen, her childhood crush, to help her solve the mystery.

Caught between two gorgeous men and a director who’ll stop at nothing to control Willow’s gifts, she’ll have to follow her instincts and learn who to trust. Otherwise, she risks losing more than just her life.

Synopsis: The Owens sisters confront the challenges of life and love in this bewitching novel from New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman.

For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate as well: as children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their musty house and their exotic concoctions and their crowd of black cats. But all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape.

One will do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they share will bring them back—almost as if by magic…

Synopsis: When he met her, he knew how it would end.

Shade Medici, a warrior king and sole male heir to the dynasty, is expected to mate and produce an heir to secure the continuation of the Medici coven. He’s waited over five hundred years for the right mate, and when he meets Kate Reese, his attraction is more than primal – it’s merciless.

She’s also mortal.

Kate is fresh off a broken engagement and reluctant to open her heart, but her hesitations are no match for the unrelenting pursuits of the vampire King. Their passion for each other is searing…and not everyone is happy about it. Namely the ruling Council.

As they fight against deceit, treachery, and those who aim to see their love fail, Shade also struggles to control his impulses as Kate is immersed into his dark and dangerous world, but it’s imperative he prepare her for the changes that will be demanded of her should she choose to bind herself to him through the blood covenant. All that scorches and glitters isn’t gold, and she quickly learns that falling in love with a vampire King comes at a hefty price:

It may just cost her everything.

*** Let me know if you’ve read or reviewed any of these book, and tell me what you think of them. Or just let me know what books are on your December reading list. ***

#ARC, #BookBlogger, #Books, #Bookshelf, #December2020, #December2020ReadingList, #GoodReads, #NetGalley, #NetGalleyuk, #ReadingChallenge, #ReadingList, #XpressoBookTours, #XpressoTours

[avengerscompound]

The Tower Holiday Special - Part One

The Tower Holiday Special: An Avengers Fanfic

Part One | Two

Series Masterlist

Word Count: 2411

Warnings:   Fluffy fluff.  Some funny dialogue.

Synopsis:   After Tony announces to the world that the Avengers are in a polyamorous relationship together, things become tense.  Elly decides that they could use some holiday cheer and gets all their friends involved.

Author’s Note:  Written with @fanficwriter013

Part One

Tony’s announcement to the press had gone down exactly like you’d expect something like that would.  The room had erupted into noise.  Pepper had rushed up pushed Tony out of the way and the rest of us had been hustled out of the room.

Outside the tower, we were the biggest news item of the year.  People couldn’t get over the fact that the people that they’d entrusted with keeping them safe were leading a polyamorous lifestyle with each other.  There was this push to remove the government sanctions that gave the Avengers rights to operate outside the law in regards to the protection of Earth and its people away from them.

Thankfully even the conservative right saw sense when it came to that particular issue.  The far right did push to have Steve stripped of the title of Captain America.  Citing that someone with such loose morals should not get to represent the country.  So Steve not wanting to cause any more troubles dropped it.  Took up the name Nomad and grew a beard.  It was pretty hot.

Other superheroes were approached for statements.  King T’Challa had made a public statement saying how individuals conducted their private life was of no one’s concern and had refused to answer any further questions.  Scott would just gush about them whenever asked.  He really was the Avenger’s biggest fanboy.  Rhodey liked to stop at the press that now flocked around the outside front doors and tell them we were all deviates.  When questioned about whether he thought they were competent enough to be entrusted to protect the planet he just answered that it was still here.

The members of the public that were very supportive of them, and even liked the fact that they were like that, didn’t understand me.  Who was this complete nobody who somehow managed to bag all the Avengers?  While they weren’t referred to as sluts by their group of supporters, I almost always was.  Because even though I had committed myself to them, and never strayed outside the group, where some of them did, I had to be a slut to agree to the arrangement in the first place, right?  It was infuriating, to say the least.

Jax has his work cut out for him, let me tell you.

Inside things were tense.  The fact we hadn’t all agreed to the outing and Tony had just outed us made nerves frayed.  There was a lot of fighting for a while.  The fact we could now not even leave the building without being hounded didn’t help.

Tony bought land in upstate New York.  He thought if he built a compound more set up for them as Avengers rather than just living in the building that had been build for Stark Industries it would make both their lives as Avengers easier and our lives as a family easier too.

