Word War 1 ★ 205 words

Duration: 3 minutes
Against: Alana - Lyric
Prompt: “He got the feeling that maybe he shouldn't have bargained with the unicorn.”
Outcome: Lost

It had originally started as wanting to buy a cupcake for 2 stars, not 3, but then things had gotten worse extremely quickly. The unicorn flipped her hair at the elf, and kept on staring that terrifying death stare at him, and the cupcake he was holding. “Give me 5,” she said, because she wasn't in the mood today - he had already wasted half her time saying that he only had 2 coins, instead of 3, so this is what he gets.

“No, but the thing is, this is REALLY important. Like, Santa level important. And I have to do this. For Santa! If I don't get this cupcake to him as soon as possible, some kids might not get their presents this Christmas!”

This was gaslighting, of course. It was the middle of June and the expiry date on the cupcake was later that week. The unicorn knew this, of course, and shook her head angrily.

“Nope! I'm not giving it to you! Maybe if you hadn't brought Santa into though, I would! But I like cupcakes too, and I VALUE them. It's a very important thing to VALUE cupcakes. And VALUE Santa. You woldn't know, though.”

“Yes I would!” He huffed, then jumped

ᴡᴇᴇᴋʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ - ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴡᴀᴘ


ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏɴᴇ : ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ꜱʜᴇᴇᴛ
210/200 ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ
Name: Elijah, goes by Eli
Age: 19 years old
Sexuality: Lesbian
Gender: Female
Likes: Motorcycle rides, hiking, gold earrings, tank tops, leather boots, biking gloves, coffee, loud music, the mountains, fights, and working out
Dislikes: Small spaces, her parents, classical music, skirts, tomatoes, books, and being ignored
Appearance: Brown frizzy hair, usually up in a ponytail or bun. Ivory toned, freckled skin. Green eyes, and sharp features. Elijah is very ~muscular~. She usually wears light tan tank tops and athletic shorts, or even slacks if she’s staying in town.
Favorite song: Sunroof by Nicky Youre and Dazy
Job: Works at a coffee shop, is a part time mechanic
Personality: Eli is very forward and blunt most of the time. She likes teasing people but generally knows where to draw the line. She really enjoys the outdoors and spends the majority of her time outside. She bought a motorcycle when she turned 16 and named it Olivia. Eli is very good with animals and has ‘adopted’ a little cat named Jake.
Eli’s friends:
Levi - Coworker at the mechanic shop. He teases Eli a lot, he likes to invent games.
Jacksi - Girlfriends with Eli, Jacksi is calm and very fashionable. She has a good sense of humor and likes to go running.


ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴡᴏ: ᴍᴏᴏᴅʙᴏᴀʀᴅ
0/100 ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ

➵ Sparring Match 01 ⊹ ₊

User: @babyoda1546
Nickname: Sage
Cabin: Adventure (non-fi?)
WPM: 35-50 (way faster without a test)

VS

User: @LovegoodLady
Nickname: Lune
Cabin: Magical Realism
WPM: 30-40

Info:
Prompt: “He got the feeling that maybe he shouldn't have bargained with the unicorn.”
Time Limit: Five Minutes

FIGHT!!!

Maybe I shouldn’t have bargained with that stupid horn-bearing horse. This is getting out of hand! Yes, I did say I wanted mangoes but this was NOT what I meant!!

So, kid, have you ever heard of Midas? Yeah, that weird king that could turn anything to gold by just touching it? Well, think of that, but mangoes. Everything and everyone I touch becomes a mango. Wanna know what's worse? As if that wasn’t entertaining enough for the old… uh.. old mule! As if that wasn’t good enough for the old mule, he decided to make the mangoes sentient! They can talk and float and if it used to be a person, it still had their face carved into it. The smiles are burnt into the worst of my dreams and nightmares.

“If I ever see that unicorn again, I swear-” I started but then got rudely interrupted by a sadly familiar maniacal laugh. Oh gosh. Please no.

“AHAHAHAHA- You called?” Jeff the Unicorn’s annoying voice came from a floating mango above.

“No, Jeff!! You've messed up my life enough!” I shouted in frustration. I wish I could string a bow and arrow and shoot that stupid, infuriating creature from here but I can’t. My curse would just turn them into floating mangoes.

“There, there! Wanna know the bright side to this?” Jeff aske

“What?” I grumblde

“Youve been my most entertaining client eever!” Jeff laughed histeerically

» — ⋙ 237 words ⋘ — «

em's daily #5 -

Happy World Book Day! Today we'll be writing reviews and offering book recommendations to our fellow SWCers in the comments! Connect with other passionate readers and share the ups and downs of recent books you've read, or maybe discover a new love of reading you didn't realize you had? You can collect 350 points (plus 50 more for proof!) by writing 300 words worth of book reviews! Have fun celebrating World Book Day!

word count: 435/300

note: feel free to stop by on my profile and ask for book recs anytime

The first book that I’m going to review/recommend is the book series Scythe by Neal Shusterman. I believe that it’s a trilogy with one companion novel (called Gleanings, which I have yet to read) and I honestly really enjoyed the book. I read it because it was recommended to me by somebody from SRC (Scratch Reading Camp), which is unfortunately not running right now (but I’ve heard rumors…). ANYWAYS, the series is science fiction, a genre that I hadn’t read a lot beforehand, but the book series made me get back into the genre! A little bit of background on the book that might pique your interest - this book takes place in the future, and the Americas and the rest of the world are ruled by the Thunderhead, a sentient AI that has eradicated world hunger and caused world peace. People are pretty much immortal, and can jump off buildings without dying (as an example) because it’s possible to put them back together. People are still multiplying though, so an order of people called scythes is in charge of k!lling them randomly in order to stop the entire world from becoming overpopulated. The book series is really good and raises a lot of important questions as well. Not only was it an interesting and exciting book that was entertaining, it was also thought-provoking!

