#book recos

[bookaddict24-7]

12 Books By Black Authors I've Recently Read & Recommend:

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

When it All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw

The Melancholy of Summer by Louisa Onomé

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown

Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon

The Getaway by Lamar Giles

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

___

Have you read any of these books? Would you recommend them?

___

Happy reading!

#book recommendations #Features #Black Authors #Black History Month #book recos #on books #on reading #books #booklr #bookish #bookworm #bookaholic #book blogger #book blog #bibliophile #books books books #books and reading #booklover #reading #read #reader #book list #diversify your shelves

[goodthingscomeinthrees]

just sayin' that the analogue for bertha is alva vanderbilt, but george's is jay gould — ruthless robber baron, but also family man and orchid enthusiast. jfells is being picky-choosy, so we'll go down the consuelo route in s3, but i think he'll veer off-course at some point. he's done it enough already (gladys' debutante ball was actually a costume party, etc.) that i do not foresee divorcée suffragette bertha happening anytime soon. thanks for coming to my ted talk.

(while we're here, please look at what people wore to alva's costume ball, specifically the lady whose costume included TAXIDERMIED CATS.)

#the gilded age #bertha russell #george russell #bertha x george #also would highly reco both anderson cooper and katherine howe books #about the vanderbilts and the astors #they're really engaging and fun #and oh my god these people were TERRIBLE

[im-what-killed-the-dinosaurs]

You know the book

The First to Die at the End - Adam Silvera.

You know gay men.

If you haven't red it i highly reccomend it but the basic premise is

Orion Pagan goes to Times Square for the launch of Death-Cast, a service that calls to tell your “End Day,” the day that you’re going to die. People who receive calls are called “Deckers.” It is a controversial service.

 Valentino Prince arrives in New York from Arizona. He also decides to go to the party in Times Square since his twin sister, Scarlett, won’t be arriving for another few hours. By chance, he stands next to Orion, and Orion introduces himself to Valentino. They discover Valentino isn’t signed up for Death-Cast, and both share their reasoning for opting into the service. Orion has a heart condition, and his parents died on September 11, 2001. He wants to be able to say goodbye to his loved ones because his parents never did. Valentino, who identifies with Orion’s story since his sister recently had a near-death experience, quickly signs up.

At midnight, Joaquin Rosa, the founder of Death-Cast, makes the first call to Valentino, who will die today. Shortly after, gunshots break out, and Orion knocks Valentino to the ground, saving his life. As a result, Orion has a heart attack, they rush him to the hospital. There, Valentino decides he wants his heart donated to Orion, and because he is a universal donor, the doctor performs the necessary tests and agrees to get approval from the board.

Orion wants to help Valentino have a good End Day, and despite concerns that Orion could get hurt or killed by being around Valentino, they go back to Valentino’s apartment.

By 3:03 a.m., it has been discovered that there is at least one Decker who did not receive a call. Joaquin goes to fix the problem.

Valentino calls his sister and tells her that he received a call from Death-Cast and asks her to sign up. In Arizona, Scarlett’s pilot discovers he is a Decker, and her flight is grounded. Her texts also don’t go through because of a signal disruption.

Meanwhile, Valentino’s landlord, Frankie, plots to use one of his wife’s friends, Rolando, who works at Death-Cast to find a Decker to follow around and photograph. Rolando found his first shift calling for Death-Cast to be terrible, and he quits. However, he calls Frankie back and gives him Valentino’s name, hoping that Frankie will be killed whenever Valentino is because Frankie is abusive toward his wife.

Valentino and Orion go to Valentino’s modeling agency for his first photoshoot, but he discovers that the photographer was killed in Times Square. They leave, and Valentino is upset that his End Day is already going poorly. Orion offers to do a photo shoot for him throughout New York.

Eventually, they decide to go to Ground Zero. There, Orion gets closure and accepts that his parents are truly gone, and he wants to live the life they would’ve wanted for him. His feelings for Valentino grow.

At the same time, Rolando meets with one of the Deckers he called, who encourages him to confess his feelings for Frankie’s wife, Gloria, before it’s too late. Rolando leaves to call her, and they meet for lunch. He confesses his feelings for her, and she reciprocates, deciding to leave her husband.

At the Brooklyn Bridge, Orion and Valentino discuss marriage and having kids. Orion confesses that he has feelings for Valentino, and they kiss. They decide to go on a first and last date.

Joaquin returns to Death-Cast’s headquarters, thinking he has fixed the problem. However, in his absence, 11 more Deckers who never received calls died. He thinks that there will be one more.

On the subway back to Times Square, Orion performs a dance for Valentino since he has always wanted to see subway performers. Then, Orion plays music and makes Valentino walk down the subway car like it’s a runway, and Valentino feels more seen than he ever did in Arizona.

Joaquin has announced that there are Deckers who may not have received a call. Orion begins to worry that it is his End Day, too. They go back to Orion’s home. Scarlett then calls and explains that all planes out of Arizona have been grounded.

At the Orions household, Orion and Valentino are welcomed back, and they recount their day. Valentino decides to call his parents and tell them about Death-Cast. They listen to him but do not say anything, and Valentino emphasizes that he’s had a great day with his boyfriend, then hangs up.

Orion and Valentino fuck. There is no other way to say it, I'm sorry. Thats what happens.

They go to Valentino’s apartment to prepare it for Scarlett and then to the hospital to prepare for the surgery. The doctors will try to save Valentino if he starts to die, but if he experiences brain death, they will transfer his heart to Orion.

At Valentino’s apartment building, the Young family (Orions adoptive family) waits for Orion and Valentino in the lobby. On their way up, they hear Frankie attacking Gloria. Valentino intervenes, but Frankie beats him and throws him down the stairs. Gloria’s son kills Frankie, who is the last Decker who didn’t receive a call.

Orion holds Valentino, who is breathing but not responding. His family rushes them to the hospital, where they perform the transplant. They call Scarlett to tell her the news and promises that she will be treated like family if she comes to live in New York.