In the meantime, I just wanted us to get back to being a family.  I was tired of the bickering.  Christmas was coming up and while normally we just breeze through holidays simply because of a lack of time to actually spend celebrating them I wanted it to be special.  I was aware not everyone celebrated it.  Wanda was Jewish, Bruce was a little more spiritual than religious and Tony an atheist.  Still, it could be a nice non-denominational winter gift-giving celebration.

With different levels of enthusiasm, I managed to convince them to play along.  I even roped in Hill, Coulson, Rhodey, and Scott.  The fact I’d gotten Thor to come visit us for the holidays was the biggest selling point.  Even if he did bring his brother along.

We decided to do secret Santa.  So we sat around in the common room as I scribbled names on paper and put them in a hat.  “So shall we talk money limits?  Will you stick to them?”  I said giving Tony a pointed look.

“Whoa, hey!  Why are you looking at me like that?”  Tony said defensively.  “I didn’t even want to do this.  Santa is creepy.  But yeah, whatever, I’ll stick to a limit.”

“Okay, thank you.  I really have no idea what to make it.  What do you set a spending limit to when you have a Billionaire and an actual thief in the mix.”  I say looking around the room.  “Should we allow for some extravagance or more thoughtful time spent?”

“As the billionaire in the room, I’m going to keep my mouth shut,”  Tony said.

“I don’t even know what I’m going to do until I see who I get,”  Nat added.

Wanda looked from the others to me.  “What about a time limit as a compromise?”

“Okay.  So no limits, but don’t go outside your own personal comfort limit.  The idea is to be thoughtful, not spend the most money.  You’re buying or making a present for someone specific not just going ‘hey new car, everyone likes those.”  I said and handed the hat to Sam.  “If you pull your name out, put it back and draw again.  It’s not a free ride to not buy anyone a present.”

Sam pulled a slip of paper, looks at it and handed the hat to Steve. The hat was passed from person to person, everyone looking at who they drew and keeping their expressions neutral.  The hat eventually returned to me and I looked at my piece of paper to see that I drew Vision.  I immediately started planning things in his head going over the things I knew about Vision.  How much life interested him.  I figured as a biologist I could figure this out.

“Alright, cool.  This is going to be fun.” I said, putting my strip of paper in my pocket.  “The next thing is decorations.  I know the Lobby and some of the offices are decorated.  Can I decorate in here?  Are there decorations I can use or should I order them in?  I’d go shopping, but…”

“Order something in.  Just use FRIDAY.”  Steve said, sounding a little indignant.  “Since someone opened his big mouth, it’s been hard for any of us to go outside the tower.  Don’t exactly know how to decorate though.”

“I can help with that.”  Wanda chirped, sending me a mental picture of the common floor completely decorated with trees and hanging lights, garlands and mistletoe.  It was stunning and reminded me of pictures of German Christmas Markets.

“Ohh…”  I gasped.  “I love it.  Would you like to add some Hanukkah stuff too?”  I said to Wanda as I grabbed a tablet and started searching Christmas stores for things that matched Wanda’s vision.  “They’ll get bored of it eventually I’m sure.  It’s not like we ever go outside and just start dry humping each other.  What are they gonna get that isn’t just the way we’ve always been going out together?  At least now we don’t have to pretend.”

Clint laughed.  “That would be a pretty good get for the photographer that caught any of us doing that.”

“Some Blue lights would be enough.  Pietro and I…”  She trailed off.   “I’ll do my own thing with that.”

I nodded.  “What if we made it more winter themed than Christmas themed.  Ice and snow and stuff.”  I sent back a picture to her similar to the one that she sent but with more blue and white and the hanging garlands of lights looking like icicles.

“That’s really pretty.  And it would be a good compromise for;”  She sent me a picture of Tony.  “A better compromise for everyone really.”

“Excellent,”   I say as I start adding ornaments to my shopping cart.  “Thank you all again for agreeing to do this. I know it’s a first.  And for at least Loki it wasn’t even your choice, but I appreciate you humoring me.”

“Didn’t want to deal with the endless pouting and begging that would have ensued had we not agreed.” Tony shrugged.  “Plus, I’m going to look at it from the other way. This is an opportunity to give someone a good, maybe funny gift.”