I’ll yap about another book too, although I have so, so many books that I’d love to recommend to people and review! This book is called Skyward and it’s by Brandon Sanderson (who you may know as the author of the Cosmere, a collection of many, MANY books that take place in a specific world). I have not read any of the Cosmere books yet (although I’m currently reading Tress of the Emerald Sea and I’m also going to read Mistborn soon). Anyways, Skyward is a series that takes place outside of the Cosmere. The basis of the book is that humans now live on a planet after leaving Earth and they must protect themselves from aliens who are constantly attacking them. That makes the series sound really boring and dull, but you have to believe me when I say that it is truly one of the best series that I’ve ever read! It’s action-packed, the characters are really well-rounded and well-built, and it has awesome humor (and a little bit of romance, too… but not enough to take over the plot). It’s such an awesome series and you should totally read it if you enjoy Brandon Sanderson or good world-building and character building or science fiction!

Em out <3

Book Review - Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir

408 words

“One flesh, one end.”

Hello everyone! I’m here to review Gideon the Ninth, the first book in The Locked Tomb series. A warning that this book explores deep, complex topics and content that are best suited for readers 16 and older. I will try to keep specific plot elements vague to avoid spoilers, but let me tell you, this is an explosive start to the series.

On the front cover, below Tommy Arnold’s gorgeous cover art, there is commonly a promotional quote by Charles Stross that describes the book as “Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!” This one-liner, while entertaining and technically true, fails to encapsulate the masterpiece that is Gideon the Ninth.

The series takes place in a futuristic, dystopian universe, where each of the nine planets of the solar system is home to one of nine houses, which, like the apportionment of districts in the Hunger Games, each have their own industry and function. Gideon, the titular character and protagonist, is a member of the Ninth and last house, which is centered around bone magic and the final resting place of the dead (hence all the skull imagery). Gideon herself is a swordswoman, filled to the brim with razor-sharp wit and loveable snark, and she absolutely detests the Ninth and all it stands for.

So she’s less than pleased when she is forced to accompany her worst enemy, the cruel, vindictive necromancer princess Harrowhark Nonagesimus, in a competition among the Nine Houses to become the ultimate warriors for the Emperor of the solar system. What follows is not a romance, which is one reason why I really hate the understatement on the front cover. /lh :)

Instead, if you choose to pick up this book (which I highly, highly recommend), you will be plunged into a thrilling, gut-wrenching mystery that puts the characters to the test in every way imaginable. Within these bone-studded gothic halls, you will fall in love with the characters and the story, and it will rip your heart out in return (in the best possible way!)

Overall, Gideon the Ninth is one of my favourite novels, with twists, foreshadowing, and hidden meanings that make it well worth the re-read. It will be confusing. It will be cringey. It will be heart-breaking. And it will take you on a journey that you could never have expected.

5/5, highly recommend!

March 5 Daily: Book Recommendation

One of my all-time favorite books is Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. I’d recommend all of his books if I could, but I think that may be too many words. Elantris is super good - its part political drama, part mystery, part romance. The characters are so compelling- there are three main POVs: Sarene, Raoden, and Hrathen.

Raoden was the Prince of Arelon, until he became an Elantrian and was thrown into the cursed city of Elantris. Elantrians are people who cant die and cant heal from wounds. They don't need to eat, but still feel hunger. When you become an Elantrian, your hair falls out and your skin turns gray. After Raoden becomes an Elantrian, he starts to build up the people, forming a society and a community within the ruined city of Elantris. He also works on learning the old magic system and figuring out how to fix it.

Hrathen is a priest from the religion of Shu Korath. He’s been told he has three months to convert the kingdom of Arelon (which follows Shu Dereth) before they are all destroyed by his god. He gladly accepts this challenge and begins trying to save the kingdom while struggling with his own faith.

Sarene is a Princess from the kingdom of Tiod; she signed a marriage contract with Raoden Sarene wants to belong somewhere. She’s good at swordsmanship, diplomacy, and leadership. I love seeing how she maneuvers the kingdom politically to save it from Hrathen, and I love seeing her journey of finding her own place in her world.

I love this book so much it has so many parts that I love to reread from time to time. My favorite part of the book is seeing how Raoden discovered the old magic system and seeing how all of their story lines intersect. The plot is very interesting and complicated, yet easy to follow. The ending makes the whole story so worth it. Brandon Sanderson’s writing style is compelling and simple, making the story much easier to read than other authors. All in all, Elantris is a great book and a great start to reading cosmere and Brandon Sanderson’s other stories. I highly recommend it!

Review for 7 Dirty Secrets:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Overall, this book is okay. Predictable, but not so predictable that I didn't want to read it. The main character was pretty annoying, but like the predictability, she wasn't so annoying I couldn't finish it. I would say this book sort of lacks any real development for the characters and the ending felt a bit unfinished, but again, it was overall okay. I've read worse and better mysteries.