Orion’s body successfully accepts the heart, and Scarlett arrives. They go through all of the pictures that he and Valentino took together. Death-Cast is seen as a success, and Orion is grateful for it, having seen the good it can serve in someone’s life. Scarlett also gives Orion a USB drive with a video from Valentino on it. Valentino tells him that he loves him and to enjoy his life and fall in love again.

He will always be with Orion in “[their] heart”

I cried bro I cried.

But this with songs. A musical. Would you watch it?

#musical theater kid #broadway #musical theatre #thats just me #I was just thinking #the first to die at the end #adam silvera #they both die at the end #gay #gay men #gay books #queer books #lgbtq books #emotional books #make it a musical #I'd pay to see this #make it happen #book reco

[jmkho]

The URGE to start a booktube channel where I do reading vlogs, reviews, and rants about weird ass books is so strong right now lol

stg THE FIRST SERIES I'D DO IS EVERYTHING BY V.C ANDREWS LMAO

#my one friend actually gets me to recoed mt ranrs about books and movies because and i quote “you need to make a podcast these they're - #comedy gold“ lmao

[hollabadj]

🔖 Book of the day!

It took me a month and 9 days to finish this book because i'm working most of the time. BUT WHEN I TELL YOU this is a gem, you gotta believe me. This book is so beautifully written in all of its complexities because it touched a lot of social issues seamlessly and each chapter has their own surprises.

—

Spoiler warning for the below screenshots of few lines I really liked in the book.

I also liked how the book ended. You know that a book is good when you feel something, and the ending has left me with bittersweet sensation.

—

For my verdict: 10/10 ⭐️ and easily one of my favorites now!

#book #excerpt #recommendation #the seven husbands of evelyn hugo #taylor jenkins reid #books #books on tumblr #reco #book recommendation

[myreblogssss]

Black authors?

okay, this is embarrassing and i feel bad, i'm doing a year long reading challenge and since February is Black History Month the only challenge this month is to read something by a black author. I thought I owned a few options but have just realized I only own 4 books by African american authors (and they're all either poetry or childrens chapter books) and that's really not okay, any recommendations?

#poc author #books #book recommendations #reading #black authors #help #book reco

[ririnnn]

hi ppl!!

pls suggest sum good books 2 read or pls lmk your fav authors/series 🥹🫶🏼 thanks so muchh

#booktok #book #book reco #book recommendation #book recommendations #bookstagram #book review #bookblr

[ellesreads]

This year's blog posts so far...

2024 reading goals

Backlist TBR + Anticipated releases

Recent reads #1

Reading booktubers' favourite books

Second chance romances book recommendations

Recent reads #2

January 2024 wrap up

The summer I turned pretty season 1 review

Check & mate book review

#book blogger #book blog #book review #book reco #romance book #wrap up #book community #booklr #currently reading #finance #romance recommendations #book commentary

[ode2rin]

try emily henry mimi 😉

EMILY HENRY'S HAPPY PLACE PUT ME IN A READING SLUMP i haven't even finished it yet oh god

#ok i'll try the other books.. #do you have recos !! #letters to mimi ✿

[lovingthebadguys]

Decided to share with you this masterpiece. This one is a book reco from tiktok. I tried it since I'm currently into the "slice of life" genre. I think one of the reasons why I enjoyed it is that way back in college I commuted for 2-4 hours from our home to the university. It involved riding a jeep and a train. The entire journey of Iona is an eye-opener to me; at the same time, it shows a different journey that you experience at a late age. It's like finding your purpose and significance when you have already experienced life in your younger years. Also, what's refreshing are the characters because they are at first complete strangers to each other and these small unexpected events on the train brought them closer together. There will always be people who are not meant to stay in our lives just like how train rides end. Yet, we have to make the most of the "crossing" of our paths. This story has the right amount of romance, thrill, and drama that will make you feel nostalgic for the pre-pandemic times and long for a not-so-simple train ride.

#book review #book reco #clare pooley #iona iverson's rules for commuting #book recommendation #book #recommend #booktok #bookworm #book finds #review

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Books I’ve read so far in 2023!

Friend me on Goodreads here to follow my more up to date reading journey for the year!

___

116. How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Man, I love Grady Hendrix.

I never know what I'm going to get with his books. When I started HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE, I wasn't sure if I was really into it. The start was a little bit on the slower side and I wasn't sure how I felt about the sibling dynamic.

Then I put the book down and read some other things. I think I wasn't in the right head space for it, so I eventually picked it up again a couple of months later. And I'm so glad I tried again!

This book made me laugh probably a few too many times considering it's horror, but those puppets (especially the main one) was absolutely hilarious. If you do audiobooks, I highly recommend listening to the one for this book, especially because you'll get the pleasure of hearing the voice actor do the puppet's voice--that catcall of his in particular. Man, that was funny.

But much like Hendrix's other works, one moment you're either mad or laughing, and the next you'll feel like you need to throw up. There are some seriously gruesome bits in this. If you're into that, you'll saw right through the pages.

This book had me feeling so many emotions and somehow, even after the worst (I thought it was the worst part), there were still four hours left in the audiobook. Those were some creepy and fast paced hours as the story raced towards a satisfying conclusion. Listen, I cried at the end. If that's not a rollercoaster of emotions, I don't know what is.

While it might not have been my favourite Hendrix book (HORRORSTÖR will always be my favourite), this was a fun one that might make you laugh, squirm with disgust, and cry. Especially fun to recommend this to people who have a phobia of dolls and/or puppets.

___

117. The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis--⭐️⭐️

Okay, aha, this series is written by different authors and...it shows.

Off the bat, I was slightly uncomfortable. From some of the jokes used (one sibling calling the other "Jackie Chan" because they were going to Japan when Jackie isn't even Japanese...), to the uncomfortable idea that one of the siblings is falling for her cousin. I get that it was alluded to in earlier books, but it was more like a "he's attractive and I have social anxiety" but seeing them flirt in this book was....kind of weird LOL.

I know these are older books and while I did enjoy the adventure parts (and the cunning ways these family members outdo each other), there were some things I couldn't get past. I'll keep reading the series because I'm both curious about the mystery and because another author will write the next book.

Onto the next one!