“When have I ever pouted and begged for anything?”  I asked, a little outraged at the suggestion.  I then caught what I just said.  “No.   No.  Okay, not counting that kind of begging.”

Clint and Sam both started laughing.  “Good, you caught that before he decided to go there,”  Clint said.

A few days later the ornaments had arrived.  I was in the common room unpacking them alone waiting for Wanda who was in training.  The elevator arrived, and instead of Wanda stepping out, it was Steve.

He approached the boxes and picked one up looking inside.   “FRIDAY said you’d be here.”  He said not looking at me.

I looked up from what I was doing and tried to read him.  “What’s up?  Do you like them?  Wanda’s going to come and help put them up.  Which will make things go much faster because of the whole…”  I waved my hands around.

“Yeah, she’ll have everything decorated in minutes.”  Steve agreed, putting the box down.  “So, uh, I was wondering. I can’t figure out what to do with the person that I got as my Secret Santa. Or whatever we’re calling this now. Can I switch them? Or is that against the rules?”

I sat back, wondering who he had that was so bad.  I didn’t want to make it a chore for him though.  “I mean, no one else is supposed to know.  If you’re really struggling though, I can switch with you.”

Steve ran his hand through his hair and down the back of his neck.  “I just, I’ve tried to think of things. But they would all come out as really mean gifts.”

I pulled out my wallet and took the scrap of paper with Vision written on it.  “I’ll swap you, but no take backs,”  I said offering the paper to him.

“Of course, thank you.”  He said taking out his own paper and swapping it with mine.

I looked at the scrap of paper and saw the name Loki written on it.  “That makes sense,”  I said, tucking it into my wallet.  “I was worried when Thor insisted on him joining too.  I wonder why he would do that.  Loki clearly doesn’t want to participate.”

“Because Thor is, as Clint phrases it, a big space puppy that believes the best in everyone.”  He explained as he read the slip of paper I gave him.

“I should be able to come up with something.  Just aim for the ego.”  I said.  “You okay with yours?”

Steve nodded.  “It’ll take some thinking, but it’s better than Loki.”

“Little pro-tip for you.  Scott’s been asking everyone around what Phil is like.  I think he’d be easy to talk into switching.”  I said.

Steve ran his finger and thumb along his beard.  “I’ll think about it.  Scott does have the computer background. He might do better with Vis.  I’ll see how I go, though.”

I was in my apartment getting dressed a few days later when another trade happened.  FRIDAY announced that Clint wanted to see me.

He wandered into my room as I was buttoning up my jeans looking quite lost.  “Hey, El. I am having a super rough time with this gift thing. I got the one person in this Tower that you literally can’t get anything for.”

I flopped down on the edge of my bed and set it off swinging.  “The only person, huh?  Do you want help shopping or is this a please swap with me?”

Clint came and sat beside me and he kicked off the floor so the bed started to swing a little more violently.  “You’re telling me you’ve got ideas for him?”

“I have been kinda focused on mine,”  I said.  “But I like buying gifts.  Especially for people I love.  He’d also be a lot easier for me to cheat with. ‘Oh look, I got you this lingerie and it only fits me.’”

“Oh right. Don’t think I’d have the same effect. I mean, I could wear some lacy panties. But just don’t think it’ll be received as well.”  Clint joked.  “Guess that means we’re switching.”  He said the last bit a little hopefully.

I laughed and shook my head.  “There’s no take backs.  Are you really sure you want to do this?”

“I’m not sure, but I know I’m not going to be able to buy Tony anything that’s going to go down well,”  Clint explained.

I grabbed my wallet and pulled out the slip of paper with Loki’s name on it.  I handed it to him and as soon as he opened it his face fell.  “Fuck.  This is worse.”  He complained.  “What do you get the guy who mind controlled you?  Might wanna check on the day that I don’t give him a live grenade.”

“You wanna trade back?”  I asked him.

He collapsed back on the bed and ran his hands through his hair.  “Yes.  No.  I don’t know.”

I straddled his lap, resting my hands on his chest and looked down at him.  “What if I just help you choose something?  I have a list of things I think he’ll have a hard time faking that he doesn’t like.”

