I thought I might start doing posts on what I’m reading and various other bookish aethetic type things. Maybe I’ll also talk about what webtoons or shows I would die for.
Last month was one of the most diffcult times I’ve had mentally in a long time. I tried to keep active on social media but sometimes what I was going through came out. I don’t usually like talking about what I’m going through, even with close friends. Usually it’s just ‘I have this disorder and yeah it isn’t going so well heh’. I imagine this is typical for those of us that have traumatic pasts. Well we’re just gonna skwash all that with the biggest most fluffy fantasy books COOL? Cool.
Starting with! The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart. I did not think I would actually get accepted to be a part of a blog tour. I don’t think that many people actually would be interested in what I have to say on here but turns out I got to read one of my most anticipated reads this year. Orbit is my dream publisher. I would like to work there one day. I just…..HEART EMOJIS. I don’t how to express how I feel about Orbit Books.
Since I have a review coming later this month I won’t speak too much on it but lets just say 1. animal companions. 2. fantasy horror is my new favorite thing. 3. girls with swords oggling other girls and kissing? My heart. It’s too much to bear. 4. Frankenstein daddy.
I may have slid into Kate‘s DMs on twitter suggesting that a readathon for the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen would be fun. So that just became a fun spontaneous thing and turned into a fun/serious readathon thing we planned. So I’m re-reading the Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso for the readathon, around 100 pages per week. I’m realizing so many new things about this book. There are so many layers that I never saw before. Tali and Rai’s relationship is so complicated and I’m just starting to realize how layered and different their cultures and personalities are. I love reading about mother’s in fantasy. Tali is so complex and so is Rai. I just have a hard time believing I only read this back in February. It seems like it’s been much longer. It has won my whole heart. The Ikessar Falcon in my hands immediately. Or else. Also this book just makes me really want to try Filipino food. This book brings its food game.
Also if you want to follow Kate’s Blog and Youtube channel, she’s a big Orbit fantasy nerd like me. Her reviews are always class A shit.
Melissa Marr is one of the author’s that is closest to my heart. Her Wicked Lovely series became one of my favorites when I was a teenager. Those books really helped me through depression and growing in an unideal environment for any teen. She’s a wordsmith. She creates such beautiful sentences and knows how to balance that without making her writing purple. The way she writes about faeries is so atmospheric. Every time I pick up one of her books I savor it. I don’t like to read her stuff too quickly. She’s like a delicacy for me. Right now I’m reading Cold Iron Heart, her first adult Wicked Lovely preauel. In September, she’s got her first foray into Urban Fantasy coming out. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of that. Very much looking forward to reading more of Marr’s stuff. I’ve missed reading her so damn much.
A while ago I asked J.D Evans (author of the Mages of the Wheel series) if she had any recommendations for fantasy romances by indie authors. She recommended trying May Sage. I’ve also wanted to try out more indie books by Black authors and this turned out to be very vibrant, campy, and just fun. It sort of feels like saucy smutty romantic fae fanfic but I’m honestly into it? It’s very fast paced. The hero is very hate you while whispering love you MUAH! It’s not really a book I take too seriously. This is the type of book you read when you are exhausted and just want something easy, extravagant, and campy. Also she has a book called Magic Pussy (about werecats) and of course I need to read that immediately.
Webtoons
Back in June I started reading Lore Olympus and gobbled the entire thing up in 4 days. The art is beyond gorgeous and looks like Grecian cotton candy. This webtoon just started up again! I’ve been re-reading it. Absolutely the best decision.
This is a urban fantasy romance with the idea that the Greek gods live in a city, Olympus. Hades sees the most gorgeous woman he’s ever seen at a party: Persephone, goddess of Spring. The webtoon tells of their romance and Perspephone’s descent into the underworld. Rachel Smyth uses the myth of Hades and Persephone to discuss toxic relationships. She deals with consent, boundaries, and abuse. I love the way Hades and Persephone are so soft with each other. I just want them to be happy *sniffle*.
That and GODS ALMIGHTY THE ART.
I started my full descent into webtoons and came across Freaking Romance. It’s very strange but addictive. Quirky art girl keeps seeing a gorgeous K-pop boy in her new apartment. Idk seems cute and I like the art. Not much to say about it yet. Also she eats waffles with whipped cream for breakfast and if that isn’t just the life I want.
My fellow Alliterian, Navessa Allen, told me about a smutastic webtoon, Midnight Poppy Land. It is absolutely INSANE. I mean the moment she jumps up to catch something he throws to her her ripped shirt blows her boobs out I knew OK SO THIS NUTS. I’ll just ride the hilarity and boobs falling out at the most terrible times but ok! It’s addictive and I really need something to de-stress. I didn’t want anything really articulate and nuanced so this filled that need.
I fucking love this show. I absolutely would have been into this as a kid. It has exactly that 90s/’00s anime vibe that I love. The music is fantastic. It’s set in Feudal Japan/portal type of world. There are demons, and slow burn relationships. A firery fox animal companion and friends. It’s the type of show I watch late into the night when I’m stressed out and can’t sleep. It’s done wonders for my stress lately.
I’m a Halloween/Horror whore. I love vampires and witches and spooky things. My favorite spooky shows are the ones that are funny. I loved the original New Zealand film, What We Do In The Shadows. This is the second season of the U.S. production made by the same creators and I’d absolutely die for Nadiya. She’s my wife. 100/100 would let her suck me dry.
Anyways that’s me. This is what I’ve been watching and reading to cut that stressful bitch out. What have you been reading or watching?
LOVE YOUUUUUU!! And also the rest of the books on this post…… I am looking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
😘 I’m having fun reading them! Finished a few on this list but yeah definitely check them out.