Review for Better the Devil:

This book is pretty good and thoroughly enjoyable, though I do feel like some parts of it could be improved. In a way, it felt unfinished.

I would say this book is not very predictable, as least for me; when it was revealed, I was surprised and thought it was going to be a red herring because it didn't seem very reasonable at all. I prefer it when the reveal is saved for the end, but that's a personal preference so I won't told it against this book as a whole. However, going back to my earlier point, it feels unfinished. We never learn the main character's real name, and after the climax of the book near the end, the characters just seem to move on. I felt like I was reading a news article from a firsthand account rather than a story—in a way, it felt too realistic and I wasn't a big fan of the ending.

As for the character, the most gripping part of the main character is the opening scene before he gets arrested. After that, he seems less interesting with each passing chapter. I didn't feel his connection to Miles at all, and because of that, I wasn't at the edge of my seat when their relationship or Miles's life was threatened at all.

Lastly, I found the main character annoyingly stupid. Near the end of the book, he finds what he's been looking for. I won't say more to avoid spoiling, but at no point does he make the logical choice of calling the police. I know . As I read through this book, I had expected the truth to be that . This wasn't the case, and I don't know if it was an intentional red herring or not. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I was expecting it to be more horror but I didn't dislike it because it lacked a horror element.

book review daily | daily #4 | 1025 words
(I would like to note that I could easily have written twice the amount of words for this had I not restrained myself… I love books guys)

All right, well, to start things off, we’ve got to start with the Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson! I just started reading this series and it is SO GOOD. The first book, The Way of Kings, follows the journey of a young man named Kaladin, who is a darkeyed spearman in a world where those with dark eyes are seen as lesser, and those with light eyes are revered. After being evicted from the army and becoming little better than property, he has to navigate his way back up, both from his circumstances and internal state, and learn to become the hero he was always meant to be. Meanwhile, across an ocean, a young woman named Shallan is working desperately to restore her house’s fallen fortunes: seeking to become the warden of the king’s sister, equipped only with her talent for art and unwavering perseverance. At least, that’s how it seems.
In the midst of the lighteyes court, Dalinar, uncle of the king, is wrestling with politics — and wondering if he’s slowly going mad. And Szeth, an assassin with no choice but to serve his masters, has done the dirty work of others for years. But things can always get worse, and it’s only a matter of time before someone dangerous discovers his secret… and powers.
I love this book because of how well-written and engaging it is. Despite being about a thousand pages long, I felt that it sustained the pacing remarkably well — there were slower areas, but I think some balance is needed in such a long work to avoid overwhelming the reader with nonstop action. (It also makes up for it by dumping one big Sanderlanche on you at the end.) Overall, this book was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve read in a long time, and I highly recommend it.

Next up is a series I picked up recently, the Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman! This dystopian trilogy hooked me with its fascinating premise: in a world where humanity has conquered death, what happens to check population growth? Scythes, of course.
The Scythes are an order dedicated to managing the delicate balance between the spread of humanity and the resources available to support them. When two young people, Citra and Rowan, are chosen to become Scythe apprentices, neither are excited by the prospect. But there is turmoil among the Scythes, and the power balances are shifting, not for the better. In the end, these two may be the difference between life… and death.
I read books one and two and am currently working my way through book three. I’ve enjoyed this series; I felt it was an interesting idea and it definitely delivered on the dystopian promise. That being said, there were times when it simply failed to engage me as highly as some other books — I’m not sure whether that’s just me, or the writing didn’t always click, but while I felt that reading the books was fun, I also didn’t go crazy over them like I do some books, and the writing didn’t take my breath away. They were enjoyable, though, and if you’re into the dystopian genre I would absolutely say sure, give them a shot and see what you think!

Another book I read recently was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A historical fiction set during World War II, it broke me in the most beautiful ways — ways I didn’t even know a book could shatter me. Narrated by Death himself, this book is an exquisite glimpse into humanity — its beauty, its terror. It begins with a girl at her brother’s grave, clutching a book she cannot read. The girl’s name is Leisel; she is the book thief, and this is the first book she’s stolen. What follows is a journey that guides the reader down the path of her life, a road that is rarely gentle and never slow. The power of words and the horrors of war are celebrated and condemned side by side, but what fascinated me most about this book was the tragedy that was masterfully woven into the entire work. And beyond the story, the writing itself sparkled in a way that I rarely see — the kind of writing I try to aspire to, words that practically sing on the page. I highly, highly recommend this book, with the warnings that it does contain mature content (it’s WWII novel, after all), and will quite possibly break your heart and hand it back to you to stitch up afterwards as best you can.