Clint let out a sigh of relief.  “Please.”  He said reaching up and running his thumb over my cheek.  “Thank you, princess.  You’re a little bit too precious you know?”

I scrunch my face up at him.  “So let’s think.  The dude is a narcissist.  What do narcissists like?”

“Umm… maybe we should ask Tony.”  Clint joked.  I punched him in the shoulder and he rolled us both over so he was on top of me.  “Hey.  No hitting.”

“Sorry, Clint,”  I said sheepishly and he smirked and leaned in to kiss me.  I ran my hands up under his t-shirt as our lips caressed.  “Mmm… what were we talking about?”   I asked.

“What narcissists like,”  Clint answered.

“Oh yeah.  They like themselves.”  I said, shaking my head.  “So, maybe there’s something, a book, or art or a play that has him in it.  He might like that right?”

Clint cupped my cheeks with his hands.  “You’re a genius.  Even though you got me into this mess, I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

“Yeah, god knows.  I thought you were a superhero. Getting stuck with me is just rude.”  I joked.

He laughed, leaned in and kissed me.

#the avengers #steve rogers #bucky barnes #tony stark #natasha romanoff #bruce banner #clint barton #wanda maximoff #sam wilson #avengers fanfic #avengers x reader #steve rogers x reader #bucky barnes x reader #tony stark x reader #stucky #clintasha #natasha romanoff x reader #wanda maximoff x reader #clint barton x reader #bruce banner x reader #sam wilson x reader #all caps #science bros #romanogers #buckynat #birds #fanfic #fanfiction #smut #fanficwriter013

[inloveandwords]

This post was inspired by Ally’s series (which was inspired by Lia at Lost in a Story).

It works like this

Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.

Order on ascending date added.

Take the first 5 (or 10 (or even more!) if you’re feeling adventurous) books

Read the synopsis of the books

Decide: keep it or should it go?

  Trial by Fire (Worldwalker #1) by Josephine Angelini

The exhilaratingly seductive new series from the author of the bestselling Starcrossed series

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted… which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily’s life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem – one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian… Lily’s identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn’t understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can’t hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: This one is actually on my bookshelf. I think it looks super interesting.

♥ ♥ ♥

King of the Stars (Starcross Series Book 1) by Elle Michaels

With the galaxy in upheaval, its future rests in the hands of a usurped warrior king and the farm girl that appears in his dreams.

Vi Junrah has never left her home planet. She spends nights staring into the stars, feeling as though she belongs among them, despite the Ansuli people being a humble, unassuming race. She’s always felt different, taller, paler, questioning, and alone. When a spaceship crash lands in the plains during the harvest festival, Vi’s curiosity gets the better of her. A brawny alien man lumbers out and sweeps her into space…for better or worse.

Orin Tarrastone spends restless nights toiling over haunting dreams of a beautiful woman appearing in darkness, a woman he can never reach. When his father, the galactic king, dies at the hands of an invading rebel army, Orin is forced into exile. After blacking out at the controls of his ship, he awakens to find the dream girl on a planet at the edge of the galaxy. Facing few options, and finding their mysterious meeting serendipitous, he steals her in hopes that she holds the key to a triumphant return to the throne.

The two attempt to unravel the mysteries of both their pasts while fate seemingly entwines their futures. Against the backdrop of galactic chaos, interstellar empires, invading rebels, pirates, and outlaws, Orin and Vi find themselves inexplicably drawn together facing it all.

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: I’m 100% judging a book by its cover and rating here, but this just does not appeal to me anymore.

♥ ♥ ♥

Half-Blood (Covenant #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals–well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem–staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is.

If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: I really need to give this author another chance. I didn’t love the first book in her Lux series, but she’s so popular and this seems to be a pretty popular book.

♥ ♥ ♥

Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5) by Richelle Mead

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: I’m not saying I will never read another book in this series, I’m just saying I won’t read it right now… but I probably won’t finish this series lol

♥ ♥ ♥

The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines #6) by Richelle Mead

THEY WILL BE TESTED

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets – and human lives.

Their forbidden romance exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s bestselling Bloodlines series.

When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, she and Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world and alter their lives forever.