___

118. Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine--⭐️⭐️

I wanted to enjoy this one, but I know GOOSEBUMP books can be super hit or miss. This is such a popular book in the series, so I was hoping for...more? But there was so much wrong with this one. The competing twins were frustrating, but they're kids. I can understand their competition.

What I don't understand is the horrible parents. I know this is from a kid's perspective, so maybe we are seeing an inflated response from the parents, but that mother was a piece of work. What an impatient and disconnected woman. Listen, if my kid told me their doll was moving on its own, I'd be spraying holy water on it instead of yelling at them. Just, such questionable parenting. There's a reason why so many kids never want to tell their parents anything.

"Why don't they call me anymore?" Because when Billy told you that his puppet was trying to kill him, you didn't believe him. JK. It's not that serious, but it's sad to see that so many people in my generation grew up reading about parents like this.

___

119. Our Shadows Have Claws by Various--⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have mixed feelings about this collection. I never really pick up anthologies because I need my stories to be thicker than just a few pages, although I can fully appreciate the mastery of writing a powerful story a short number of pages long. But while there were definitely some knockout stories in this collection (in my opinion), there were some misses, too.

I went into this hoping to be spooked! I'm Latina, so seeing a Latine collection of horror stories made me incredibly excited (even with my apprehension for short stories). While the stories may not have been what I was hoping for, the artwork was gorgeous and creepy. I'll definitely be keeping this collection on my shelves both because it's amazing Latine rep, and because it's just a beautiful book aesthetically.

I've broken down the stories with my individual ratings and very short thoughts:

The Nightingale and the Lark: 3 Stars

I enjoyed seeing a story about the complicated dynamic of family and tradition. I'm kind of sad this is the Cuban one--but don't mind me, this is just me being a city bitch. I had no idea what this monster was and neither did my parents, but I'm assuming it's a campo monster. That being said, this was a pretty solid story to start with....but not scary. At all. It WAS interesting to see the morality living in the shadows of beliefs and fear.

¿Dónde Está el Duende?: 4 Stars

I think this is one of my favourites of the whole collection. It was so sinister and more than the monster itself, the actions of the humans involved made this one extra spooky. I remember thinking about it once it ended and feeling so uncomfortable when all of the pieces clicked together.

El Viejo de la Bolsa: 2 Stars

Meh. I feel like I zoned out with this one. I was so confused and by the end of the story, I had no idea what I'd just read. (This happens a few times with some of the stories in the collection.)

Beware the Empty Subway Car: 1.5 Stars

Honestly, this title was kind of misleading. There were some cool places this story could have gone but it was so boring. And it felt like...the point of the story was kind of random? Especially because it read more like one chapter in a bigger book. No shade to the authors, but it felt like the point of this story being included in this collection was missed. All backstory, barely any spooks. Meh. Least favourite, lowest rating.

Dismembered: 4 Stars

Having just lost my Abuela last December, this hella pulled on my heartstrings. Emotional and with a deeply heartbreaking twist, Dismembered is rightfully a favourite for a lot of other readers. Even if the beginning of the story feels gruesome, the heart of the story is beautiful.

Blood Kin: 4 Stars

I LOVE revenge stories. I was immediately hooked and I'm a sucker for the bad guy getting his due justice. Also, another heartstring puller. These authors giving me the spooks with a side of heartbreak. Thanks.

La Boca Del Lobo: 2 Stars

So, I *listened* to the audiobook of this collection. I have this thing where if a book isn't keeping my attention, then it's not a book I'm enjoying. When I'm invested, I am listening with both ears and hoping to catch everything. This story had me so disinterested that I had to replay the whole thing again because I missed the whole thing. The second time around wasn't any better.

Bloodstained Hands Like Ours: 2 Stars

While I loved the LGBTQ+ rep, I wasn't really feeling this one. It had a weird ending that made me think of superheroes. Much like the Subway Car story, this felt like a lot of backstory and not enough main creep story.

The Boy from Hell: 3.5 Stars

This was a fun one and felt like it could have been its own book. I especially loved how this story touches on the racism that lives in the Latine community. Also, even though I saw the twist a mile away, it was still fun to see.

La Patasola: 4 Stars

Loved the LGBTQ+ rep in this and how it forces the reader to see how ignorance and falling to peer pressure can ruin something so beautiful. I kind of wish I had more of this story so I could see the outcome of the events that happen. I really enjoyed this one. The ending was very satisfying.

The Other Side of the Mountains: 4 Stars

I think this one is a perfect example of backstory being well-balanced with the heart of the story. That twist was *chef's kiss*.

La Madrina: 3 Stars

I don't think this is a monster story. I think it's a great morality story that was well written and paced, but I think to call this a monster story does the heart of it a disservice. But I guess, in a way, it brings to question what we might define a monster to be.

Sugary Deaths: 3.5 Stars

This had a very satisfying ending for a creepy man who should not be around younger girls. This is one of those stories where you have to ask yourself, "Who's the real monster here?"

Leave No Tracks: 4 Stars

I loved this one because of how powerful it was. I thought it was a great allegory for the erosion of family and nature, and how the consequences of our choices can haunt us long after the choice has been made.

The Hour of the Wolf: 4 Stars

Probably one of my favourites overall. I love a good story with Karma and this one DELIVERED. Also, something I've noticed in this one and in some of the other stories is the importance of the all-knowing Abuela. Loved the creepy wolf vibes and the bullies facing some twisted revenge.

___

120. Help! We Have Strange Powers! by R.L. Stine--⭐️⭐️

This was pure chaos.

While I really enjoyed the last Horrorland book I listed to, this one was just too much. The production level felt like it was too much. And don't even get me started on these awful main characters. Also, this was another book with twins. LOL Stine had a trope.

I AM intrigued, however, about what is happening in Horrorland--I think that's the best part of these books.

___

121. Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells--⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, I can't believe I finally finished this book that I started a year and a bit ago. I never thought this day would come LOL.

I think one of the reasons why I kept putting this one down is because it felt like a slower read--which is why I'm so happy my library got the audiobook edition! That definitely helped, although there were still instances where my brain zoned out because the story never really fully hooked me.