For our final review, I’ll be looking at yet another book I read recently (as in, finished this morning): Spelled, by Betsy Schow. This romp of a book careens through a deliciously snarky fairy tale world, following the adventures of Princess Dorthea after she accidentally ruins the world. Oops.
Secluded her entire life, Dorthea has never wanted anything more than to just go outside and be free. But a curse on her family has ensured that no Emerald princess will get this chance unless they want the world to end… although it turns out that she’s plenty capable of ending it on her own. After a disastrous wish gone wrong, Dorthea finds herself left with nothing but a sarcastic kitchen maid, her annoying fiancé turned weird furry monster, and a pair of exquisite designer heels. Oh, she’s somehow banished her parents to some strange land called Kansas. Toto, we’re not in Oz anymore.
My opinion of this book hovers somewhere in the middle. I loved how it played with fairy tale elements, but I did find the tone to be a little juvenile, and I would have liked a more witty snap to the writing rather than overwhelming everything in jokes and references. I also found myself amused but not surprised by the plot twists. Granted, it’s pretty rare for a twist to actually surprise me, but I do like the story to try a little harder. I can say it was an entertaining read, though, and for fans of The Sisters Grimm and Fairy Tale Reform School, this book might just be up your alley.

Character sheet:
Name: Dismas, son of Manaen
Occupation: Umm… officially, whatever work he can find. But it isn’t like he makes enough money from that. So, unofficially, he’s a thief. A pretty good one, but he’s careful enough not to do anything big.
Residence: Jerusalem, in the lower city, because he isn’t anybody fancy. Him and his sister, Arabella, live together in a two room house. If you ask them, it’s cozy. If you ask anyone else, it’s way too cramped, and not really fit to live in, but they take what they can get.
Physical characteristics: He’s a brunette, with deep green eyes, very tan. You can tell just from a glance that he’s a bit of a troublemaker.
Strengths: Will fight for what he loves, is very loyal. Is also a very good thief.
Weaknesses: refuses to accept help, tends not to share his feelings/thoughts with anyone, to the great frustration of his sister.
Arabella- His sister. He’s been taking care of her ever since their grandmother got sick. He loves her, but he feels like he needs to protect her, while she wants to help him.
Reina- Dismas and Arabella’s grandmother. She took care of them for many years, but became very sick, so they are now the ones taking care of her.

Dystopian cabin things Very jolly and happy!

It is a sunny day. The skies are clear, and you can see miles in front of you… if you can muster the courage to. Towards the port, many are giving their last bouquets to loved ones, a solemn expression of dark acceptance in their eyes. The petals, red as apples, swirl around you. The stone tiles are littered with daisies, chrysanthemums, and roses. Every petal, every leaf, blown away in the wind; stark reminders representing how fragile what is left of humanity is. Your cautious steps ring out on a fleeting reminder of the past, of what we once were. Vines reach out towards the sky, clinging to buildings as if they, too, are trying to escape the inevitable that looms above all of us. A bright “23” on what was once a towering beacon of our ingenuity is slowly painted over. The petals around you intensify and become denser, as do the droplets, slamming the ground in fits of rage. Tomorrow comes.

──★ ˙ book review daily
753 words … march 4

Today we'll be writing reviews and offering book recommendations to our fellow SWCers in the comments! Connect with other passionate readers and share the ups and downs of recent books you've read, or maybe discover a new love of reading you didn't realize you had? You can collect 350 points (plus 50 more for proof!) by writing 300 words worth of book reviews!

I know this might sound weird—but I like Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The classic has been one of my favorites since I read it. I enjoyed it from the very start, and while I do admit it kind of slowed at the end, I still enjoyed it very much. If you haven't read it nor even heard of it, I'm afraid I wouldn't do a great job at explaining due to so many things happening in the story. It is a dark novel exploring themes like love and revenge. Heathcliff, an orphan is adopted by the Earnshaws, and grows up with them on the Wuthering Heights estate. As he grows older, he faces mistreatment by those around him, but also finds love with one of the Earnshaw daughters.

Why would it be weird for me to like this book? Well, it can be considered a pretty dark book. Also, the family tree is quite interesting, to say the least. Nonetheless, despite its questionable details, I still LOVED the book. I don't know why, it was just so fascinating for me. Maybe it could be because it was kind of angsty and I like that? I'm not exactly sure. Oh and also some of the characters are in a video game called Limbus Company, which although I haven't played, I still consider myself part of the fandom! And, the game even collabed with Forsaken. If you even know anything about me, then you would know that I am OBSESSED with it, so it was nice to have my favorite game and book crossover.

I suppose I should actually talk more about why I actually liked the book and how it made me feel. It was one of those books where I didn't have to count how many pages were left until the next chapter. I just kept reading and reading. When I finished, I felt so many different emotions. There was definitely relief, because it always feels satisfying to finish a book. But also some sort of emptiness. Like I wish it could continue, and I didn't know what to do now that I finished a book. Wuthering Heights was a really great book, and would totally recommend if you can get past the weird stuff about it.

Another book I really liked that I really just read was Wings of Fire. I know that it is a series, but I will just be generalizing it as I have liked all the books so far. It's interesting because I read the second arc a few years ago (except for one or two books) and only recently have I actually decided to read it in order. Honestly this was a real page turner. I know I mentioned that Wuthering Heights was a book I rarely checked how many pages were left. However, for the Wings of Fire books I really did not. I was so interested and absorbed in the story, and could read them for hours. I think I read the first two books in the span of five days. Mind you, I also had to do homework and other projects during that time period.