Don’t miss their unforgettable final chapter…

LOVE WILL CONQUER ALL

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: ” ”

♥ ♥ ♥

Night of Cake & Puppets (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2.5) by Laini Taylor

In this stand-alone companion to the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone series comes the story of Mik and Zuzana’s fantastical first date—as a gorgeously illustrated gift edition with bonus content included.

Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her ��rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to make the first move, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy is not going to know what hit him.

New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Originally published as an ebook, this new print edition will include breathtaking black and white illustrations, plus bonus content in a gorgeous package perfect for new and current fans of the series.

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch?  Keep Comments: I will absolutely read this one! I love this series!

♥ ♥ ♥

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1) by Julie Kagawa

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: What I’m realizing here is that I’m heavily influenced by high ratings from a lot of people. This is one of those books, so on my TBR it stays.

♥ ♥ ♥

Stay by Deb Caletti

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city and Christian behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough….

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: I don’t even have to read the synopsis. Yes. It is my mission to read all of Deb Caletti’s books.

♥ ♥ ♥

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti

Right away I got that Something About To Happen feeling. Right away I knew he was bad, and that it didn’t matter.

It is summer in the Northwest town of Nine Mile Falls, and sixteen-year-old Ruby McQueen, ordinarily dubbed The Quiet Girl, finds herself hanging out with gorgeous, rich, thrill-seeking Travis Becker. But Ruby is in over her head, and finds she is risking more and more when she’s with him.

In an effort to keep Ruby occupied, Ruby’s mother Ann drags Ruby to the weekly book club she runs. When it is discovered that one of the group”s own members is the subject of the tragic love story they are reading, Ann and Ruby spearhead a reunion between the long-ago lovers. But for Ruby, this mission turns out to be much more than just a road trip….

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: ” ”

♥ ♥ ♥

The Story of Us by Deb Caletti

Cricket’s on a self-imposed break from her longtime boyfriend—but she’s picked a bad week to sort out her love life. For one thing, her mother’s romance is taking center stage: After jilting two previous fiancés, her mom is finally marrying Dan Jax, whom Cricket loves. But as wedding attendees arrive for a week of festivities at a guesthouse whose hippie owners have a sweet, sexy son—Ash—complications arise: Cricket’s future stepsisters make it clear they’re not happy about the marriage. An old friend decides this is the week to declare his love for Cricket. Grandpa chooses to reveal a big secret at a family gathering. Dan’s ex-wife shows up. And even the dogs—Cricket’s old, ill Jupiter and Dan’s young, lively Cruiser—seem to be declaring war.

While Cricket fears that Dan is in danger of becoming ditched husband-to-be number three, she’s also alarmed by her own desires. Because even though her boyfriend looms large in her mind, Ash is right in front of her….

Date added to TBR: Dec 06, 2016 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: ” ”

♥ ♥ ♥

Here are the stats

Starting Total TBR Count: 2041 Updated Total TBR Count: 2038 Total Ditched Today: 3 Total Kept Today: 7

This post was inspired by Ally’s series (which was inspired by Lia at Lost in a Story…

#declutter

[bookwhit]

H E L L O all my lovelies! July is OVER. Can you believe it? I can’t. Now it’s all about getting ready for school. Shopping for clothes and school supplies and any last minute efforts to do something as a family before summer is officially over. Maybe I will get more reading done with kids in school? I can only hope!

Here is the break down of what I read this month. I am hoping to do some reviews of these and have them up here soon. As always, I will give you the book, a synopsis and then my personal opinion on if it was worth the read with either a HECK YEAH or a BIG FAT NOPE.

1. Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson  was one I was really excited about. It comes out next week. August 7th I believe, and I read the ARC. YOU GUYS. I loved it.

Here is the synopsis:

A new novel in the New York Times–bestselling Remnant Chronicles universe, in which a reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives—and their hearts.

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty’s resentment and anger.

At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfill their own secret missions.

********

2. The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright was a little bit slow but after I kept thinking of all the things I liked about it. It follows a past and present story about two women and their experiences with The House on Foster Hill. It has a suspense, mystery plus a few plot twists that kept me interested in this novel. Yes. Read it.

Here is the synopsis:

Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather’s Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house’s dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide. A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy’s search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives–including her own–are lost?

********

3.  Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga was such a fun tween read. This is a clean read. Anyone can read it. It is a fantasy and it took me a minute to understand the magic of the Kisses but I am telling you that there is no cuter story that explains how special true love is. I thought it was an adorable, fun read full of banter, adventure and love.