The mystery and intrigued was interesting--I wanted to see what twists and turns waiting for me as the MC navigated the truths being thrown at her. It makes me sort of fascinated enough to read the sequel, but I'm not fully sold on that yet.

One of the things I did love about this series is that it did have that fun early 2000s-2010s vibes that contemporary fantasy had, a la SOOKIE STACKHOUSE & the FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT series (but without the spiciness, just the tension.)

Other than the occasional slow pace, this was fun and I think would be a fun read for anyone who likes badass MCs taking over their own narrative after so many others have done it for them.

___

122. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pardon my French, but this book is a mindfuck.

I'm kind of freaked out about how good Kuang is at making you face your own mind when you're given an anti-hero MC who sometimes had you empathizing with her, and then abruptly remembering how awful they actually are. Granted, none of the characters in this book were the shitting rainbows kind of characters. These were characters that dangerously resembled the actual nature of so many people out there--people who you may know, or may have encountered. Those people who think they've been wronged and who think other groups get undeserved preferential treatment.

Other than this being a phenomenal commentary on the publishing industry, this is just such a fascinating exploration of the human condition and how biases can truly make us believe the things we believe--even when the rest of the world is pointing out how wrong your actions are. Also, Kuang shows us the dangers of having heavily unreliable narrators. The power of writing is sometimes having you empathize with the worst characters.

Trigger warning, though, for incredibly blasé racism and discussion of under-representing racism in history to make a story more palatable. Those scenes where the MC is editing the stolen manuscript were probably some of the harder ones for me because I KNOW there are editors and people in publishing who would think the same way.

Kuang is a genius and even though I wasn't a fan of THE POPPY WAR, YELLOWFACE & BABEL will forever remain as some of my favourites because of their blunt and incredible discussions on race and inequality.

I can't recommend this book enough. I do recommend doing it with a glass of wine...or something stronger. Just don't make any Pandan pancakes to eat along with this book.

___

123. You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron--⭐️⭐️⭐️

I will immediately say that while this had some fun moments and commentary on what it means to be a Black person in a horror setting, this book wasn't at all what I was expecting--and I don't mean that in a good way.

I really enjoyed seeing the MC and her strong connection with her girlfriend. That in itself felt like it was defying the horror genre stereotypes. I also loved the jabs at what we usually see in horror books (like couples having sex will always be like a dinner bell being rung for serial killers at killer camps).

Overall, this book had its creepy moments, weird twists, and an interesting ending. But I was hoping for...more. This felt like it didn't go where I was hoping it would go and it ended up just being an okay read.

I'm giving it three stars instead of two because while it wasn't what I was hoping for, it was still a fun read that I'd recommend to anyone wanting a slasher read.

___

Have you read any of these books? Let me know your thoughts!

___

Happy reading!

#books #reviews of the week #review #reviews #book list #booklr #bookworm #book blog #book blogger #my writing #my opinion #Features #on books #on reading #long text post #reviewer #book reviewer #book recos #book addict #book reviews

[piedpiperart]

Can We Keep Him?

DC fic where Robin!Jason finds meta Tim in the trash 

Chapter one

Jason didn’t know where he was going exactly, just that he needed some time to himself. Being in that giant manor still unsettled him sometimes, so here he was, out exploring in the woods. Jason couldn’t even really explain why he wanted out of the manor. Bruce was out as Batman, so no one was in the manor except Alfred. Jason hadn’t been allowed to go out because of his big test tomorrow in Chemistry, despite the fact that Jason would have preferred to get his energy out punching bad guys. Instead he had nothing to do but sit in bed and worry about the periodic table. It was too quiet in the manor, he’d thought. The lack of noise and nervous thoughts kept him from sleeping, so he decided to do something with all that energy. 

He’d brought a backpack full of snacks, a flashlight, and the book he was reading and headed out. The forest surrounding the back of the manor was something Jason had been hoping to explore eventually. He’d just never gotten around to doing it yet, and tonight seemed like a good time to explore. It was still barely light out, so Jason didn’t think there’d be any wild animals to spook him. He just hoped there weren’t bears. 

Huddled in his jacket, he treaded onwards into the woods. He figured he could loop around the manor, just to make sure he didn’t get lost or go too far. Part of him thought back to the magic treehouse books he’d read as a kid, and wondered if Bruce would let him build a treehouse out here. Jason thought bitterly, that maybe Dick would have loved to help build one if he wasn’t busy being mad at everyone. 

Jason sighed. He knew Dick was just going through some teenage angst or whatever, Jason being twelve and Dick being sixteen, there was an age gap big enough that Jason didn’t understand Dick’s thought process. Sure, he figured Dick was angry he took Robin, but the guy had moved out. Nightwing was already a prolific hero, and Jason was trying to live up to the mantle. It just sucked, that the sibling Jason had always wanted growing up didn’t want anything to do with him. 

It just made the manor a bit lonelier. Alfred and Bruce were great, but Jason didn’t feel like he could talk to them like a sibling, or a friend. Both were used to silent company, which was fine for the most part. Jason chattered with Alfred over tea, and complained to Bruce about school over breakfast. It wasn’t like he needed to be around someone all the time, and he had some people at school that weren’t inherently terrible. 

Jason shook his head, and looked up to the trees. What made a tree a good tree for a treehouse, he wondered. He recalled the tv playing some show called Treehouse Masters or something once when Bruce had fallen asleep on the couch. Jason hadn’t paid much attention since he was more invested in his book, but he thought he could remember something about the tree having a lot of limbs being good.

Of course, the treehouses on the tv were a lot bigger than Jason was planning, so he figured any tree shape would be fine as long as it would hold a small treehouse. Then Jason could decorate it with all kinds of things, maybe rig up someplace he could read in. Trudging through the bushes, he kept looking, not finding a particular tree that stood out to him. 

As he walked, Jason thought about putting pillows and blankets in one corner, with a lamp or something like those fairy lights he’d seen in some girl’s locker at school. Of course, the treehouse would need snacks, so maybe a box or secret compartment. Now that he was thinking about it, a desk and chair for when he needed to do homework would be cool. Jason stumbled over something on the forest floor, having not noticed it in the dwindling light while he was thinking about color schemes to paint the treehouse with. 