I feel like the fandom has also boosted my enjoyment with Wings of Fire. Like the community makes it even better and enjoyable, as I love seeing fan theories and stories around. Personally, I am working on an alternate universe for one of the characters. The story still has you thinking of it, even after finishing it. I am pretty sure it has become a new hyperfixation for me, as I love it so much. Even if you aren't a reader, WIngs of Fire is probably a book you will still enjoy, as it has a lot of action and fast-paced. I know that a few non-readers at my school liked it, and they also remembered some things about it despite reading it years ago. Wings of Fire is an amazing book, especially if you want to just read something casually without thinking much. I would like to mention, that despite the age rating being 8-12, it definitely should be rated older due to the violence being rather graphic.

Overall, Wuthering Heights is more of a serious and darker book, whereas the Wings of Fire series is more light-hearted and fun. I highly recommend these books if they seem to appeal to you.

753 words

March 5 Daily – Book Reviews
378 words

Yesterday I finished reading Dear Mothman by Robin Gow, a middle grade novel in verse. Sixth grader Noah is a trans boy whose best friend, Lewis, recently died. To cope with his grief and the feeling that no one understands him, he writes letters to Mothman, a cryptid Lewis loved but Noah isn’t sure is real. I found this book really beautiful and touching, and it’s interesting to read a novel in verse. I also like that the main character is autistic without his autism being his defining trait or the thing the whole story is about. Plus I just really like cryptids, so I was immediately sold on the premise.

Another very good book is Devils Like Us by L. T. Thompson, a YA historical fantasy novel. Devils Like Us alternates between the perspectives of three queer teenagers from 1840s Massachusetts: Cas, a trans boy who has prophetic visions about people’s deaths; Remy, Cas’s former best friend whose father vanished under suspicious circumstances years ago; and Finn, Remy’s current best friend, an Irish immigrant who works for Remy’s family and is in love with her. When Cas’s fiance gets taken by an evil secret society, the three sneak aboard a smuggling ship to rescue him. The ship turns out to be a haven for people like them; the smugglers are a queer found family. With its secret organizations, pining lesbians, magic powers that are kind of a curse, and a lot of both queer angst and joy, this book might as well be made for me.

Last but not least is the graphic novel Nimona by ND Stevenson. The titular Nimona is a shapeshifter who becomes the sidekick to famous supervillain Ballister Blackheart. However, Blackheart turns out to not be all that evil; Nimona (who normally takes the form of a pink-haired teenage girl) is much more evil, and relishes violence, constantly breaking Blackheart’s no-killing policy. When the duo comes across a government conspiracy, it may be up to them to save the kingdom. Blackheart and Nimona have a great dynamic and play off of each other in fun and interesting ways. There’s also Blackheart’s arch-nemesis and ex-boyfriend, Ambrosius Goldenloin (will the two get back together? Read it and find out!). Sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic, highly recommend.

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

◪ Noͦ 5
Wordcount: 570/300
Topic: World Book Day!
Points earned: 350+50 for proof
Cabin: Cyberpunk

So basically, this daily is giving me complete and utter free rein to absolutely go mad about my book interest hyperfixation. Thank you so much for this opportunity :tears of joy:

I would like to say that The Cruel Prince is an absolute MASTERPIECE. It is so beautiful and perfect, and it's the truest form of enemies-to-lovers. The two main leads, Jude and Cardan, really do truly hate each other from the bottom of their hearts. It's not even like rivals or something. One is a mortal, and one is a faerie prince, and they despise each other from the first chapter.

The plot is that Jude Duarte has a twin sister, Taryn, and an older sister, Vivienne. They grew up normal until they were 7 or 8 years old in the mortal world, until one day a faerie came up to their house and offed both their parents. It turns out her mother actually had an affair with him for her older sister (Vivienne), but ran back to the mortal world with another man and had Jude and her twin. Madoc (The faerie, specifically a red cap) takes all three children to Elfhame, claiming that they were his rightful children and he should have the right to raise them himself.

Over there, Vivienne fits in because she is half-faerie after all, but Jude and Taryn suffer a lot. They have to go to classes during the night because Faeries sleep during the day, and they have to bear awful rumours and stares. In this, the royal Faerie family has seven children (yes, get it on king) and Cardan Greenbriar is the youngest son. He doesn't have a line for the crown anytime in the future, and so he doesn't take it seriously at all, simply partying away and using most of his time to instill fear in people he doesn't like. Jude is no exception, and he constantly bullies her to the point of breakage, where he LITERALLY TRIES TO DR0WN HER (I told you it's the true enemies to lovers)

At the same time, Jude really wants to be a knight. Her stepmother Orianna, refuses this and tells her she must wed into a noble family, lest she already make her mortal image even more tainted. Madoc taught Jude and Taryn to fight from a young age, so Jude is very experienced with her sword, and she feels that she would be perfectly fit for the role of a knight.

It is from here that the series starts to roll and gain SO MUCH SO MUCH excitement. I promise you, please give it a read. You will never regret it. It's so scrumptious, and if I could, I would keep writing about it, but I don't want to give away any more spoilers than I already have. Cardan and Jude had the purest form of enemies-to-lovers because the way that Holly Black wrote the slow-burn and conversion from hate to tolerance to love is the best thing I've read in fantasy books, and I'm not joking. If I had to choose to keep my memory of one book for the rest of my life, I would choose this series.

If you DO decide to read it, please message me I need someone to geek out with. I'm begging you :sob: ANYWAYS I'M WAY OVER THE WORD LIMIT I SHOULD STOP NOW, YOU BETTER READ IT I'M WATCHING YOU

book review daily! ~360 words.