Here is the synopsis:

In the war against the Forces of Darkness, the Royals are losing. Princess Ivy is determined to end this centuries-long conflict once and for all, so her new battle partner must succeed where the others failed. Prince Zach’s unparalleled skill with a sword, enhanced by Ivy’s magic Kiss, should make them an unstoppable pair—but try convincing Zach of that.

Prince Zach has spent his life preparing for battle, but he would rather be branded a heretic than use his lips as nothing more than a way to transfer magic. A kiss is a symbol of love, and love is the most powerful weapon they have—but try convincing Ivy of that.

With the fate of their world on the line, the battlefield has become a testing ground, and only one of them can be right. Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan—but try convincing their hearts of that.

********

  4. The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas has been CRAZY good. Her level of writing and depth of telling the story is absolutely incredible. There is also a book of 5 novellas called The Assassins Blade that is not pictured. I’m featuring this here because I just read Tower of Dawn and then reread Empire of Storms this month. Kingdom of Ash is the last book and will be released October 23rd and I am so excited and sad. I can not wait for the ending that will in no doubt be epic. If you haven’t read this series then you need to. I know its a lot of books but I swear they are good enough that you don’t realize how fast you will go through them.

Here is the synopsis of the first book, Throne of Glass:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king’s council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her … but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead … quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

********

5. The Siren by Kiera Cass was okay. It was a fun love story. I really liked her Selection Series but this one fell short me. I felt like I wanted there to be more. That being said, it was still fun. If you are wanting just a light, easy read then you should try this one! A fun love story. .. it just didn’t have the depth I was expecting but maybe that is because it isn’t very long.

Here is the synopsis:

Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again.

Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude…until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. And though she can’t talk to him, they soon forge a connection neither of them can deny…and Kahlen doesn’t want to.

Falling in love with a human breaks all the Ocean’s rules, and if the Ocean discovers Kahlen’s feelings, she’ll be forced to leave Akinli for good. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

********

6. The Roommate by Kendall Ryan got me out a little reading slump this month. Sometimes I need a quick read that I can’t put down. This one was full of sexy banter and such a cute story, I read it in one sitting!

Here is the synopsis:

The last time I saw my best friend’s younger brother, he was a geek wearing braces. But when Cannon shows up to crash in my spare room, I get a swift reality check.

Now twenty-four, he’s broad shouldered and masculine, and so sinfully sexy, I want to climb him like the jungle gyms we used to enjoy. At six-foot-something with lean muscles hiding under his T-shirt, a deep sexy voice, and full lips that pull into a smirk when he studies me, he’s pure temptation.

Fresh out of a messy breakup, he doesn’t want any entanglements. But I can resist, right?

I’m holding strong until the third night of our new arrangement when we get drunk and he confesses his biggest secret of all: he’s cursed when it comes to sex. Apparently he’s a god in bed, and women instantly fall in love with him.

I’m calling bullshit. In fact, I’m going to prove him wrong, and if I rack up a few much-needed orgasms in the process, all the better.

There’s no way I’m going to fall in love with Cannon. But once we start… I realize betting against him may have been the biggest mistake of my life.

********

7. Merciless by Willow Winters is the first of 4 books I believe. I received the first two books to read and review for a book tour and I wish I would have realized sooner that it was a 50 Shades of Grey type book. Don’t get me wrong, I love sexy, steamy romances but I don’t really love the dom/sub element. It’s not my thing and this one is about gangs in New York and how ruthless they are, honestly it made me uncomfortable. It was hard for me to read. I wouldn’t recommend it BUT… I will still leave the synopsis below.

I should’ve known she would ruin me the moment I saw her. Women like her are made to destroy men like me. I couldn’t resist her though. Given to me to start a war; I was too eager to accept.

But I didn’t know what she’d do to me. That she would change everything. She sees through me in a way no one else ever has. Her innocence and vulnerability make me weak for her and I hate it. I know better than to give in to temptation.

A ruthless man doesn’t let a soul close to him. A cold-hearted man doesn’t risk anything for anyone. A powerful man with a beautiful woman at his mercy… he doesn’t fall for her.