Glancing down, he was surprised to find he’d tripped over an old tupperware container. He could see a crack down one side, and when he picked it up he recognized it as the same brand Alfred used. Curious, Jason looked around, spotting the Manor to the left and found himself closer to the driveway. He spotted the dumpster not too far away, and decided to meander over there to throw the container in. 

He’d not known they had a dumpster out here, but he figured it made sense. Jason often heard Alfred grumbling about raccoons, so he figured maybe one of them had gotten into the trash and grinned. He’d always wanted a pet, and while he knew a raccoon would be potentially dangerous he sort of hoped there’d be a stray cat around for him to befriend. 

Jason stood on his tiptoes to open the floppy lid of the dumpster, only to dart back in surprise when something inside hissed at him. Stumbling back, he dropped the lid with a smack and tripped on his own feet to land on his butt. Okay, so maybe there are raccoons, Jason thought to himself as he pulled himself to his feet. 

He crept closer, hearing rustling in the dumpster. For a moment he thought they might be stuck in there, and he took out his flashlight. Jason was pretty sure a raccoon wouldn’t kill him, and even if he did get scratched or bitten, the manor was just a short jog away. Not that he was planning to fight the raccoon, he just wanted to make sure it wasn’t a cat. Or stuck in there. 

Jason lifted the lid again, this time rearing back as far as he could while angling his flashlight to the inside of the dumpster. He heard the hissing again, and felt a bit of disappointment when he saw the striped tail. There seemed to be only one raccoon, Jason noted as he tried to get a better position. His arm was getting tired of holding up the lid, but he didn’t want to scare the raccoon by opening the thing all the way. 

Speaking of the raccoon, from what Jason had seen of it the thing’s tail was huge. He brought the flashlight around to where he’d seen it curled into the trash, hoping to see a fat, fluffy raccoon, but Jason nearly dropped the flashlight in surprise when what hissed at him had a human face. 

“Holy shit,”Jason whispered, bringing the flashlight out of the squinty blue eyes looking back at him warily.

Nearly losing his grip, Jason stared with wide eyes at what looked like a little boy with black hair, dirt covered skin so much it almost looked black in the dim light, a tattered old shirt, and a raccoon tail eating what looked like a piece of dinner roll that Jason had seen Alfred throw out with the other occasional dinner leftovers the day before. The kid was small, and Jason couldn’t help but stare, even when the kid hissed at him again with his cheeks puffed out from the bread. 

“Hey there,”Jason cooed, trying to project the voice he uses to comfort victims as robin. “Are you okay?” 

The kid merely stuffed the rest of the roll in his mouth, afraid Jason would try to take it, and curled further into the trash. Jason winced, hoping there wasn’t any broken glass or anything that the kid would cut himself on. He couldn’t help the rush of anger he felt at someone leaving a toddler in the trash. He’s practically a baby, Jason exclaimed in his head, a bit hysterically. 

Though, seeing the obvious animal traits the kid had, Jason could guess why the kid was abandoned. Not many people were fond of metahumans these days, even with the work the Justice League was putting in to protect them. 

Suddenly an idea sparked, and Jason put away his flashlight to dig through his backpack. He fiddled around until he brought out a plastic bag filled with Alfred’s oatmeal cookies. “Are you hungry?” Jason asked, breaking one cookie in half and reaching into the dumpster towards the kid. 

As expected, he got a hiss in reply, but after a few moments of sniffing, the kid made an adorable chirp and came forward a bit. It took some maneuvering through the trash for him, but Jason kept patiently still, leaning over the lip of the dumpster as far as he could go as the kid warily reached for the cookie. 

Jason beamed with delight when the kid took it from his hand, making sure to not touch his skin, and snatching it as fast as lightning. The toddler examined it with a chirp, sniffing it thoroughly before taking a tiny nibble, all the while keeping an eye on Jason. A warm feeling grew in Jason’s chest when the kid lit up at the taste and scarfed the rest down. 

The kid turned his big blue eyes to Jason immediately to beg for more, and Jason had to resist laughing. All it took to gain the kid’s trust was Alfred’s cookies, Jason thought, but broke another piece off the cookie to give to the kid. This piece was snatched much quicker, and the kid didn’t immediately retreat like the last time. 

It worried Jason, how easy it was to get the kid to trust him with food. Anyone could have lured him in and Jason didn’t want to think about all the things some creep might’ve done. The teen swallowed around the lump in his throat, but dutifully handed the kid the last piece of the cookie. “You wanna come out of the dumpster?” Jason asked gently as the kid munched on the cookie. It was adorable, the way his head tilted to the left as Jason spoke. He wondered if the little raccoon even knew what he was saying. 

“I’ll give you a whole cookie if you come out,”Jason bargained, holding up another cookie. The little guy brightened at the sight, and crawled forwards as much as he could until he was near the edge of the dumpster Jason was leaning over. He put his little hands up against the wall to balance as he stood up on two legs, reaching high as he could to get the cookie. 

Jason broke it in half, handing one piece to him- or her, Jason couldn’t tell, but he’d stick to him for now. The kid just stared at him while munching, and Jason thought about ways he could get the kid out of the dumpster. It kind of smelled. Not that it was the kid’s fault, Jason knew, but he was more than ready to get this kid to the manor and into the bath. He swore the little guy was dirtier than any street kid he’d ever met. 

“You wanna come out now?” Jason asked, reaching closer. The little raccoon boy sniffed his hand, still glancing at him cautiously until Jason handed him the other half of the cookie. Taking that as a good sign, Jason pulled the dumpster lid all the way back so he’d have both hands free. Thankfully, the kid stayed where he was, watching Jason curiously with crumbs on his cheeks. 

“Alright,”Jason sighed, holding another cookie. “Are you gonna bite me if I try to lift you out of here?” 

He didn’t receive an answer. Jason briefly entertained the idea of calling Bruce or Alred to come help him, but shook his head. He was Robin. Which meant he was perfectly capable of getting one meta raccoon toddler out of the trash. Probably. He took off his jacket in preparation, holding it in the hand that didn’t have snacks.