Wuthering Heights is aggressively, entertainingly straight. Not my usual cup of yuri tea, but a worthwhile read nonetheless—it's a classic for a reason.
The novel follows Mr. Lockwood, the new tenant of the Grange, and Nelly Dean, a long-time maid of the Earnshaw family, as former pieces together the tumultuous past of the titular Heights and the latter recounts it.

What makes Wuthering Heights so straight, asked nobody ever? Great question, nobody!

Catherine Earnshaw and her affections are a major driver of the plot. Heathcliff, taken in by the Earnshaws as a young boy, has loved Catherine for a long time (from what I remember, at least. I read this a while ago and don't fully remember it). Her love, however, is split between Heathcliff, her dirty, decidedly lower-class childhood friend, and Edgar Linton, a well-off young man from the neighboring estate. The two men proceed to fight like cats and dogs over Catherine, treating her as more of something to be won or stolen away than as a full-fledged person. Very, very hetero of them.

Long story short, Catherine develops severe mental illness and eventually meets a tragic end, caged like a canary within the beautiful, seemingly pristine Linton manor. Also, Heathcliff marries Edgar's sister literally just to spite him and destroy his family. That's basically his entire reasoning. He's throwing a fit against the Lintons and Earnshaws because Catherine decided to get with the guy who didn't treat her like super dung, just regular dung. And he actually gets to completely ruin their lives too! Yay. Men.

Isabella, the daughter of the Linton family, has Heathcliff's son, Linton (creative name I know), who is a frail femboy with a penchant for… interfamilial relations… and the nasty streak of his freaky father. Heathcliff uses Linton and his imminent death as a tool to royally screw up the life of Catherine II, Catherine and Edgar's daughter, by sparking yet another ill-fated romance on the Heights. He abuses his son who uses that as emotional blackmail against Catherine II and yeah it's all just kind of a mess. It's honestly impressive how many lives Heathcliff wrecked before dying.

Maybe I'm too gay for this book. I dunno. It was a pretty amusing read though, would recommend. To be honest, I think Catherine and Isabella should have just eloped or something to escape the incredible toxicity festering on the moors. Yuri!!

just in case it needed clarification i don't think all men are as comedically evil as heathcliff he's a special guy

For the Weekly!

Character Form:

Name: Dera Sinclaire Laine
Age: 16
Pronouns: she/her
Appearance: Dark orange wavy hair (mostly pulled back in a ponytail), grey eyes, 6 or more ear piercings (mostly on the lower half of the lobe).
Hobbies & Interests: Motorcycling, ice skating, skateboarding. Surprisingly, she likes to play captain ball, read books, chess, and play the guitar.

Personality: Smart, baddie, tomboy, calm, sarcastically funny at times. Loving and loyal to people she's close with. Mysterious at times…

Occupation: Student in high school. Works part-time as a barista at a cozy coffee shop near her school.

Secret Powers: Fire powers- SHH DON'T SPILL
Flaws/Weaknesses: Can be arrogant at times, naive at times. Isn't aware of things when she's focused on something.

Strengths: Knows parkour and karate, smart (as aforementioned…).
Friends: many people. Names are: Charlene, Krist, Collin, Marnenn, and others.

Clothes: Black leather jacket over a beige camisole, usually paired with jeans and a brown belt. Gold earrings and necklace. See Aesthtics for more styles

Accessories: 6 or more earrings, usually gold, black, or dark blue rings. More fancier earrings for special occasions. Sometimes wears a choker. Wears 1+ rings, and bangles randomly.

Reddish-orange rimmed lasses when she needs them (she's rather longsighted).

Aesthetic: mostly baddie mixed with goth and mystic, but cute or frumpy style when she feels like it

Likes: Blue and Red, Caesar Salad, Pizza, tuna sandwiches (and pretty much everything except dislikes)
Dislikes: Mac & cheese, large mushrooms, eggplant, annoying !d!0ts.

Moodboard:
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1286934090

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✿┊Word War #1 w/ @essayist

Author's Notes:
✦ Prompt was “how long have you been watching me?” by Alana.

How long have you been watching me? Your eyes are there, lurking silently. You speak no words yet you still watch me. I don’t know what ever goes through your head. You never say anything to me, and I barely even know your name. Yet you always seem to find interest in me. I can see you randomly when I’m walking past or just going by my daily routine. Sometimes I try to avoid you, sometimes you find me anyways. Sometimes I’m having the worst day of my life and yet still you’re there and you seem to be never able to leave. Well, not never. I’ve been able to get rid of you sometimes, but without you life seems pretty dull. Not just dull but downright horrible. I hope you know how much of an impact you’ve made on me. You’ve taken my entire heart and flipped it upside down for the better and I just don’t know how I feel about that. But it does feel good, I guess. It makes me feel like I can fly. Like there’s actually things worth fighting for. Like I can go another morning and survive another day and even do it gladly. Like I can keep going over and over and over again even if I’ll face struggles. It makes me feel free. It makes me feel glad and I’m just thankful you’re there, even if the sensation of having you around is strange. You feel warm. You feel like fire, blazing hot. Other days you just feel dim and silent, like you’re not even there. But I know you are. You’re watching. You keep watching. You watch over me. You don’t just watch there silently, I realise that know, but you watch over me to help. Huh. Isn’t that strange? I find that quite strange, really. You’re just… there. I know you are. I think you’re even there right now. I know that you are. Well, yeah. I don’t even really know what I’m saying anymore. This entire thing is just an ode to you. Do you know your own name? Do you even know mine? I’m assuming you’d know mine at this point, since you’re watching over me so much. I do know your name. I don’t know how I learnt it or when. Maybe one day when I was at school, or maybe a friend taught me long ago. Maybe you told me yourself but I was just too young to understand. Well, regardless of who taught me who you are, I thank you. Thank you for giving me a reason to get out of bed. Thank you for allowing me to have strength. Thank you. Thank you for everything. And if you don’t know your name, I’ll tell you. Your name is Hope. And you’ve been watching me for as long as I can ever remember. You’re a little spark that lights me up, little by little, every day. Sometimes you just flare up too. So for that all I thank you, thank you so much. I don’t know if you know how much you’ve changed my life, and others’ too. So once more, before this ode ends… thank you, Hope.