********

There you have it! What I read in July. I will hopefully be posting a new review weekly as soon as school starts up. Then you will have some real reviews instead of just my yes and no reads! Have a wonderful day friends! Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

What I read in July

[gascon-en-exil]

Joining the Game Late: S7E4 “The Spoils of War”

Synopsis

Bronn’s got his eye on Highgarden, and Cersei on paying off all her debts. Littlefinger returns the plot point dagger from Season 1 to Bran and gets creeped out in exchange, but it’s Meera who gets the cold farewell. Arya’s home and has trouble at the door, but she uses her assassin powers to meet Sansa in the family crypt where they bond over wishing they’d killed Joffrey. Bran creeps out Arya too, but he gives her the dagger so she can dual-wield and then show up Brienne in sparring. Littlefinger watches everything in Winterfell. Jon shows Dany the dragonglass and some narratively convenient cave etchings, but Dany’s not going to bend until he does. Hearing about the loss of Highhgarden leads to Tyrion getting the earful he deserves and Dany setting off to burn things against everyone’s wishes. Missandei doesn’t know what a bastard is, and Theon is on Dragonstone again where Jon opts not to kill him. Dickon Tarly is nice enough but has a stupid name, and Bron doesn’t like him. Daenerys and Dothraki hit the Lannister loot train, and Bron loses his gold but pulls a Bard on her dragon. Drogon doesn’t die from the hit, but lands long enough for Jaime to try to be a hero(?). Bron has to pull him out of the way of getting incinerated as Tyrion surveys the devastation.

Commentary

I don’t have an awful lot to say about this episode, so I’ll take a bit of the free space to complain about the costuming this season. Why is almost everyone wearing nothing but black now? I get that everyone is now on Westeros where winter has arrived and so heavier clothes are in order, but winter wear can still be colorful. It’s rather distracting to me to see the whole cast looking so drab for no reason, especially characters like Cersei, Daenerys, and Tyrion who used to have such vibrant and varied wardrobes. Is it supposed to make them all look edgy because the final battle is approaching?

Appropriately given the title, this hour focuses heavily on the material costs - and benefits - of war. Cersei being in arrears to the Iron Bank adds a note of urgency to her desire for conquest that she honestly didn’t really need, but I appreciate that this issue didn’t just vanish after having been brought up once a few seasons ago. Sansa’s ongoing concern for the grain stores of Winterfell continues to manifest although at this stage I’m wondering if it will have any payoff when the battle against the Night King is still a while off. The bounty of the now-defeated Reach is also on display here, the target of a raid by Daenerys as a means of crippling the Lannisters’ ability to withstand a siege in King’s Landing. I’m not entirely clear on the ethics of destroying grain bound for a city soon to be under military siege (not that the concept of war crimes appears to exist in this universe), although despite her scorn of the terrible track record of Tyrion’s “clever plans” it’s interesting to see Dany find a more strategic use for dragon fire that (probably) wouldn’t have her labeled a tyrant by the people of Westeros as Jon and Tyrion fear.

On  the flip side, it’s the Starks exemplifying the subject of the more human cost of war. The reunion of the three living siblings forms the emotional core of the episode, even as it’s clear that all of them have changed drastically and in ways that make them inscrutable to each other. This is especially true for Sansa; we as a audience know she’s undergone substantial character development since the beginning of the show, but compared to a stealthy dual-wielding assassin and an omniscient callback device transcending personhood even she seems to feel that she’s being left behind. Knowing how this is going to resolve by the end of the season with Littlefinger, along with whatever his master plan is in remaining with the Starks, is easily the part of the Winterfell storyline I’m most interested in seeing play out. Sansa’s arc being the most mundane (albeit still horrific) of the siblings helps in large part with keeping her as the focal point here even though this technically represents the convergence of a trio of storylines that haven’t had any points of commonality since Season 1.

Don’t think I missed Bronn considering the prospect of Highgarden, though. As humorous as the man can occasionally be, and as competent as demonstrated here, his being named lord of not!Paris in the show’s ending is probably one of its smaller elements that irks me the most. I suppose there’s no one else to give it to since Sam’s going to be a maester, his father and brother are destined for a barbecue, and the show never bothered to include any of the other lords of the Reach, but - Bronn, really? 

#Game of Thrones #GoT