Jason gave the kid the cookie, then while he was distracted, wrapped him into his jacket and lifted him out of the dumpster and into his arms. Predictably, the kid flailed a bit with a yelp, but his hands kept hold of the cookie so Jason didn’t get scratched. Jason exhaled in relief, even as the kid growled lowly through his next bite. The noise sounded funny as he continued to growl while eating, but Jason held back a laugh. 

“You’re okay, it's okay,”Jason cooed, hoisting the kid into a more comfortable position. Jason looked in awe at how small and dirty the kid was up close. The only thing that wasn’t completely covered in dirt was his big blue eyes. The growling let up, and the kid started to squirm when he’d finished the cookie, but Jason was prepared. 

The crinkling of the chip bag caught the kid’s attention, and thanks to Robin training, he had no trouble keeping hold of the squirmy child in his arms while he got a chip out to hand to him. He didn’t yet trust the kid to hold the bag, but he couldn’t help the coo escaping him when the little guy crunched the chips with excitement. 

Jason started walking back towards the manor while feeding the kid chips. It still amazed him how food-motivated the kid was that he’d just let Jason pick him up and bring him to a strange place as long as he fed him. Absently, he wondered what was gonna happen when the kid wasn’t hungry anymore, or if he ran out of snacks. 

Throughout the short walk, the kid had relaxed in his arms. He was peering over Jason’s shoulder to look at the Manor, Bruce’s parked car, the garden, anything that caught his eye as he snacked. Up close, Jason noticed the tiny little fangs the kid had as he crunched down on them. Halfway through, Jason opened another bag of chips, and was delighted to find the kid enjoying the different flavor. 

A pang shot through Jason when he wondered if the kid had any favorite foods or if he just ate whatever he could find. That gave Jason more determination to feed the kid a warm meal and get him wrapped up in the fluffiest blanket he could find. The kid chirped at him brightly when he held him closer, and Jason hoped he’d be able to stay. 

He couldn’t help but think the manor would be a little less lonely with the little raccoon, and Jason knows he’d worry his head off if the kid went to go live with someone else. There was just so many variables, especially regarding a feral meta child. He didn’t want the kid to end up in some asylum, and knew they’d have the time and resources to help the kid at the manor. Besides, he’d already gotten attached.

Jason quietly snuck into the house through one of the side doors, only pausing briefly when the kid whined in protest at moving indoors. He calmed him down with more snacks, and led them to Jason’s room. The kid seemed distracted with looking around, so Jason took that time to set the kid on his bed while he gathered things for a bath. 

Keeping an eye on the kid, he grabbed some cozy pajamas that would definitely be too big on the kid, a towel, and a few more snacks from his stash. The kid was wiggling hs way off the bed, and Jason noticed embarrassingly that the only clothes the kid was wearing was a tattered shirt. No pants. Which, now that Jason was thinking, made sense with the tail in the way and the whole living in dumpsters thing. Jason, armed with a granola bar, came back to scoop the kid up and headed for his ensuite bathroom. The kid whined, kicking his feet for a second before Jason passed him the granola bar, which calmed him down enough for the teen to set him down on the bath mat while he closed the door. 

“Alright, let’s get you cleaned up before Alfred finds out we’re in here,”Jason murmured. No doubt the old man would have a heart attack at how dirty this kid was. Jason could barely tell his skin color through the thick coating of grime. The kid bristled at the sound of the tub filling, but Jason was quick to soothe him. He sat next to him while the tub filled, petting the kids dirty hair as he chewed on the granola bar. Jason was surprised the kid was so content to sit patiently, but couldn’t help but smile when he leaned into Jason’s hand.

Soon enough, it was time for the kid to go in the tub, and Jason turned off the water. He paused for a moment, hoping the kid wouldn’t have a problem with water before he got the kid’s attention. “Here we go,”Jason said, scooping the kid up into his arms. It was nice to see the kid relax in his arms and start climbing his shoulder to peer at Jason’s face. 

The teen laughed lightly at the curiosity, but gestured to the bathtub. “Okay, you might not like this but please don’t bite me, okay?” Jason pleaded, lowering the kid down to the water. The kid jolted when his feet touched the warm water, hissing automatically and digging sharp claws into Jason’s shirt. He winced but stayed where he was, instead reaching down to stick his own hand in the water. 

“It won’t hurt you, see?” Jason tried, lowering the kid into the water. His claws dug in deeper, but after the kid’s legs were in it he was squirming to get out of Jason’s arms and into the bath. Jason laughed as the kid sat down in the water, mesmerized by the warmth no doubt. He watched the dirt and grime color the water brown while the kid stuck his hands in and out of the water. “See, you’re all good,”Jason said when the kid looked up at him. The big blue eyes stared, and when it looked like the kid was about to try to leave the tub Jason grabbed some bubble bath and a snack. 

He handed the kid an open pack of carrot sticks to keep busy while Jason poured a small amount of bubbles into the tub, swirling it around until some formed at the surface. Jason smiled, holding the washcloth while the kid busied himself with dipping carrots into the water and playing with the bubbles. Water splashed a little as the kid wouldn’t sit still, but Jason sighed at he mess and got to work trying to rub the dirt off the kid’s skin. 

Jason started on the kids arm, gently rubbing some dirt off while the kid watched him grumpily. The little guy chewed on his carrots while Jason discovered pale skin on both arms, but with almost black coloring on his hands. The teen figured it was part of his meta abilities though and continued washing the kid. He was proud of the raccoon boy for letting him meander around him with the washcloth, only protesting a bit when Jason gently washed the grime off his face. 

“Huh,”Jason said absently when dark circles around the kid’s eyes were revealed. It seemed that part of the raccoon genes manifested in dark markings on his face, hands and feet. It was kinda cute, Jason thought, framed by pale skin and bright blue eyes. His heart ached to think about such an adorable kid being abandoned outside for looking the way he did. 