Word Count: ~534

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War with Strawberry-Lemon
3 mins, Prompt: “Could we stay like this a little longer?”

“Can we stay like this a little longer?”
Through the black reflective screen on the TV, I caught a smirk flash on Kaien's face. He didn't say anything, but he didn't budge either, his arm still wrapped around my shoulder.
We continued to stare at the screen long after the last credits of the movie rolled out of frame. I blinked back the tears in my eyes, fighting the urge to lift an arm to wipe them and reveal to Kaien that I was crying. Perhaps he could see that I wa s through the screen anyway.
The movie hit hard. Too hard, and too close to home.
It wasn't even related much to the Skiyward Conflict ragaing around us in our real world, but it had me choking up. The plight of the main character, her closest friend being stripped away from her for a project unknown. It made me remember what was happening—how any moment, someone I loved could be taken away from me by a force we didn't even know enough about. It terrified me. I don't know what to do. Every night I'm awake, jumping at every sound, hoping it's not the door being burst down like I've heard from classmates at school when they retold how their sister, brother, cousin

216 words

Tilly's Weekly #1 - Character swap

PART 1: Character Sheet

Name: Meia Blackbriar / Agent Blackbriar
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Occupation: Intelligence agent and spy for Cloud Nine agency
Residence: Cloud Nine Facility in Eastern mountains
Appearance: Dark skin, coily black hair, deep brown-honey hazel eyes. Noticeable scar from left cheek to chin from an incident during a mission. A bit short for her age—she was short and quite small for a long time in her childhood before a growth spurt at 15, so her brother always called her Squirt and the nickname stuck.
Personality: Quiet, thinks A LOT more than she speaks. Observes more than she talks and takes in every detail. Seems shy and sometimes even standoff-ish, but truly craves connection/community. She's kind, but was only ever open to her mother, father and brother. She was chosen with other exceptionally intelligent individuals intentionally for Cloud Nine's intelligence and spy departments.
Folds any piece of paper she gets her hands on—sweet wrappers, notes from the commander, papers during meetings—into origami flowers, especially when nervous. Liked pink, pretty flowers, baking and dresses before the gritty duties took over her life. Favourite food is cinnamon rolls. She's afraid of the dark.
Flaws/misbeliefs: Refuses to trust anyone. (“I would take off my bull3t-proof vest to hug you better, but I'm afraid you'll sh00t me instead.”) Believes letting anyone in would mean ruin, even though she longs for connection. She works with a team, but refuses to get close to them, and struggles to trust them. She doesn't speak her mind/say what she really needs enough, being so quiet all the time. She bottles her emotions until she eventually breaks.
Relationships/Family: Kaien Blackbriar (older brother), mother and father (they're alive this time (xD) but they don't really see them. Meia especially prefers to stay away to keep them safe and hidden.)
Playlist: Treehouse - Alex G (childhood with her brother), Skyfall - Adele (the fight to take the corrupt powers down), Army Dreamers - Kate Bush (the wars in general; her brother in a way)

(Brother: Kaien Blackbriar, 20, Soldier for PRISM
Outspoken, enthusiastic, sunshine personality. Extroverted in contrast to his sister. Calls her Minnie or Squirt as nicknames, rarely ever Meia unless it's something serious. He could name whatever model of plane that flew across the sky above them whenever they were outside. Talented guitarist, great with children. He hates war but ends up being conscripted by law to fight for PRISM, a separate side from Meia's Cloud Nine party (Cloud Nine and PRISM don't see eye to eye, but both are fighting against a common enemy). He's afraid of dy!ng, however, despite being a soldier making it very likely—especially if he thinks about Meia being without him.)

451 words

PART 2: Moodboard
MOODBOARD: (in sprite ‘SWC’) https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/733300196/

Pistanthrophobia definition: Her fear of trusting people. She trusted the same government that took her brother away when she was 15, and trusted her and her brother's mutual friend who, out of panic, revealed where she and her brother were which led to her brother's taking. She bought the lies of the world being sunshine and rainbows before the cold, hard reality set in.
Walking down the street: Meia and Kaien, who were always together, showing their closeness and Meia's openness before he was taken.
Baking cinnamon rolls: Meia's favourite treat. She would bake every weekend, with Kaien whenever he could, and cinnamon rolls on Saturdays for movie nights became a tradition.
Flowers and white dress pic: Part of her aesthetic from before.
Spy gear, motorbike, files: Her occupation. She also inwardly loves the thrill of riding motorbikes.
Dressed up, looking out of balcony: A snapshot of one of Cloud Nine's undercover missions. As she used to love dresses, she likes dressing up for the high end events her team have to scout.
Rooftop overlooking city: I interpreted it as her habitual isolation, standing alone on the roof. She could also be ready to jump off it, as she isn't daunted by things like that.