After the carrots were gone, the little guy seemed to get sleepy, so Jason figured he should wrap things up. He’d left the kid’s tail and hair alone so far, but was able to get rid of the tattered shirt. Taking a breath, Jason poured some shampoo into his hands and gently ran it through the kid’s tangled and matted hair. He almost immediately pulled back at the discovery of little raccoon ears poking out of his hair, the kid growling sleepily. Jason just passed him an oreo before getting back to working shampoo into his hair. The little guy seemed to like the feeling. Jason glanced over to see him with his eyes nearly closed, taking sleepy bites out of the half eaten cookie that looked like it had been dunked in the bath water. Jason grimaced at how mushy it might taste, but figured it would be a bad idea to take it away from the kid. 

Letting the shampoo sit, he worked some into the soft fur of the kid’s tail as he drained the muddy water from the tub. He startled the kid a bit when he turned the faucet back on to refill it with cleaner and warmer water, but let out a smile when all he did was go back to eating his cookie grumpily. The warm water seemed to soothe the little guy more, and was nearly drifting off by the time Jason turned the water off and grabbed a cup. He scooped some water from the tub into the cup and gently poured it over the kids head, careful to keep his head tilted a bit back and the water out of his eyes. 

The kid’s cute little ears twitched, and Jason tried to not get any water in them despite trying to rinse the shampoo out of the fur on the outside. After rinsing out the shampoo, he had to keep one hand on the kid’s back to keep him from tilting into the bathwater. Jason was pretty sure he was nearly asleep, so he drained the tub and grabbed a fluffy towel he’d set aside. 

“We’re all done,”Jason said cheerfully, prodding the kid a bit to stay upright. He growled adorably, but let Jason wrap the towel around him and lift him out of the tub. Drying him off was easy, and the kid- Jason really wished he had a name for him- was mostly asleep by the time Jason got him into some underwear and a sleep shirt. He only had pajama pants that were way too big on the kid and he didn’t want him to trip and fall, so he left them in the bathroom. Seeing how there were still a lot of tangles in the kids jet black hair, he figured he’d try to brush it tomorrow.

Jason marveled at how the kid snuggled into his chest when he picked the little guy up, scrunching his nose against the fabric of his shirt. He cooed, bringing them over to Jason’s bed so he could wrap the kid up in his fluffiest blanket. Looking at the clock, Jason saw it was nearly 5am, a few hours after Bruce had no doubt gotten back from patrol and a few hours before Jason would have to get up for school. He sighed, tucking himself and the kid burrito under the covers. It wasn’t long before the rush of the night caught up to him and he was fast asleep with the little raccoon curled up next to him.

Now up on Ao3!

Chapter 2

#can we keep him #newest fic idea #should I continue? #I just love raccoon tim a lot #I'm gonna make fanart

[planetjuliann]

I’ve been collecting Dragon Ball doujinshi recently and was wondering if I should scan some them. From what I can tell there used to be quite a few Dragon Ball doujinshi scanning/translation teams, but they don’t seem to be active anymore? I’m not even sure if there is a big interest for this kind of stuff, but if there’s anything in particular you want to see just lmk.

List of books:

Reco Ball and Reco Ball 2 by Johshu [gen]

Cool Darling by ALADDIN CHANCE [Goku/Chichi]

Coca Cola by Studio Taiyo [gen]

HEAD-CHA-LA by Evil Sisters [Goku/Piccolo]

Mini2 by Kame House [Krillin/18]

360C Kisses by Kame House [Launch/Tien, Yamcha/Bulma, Vegeta/Bulma]

Lunch Box by Kame House [Launch/Tien]

Modern Lovers by Kame House [Yamcha/Bulma, Launch/Tien]

#dragon ball #dbz #tienlaunch #gochi #yambul #vegebul #piccoku #doujinshi #dragon ballz #mine #k18

[ceilidho]

Hii, for the life of me I can't find that one anon you answered book recos? (Mobile tumblr search is being a dunce :⁠^⁠) ) Do you have any links? Any recommendations are welcome. Maybe you can add to it? I'd love more things to add to my tba now that I have the time.

oh yes my original post is here!! and i also did a nonfiction version here

also some other recommendations:

stories of your life and others by ted chiang [sci-fi short story collection; includes the short story that inspired the Arrival movie and tbh that wasn't even my favourite of the bunch; one of the best science fiction writers of this generation tbqh. i also recently read "exhalations", another short story collection, and that one has some bangers too]

collected fictions by jorge luis borges [fantasy / magical realism / philosophy; perhaps one of the best writers i've ever read in my entire life. i completely forgot to put borges on the original list. but you simply cannot go your life without reading at least one of his stories]

pure colour by sheila heti [fiction / magical realism; made me literally cry.......from my own personal issues that i saw reflected in the book....holy shit though this book was so good]

death with interruptions by jose saramago [fiction / magical realism; a very cool story in which everyone in a city randomly stops dying and they have to deal with the repercussions of this; i love ideas like this taken to their logical extreme. saramago is such a phenomenal writer, i also read "cain" and holy fuckkkkk]

some other authors i write (only putting them here if i've read multiple books of theirs): Ali Smith, Umberto Eco, Toni Morrison, Joan Didion, Audre Lorde, Neil Gaiman.

[hollabadj]

Still has a long way to finish this book, but I can already say it's a good read! ♡

--- • ---

In case you feel insufficient, unloved, misunderstood, and alone— this is for you.

— Morgan Harper Nichols, All Along You Were Blooming

#excerpt #all along you were blooming #book #books #poetry #books on tumblr #book recommendation #reco

[geekyarmorel]

As a small prompt idea.. maybe RE8 women and what they’d do if their s/o was sick?

Oh yeah I can do that! Let's get into it:

Alcina:

At the first sign of you being sick, she immediately sends you to bed. You're tucked in tightly after given a dose of medicine.

She remembers how it was when she was sick as a human and it worries her but she does her best not to show it.

Has the maids wash everything in the castle top to bottom, she won't have any germs lingering about that could make you sicker.

She does her work quickly so she may come be by your side, giving you kisses on your forehead to soothe you when she joins you in bed.

She has your favorite soup prepared for you, fresh bread made to dip into it.

When she must leave your side due to a meeting or being called by Mother Miranda, she has her girls watch over you.

Any little thing you need she makes sure you have.

Makes sure to have several blankets on hand for when you get cold.

Dots your forehead with a cool cloth to try and help bring down your fever if you have one.

If you take a turn for the worse she practically begs Mother Miranda for her help.

If instead you get better, she breathes a sigh of relief before curling you up in her arms.

"Draga mea, please refrain from getting sick. I don't think my heart can take it."

Even though you are well again, she dotes on you a little longer. Just incase.

Donna:

When one of her dolls report to her that you're acting a little sluggish and coughing she immediately goes to find you.

"Cara mea, come to bed. You need to rest." She says, leading you to your room.

She piles blankets upon you, knowing that the house can be a little to drafty at times. She also closes the curtains so you can find sleep a little easier.

Once she sees that you're all tucked in and settled she heads toward her garden and greenhouse to gather the necessary supplies to make your medicine and favorite teas.

Her dolls keep an eye on you for her, letting her do her work with peace knowing you were okay for now.

When you wake she is there with bowl of soup, medicine, and a glass of water. Donna makes sure you take it all, even helping you spoon the soup into your mouth.

She holds you for a while, letting you doze against her chest. Brushing hair from your face to help soothe you.

Donna makes sure you take your medicine on a strict routine, she doesn't want you to get any sicker.

If she needs help she first consults Moreau, knowing he used to be a doctor. And if that fails her, she brings you to Mother Miranda. She hopes it doesn't come down to you taking the Cadou but if push comes to shove she'd rather ask your forgiveness than your permission.

If you get better she's so thankful, it honestly feels like the whole manor gives a sigh of relief.

She does her best from then on to keep you healthy.

Bela:

She's seen many of the maids sick before and she never really cared. Sure it annoyed her, because sick maids were no fun to pick on. But she never really thought much about it......until you got sick.

It frightened her a little, the way your temperature spiked, the sweat that broke out upon your brow even though you kept insisting that you were cold.

She brought you to her room, tucking you into her bed after stripping you from your old clothes and putting something softer on you.

She fetched medicine for you herself, giving you the appropriate dose before insisting you rest.

Bela stayed by your side as you slept, reading a book and every few pages looking over you to assure herself that you would be okay.

When you wake she has your favorite soup made and brought to you. She makes sure you drink plenty of water as she read it was important for you to stay hydrated.

She piles on every blanket she can find on you if you say you're cold, even stoking her fireplace and adding wood to it to make the room warmer.

Her mother comes in to check on the both of you, assuring her daughter that you would be fine while you dozed.

She's never far from you while your recovering, making sure you don't do anything strenuous.

And once you get better she nearly cries, you have to hold her and assure her that everything is okay. And if she spends the next couple of days in your arms, neither of you say anything about it.

Cassandra:

She's come up behind you to wrap her arms around you when she hears you cough. It was an ugly sound that rattled in your chest.

Quickly she grabs you and swarms you off to her room. She worries at how warm you are, knowing that it means a fever.

She covers you up with thick blankets and stokes her fire hotter.

Cassandra has watched sickness ravage the bodies of her prey and she refuses to let that happen to you.

She grabs the nearest maid and snarls for her to bring you medicine, threatening to chop off her hand if she didn't do it quickly.

She has water and juice brought to you to drink, knowing that you needed to stay hydrated.

She only leaves your side when you sleep, but even then it's only for something quick as she's afraid to leave you for long.

When you wake she has something warm and soft for you to eat, she does her best to coax you to finish the bowl or plate.

If you get worse, she asks Donna for help and if you go to far she goes directly to Mother Miranda.

If you get better she's quite glad you're on the mend, though she does say you aren't allowed to get sick again.

Daniela:

When she found that you were sick she pulls you away and to a warm bath with eucalyptus in it. She had prepared it beforehand for you.

Once she's seen that you're done bathing, she helps dress you in comfy clothes before pulling you to bed.

While in bed she curls herself around you, pressing soothing kisses to your temples.

She makes sure that you take your medicine and drinks plenty of fluids.

Out of her sisters she's the calmest while you're sick, of course she makes herself only focus on that you were going to get better.

She makes sure you at least take a shower each day you're sick. She even holds you in the spray if you don't feel like standing.

If you get worse she takes you directly to Donna and from there she begs Mother Miranda to help you.

If you get better she simply smiles before saying "I knew you'd never leave me. You love me to much."

Mother Miranda:

This woman, bless her, is terrified of you getting sick. In her mind sickness equals death and she can't bare the thought of you dying.

So when she finds that you're sick, she panics on the inside.

She sends you to bed, saying that she'll be there in a little bit.

Knowing she'll never be able to work while being worried about you she heads towards the kitchen to make your favorite soup.

When she comes into the room, she's both glad and a little sad that you're asleep. On one hand it's good you're resting, your body needs to heal. On the other hand she hates that she's going to have to wake you to take your medicine.

Gently she wakes you, helping you sit up and take your dose and eat a few bites of soup. She wishes you would eat more but she knows how one's stomach can feel when sick.

She curls herself around you, tucking a couple wings over the both of you. Her mind is whirling with thoughts of Eva and thoughts of you dying. Her grip on you tightens just a little and it takes some time to push those thoughts out of her head.

When your fever spikes she is there with a cool rag; wiping your brow, neck, and chest. If it keeps going up she pulls you into a cool bath, holding you in her arms. Her heart breaks when you whine about being cold while in the bath.

"I know my love, I know. But your fever is up, we have to get it down. I promise I'll get you warm in a bit."

Once out of the bath she makes sure you're dressed warmly and tucks you back in bed.

If you get worse she nearly begins to lose it. She can't lose you, she WON'T lose you. While she wishes she could have your permission for what she's about to do but she resolves that she'd rather ask for your forgiveness later.

If you get better she, in a rare moment of showing emotions, hugs you to her and cries out of relief.

And if you pass it's said that the entire village heard and shook with her pained screams and cries as she held your limp body in her arms.

#alcina dimitrescu #lady dimitrescu #resident evil village #tall vampire lady #re8 alcina #dimitrescu #mother miranda #donna beneviento #re8 mother miranda #re8 beneviento #re8 bela dimitrescu #bela dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu #re8 cassandra #daniela dimitrescu #re8 daniela dimitrescu #geeky writes