205 words

PART 3: Character swap - SWAP WITH: moosywoosy, https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/869490/?page=7#post-9018189

'The light of kindness you shine in this world doesn't go unnoticed :)'

Hugh slipped the marker between his teeth to free a hand, tearing off the bright yellow stick-it note and plastering it against Raena's locker. He moved down a few doors to stick a different message on Axel's, reaching into his mind for something unique that would touch his heart personally.

'Your art is spectacular, never stop creating :)'

The green stick-it note claimed its home against Axel's locker door. Hugh scanned the message for a quick grammar check, then found himself mirroring the smile of the little face as he thought of his classmates reading the encouraging messages across their lockers.
Footsteps and voices floated into the hallway, sending Hugh jumping away from the lockers and the stick-it notes hiding inside his pocket. He took a breath to relax his shoulders and slowed his pace as the voices floated through.
“…Hugh—he can do it.”
He jolted at his name and the voice that spoke it.
What?
Hugh spun round, and caught the countenances of a small party light up—Jackson, Rowan and Olivia, with Callum beside them. His group project companions.
“Hugh!” Jackson waved as they closed the distance between them.
“Uh, hey- what's up? You said I can do what?”
“Oh, the research and writing for the project,” Jackson pointed a pen at him. “It's due tomorrow, remember?”
“Olivia prepared the slides, and we've done some of the groundwork,” Rowan added. “But you're the best at this part, after all. We thought you could handle it. Right?”
“Oh…for tomorrow?” Hugh's mind flashed to a distinct image of his diary, where he'd scribbled down the day's itinerary checklist with half eaten toast in his mouth before having to rush out for school.

7:30am—3:00pm - school
4:00pm—7:00pm - store shift
7:30pm - help neighbor
8:00pm - help mom clear garage
9:30pm - homework
(TRY to) sleep earlier for once ??

Oh boy.
“You can handle it, right?” Olivia nodded expectantly.
Hugh blinked, eyes drifting to Callum. His eyebrows were furrowed. Concern.
Be careful.
Holding back a sigh, he flashed them all a smile. “You bet.”
Jackson's grin broadened, and he slapped Hugh on the back. “My guy!”
The chimes of the bell signalled the end of school, and his companions started to disperse.
“See you tomorrow,” Olivia called as they turned away.
Hugh gave her a thumbs up, before glancing at Callum who remained unmoved with an intent gaze still trained on him. “You sure, man?”
A smirk tugged at Hugh's lips. “You know, I have 3 best friends—you and Noah are number one, and number two is caffeine.”
Callum narrowed his eyes at Hugh's laugh, shaking his head wryly. “Make sure not to overdo it.”
“You can count on me,” Hugh glanced back. Students were filling the halls, his usual cue to slip away before they found their little messages.
“See ya,” he held up a fist to his friend, and Callum bumped it with a nod, the crease in his brow easing as he made his way to his locker.
In a quick glance Hugh found Raena holding her note at her locker already, and lingered just a beat to catch the surprised smile that lit up her face before he shrugged on his bag and strode away, refusing to lose the anonymity. He clung to the warmth that spread in his chest.
At least that would keep the darkness away for a time.
A vibration hummed against his back midway down the next hallway, and he tugged down his backpack to grab his phone. A text from Noah flashed on the screen.

'You still coming to the lake?'

Oh! Right.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, further aggravating its dishevelled appearance. His thumb hovered over the keyboard, mind racing for a response.
He took a breath, and typed a quick reply, before stuffing the phone into his pocket.

'Need to stop by home first, but of course '

- - -

'3 years, 15 days.
Dear Henry,
At the lake again- I guess it's become a tradition. Noah and Callum seem to love dragging me out here, but I guess I can't bring myself to tell them how much it…hurts sometimes. They're skipping stones again, like we used to do, but…
Nevermind. Shall we change the subject?
I gave people notes again, stuck on their lockers. Left late, though, so I managed to see a reaction this time, and it made me happy.
I don't-'

“Hugh! You coming?” Hugh instinctively raised his knees closer to his chest, hiding his journal from view.
Callum was waving from the bank a few paces away. “My stone finally beat Noah's in a skip race!”
“No, you went too early and I made a mistake,” Noah countered, picking up a new stone.
“Uh huh, the wind distracted you, right?” Callum snorted, rolling his eyes.
Hugh chuckled. “I'm coming, give me a second…”
“Whatcha writing in there, anyway?” Callum turned back to him, tossing a stone between his hands as Noah prepared to send another across the lake.
“Just ideas for the project,” Hugh replied, biting his tongue as he scribbled a final sentence before snapping the journal shut.
I'll talk to you later.
It was weird, he knew. Henry wasn't even there. But he was losing the image of that long face, deep set brown eyes and sandy hair in his mind, so clung to anything he could. He couldn't lose anything else.
He had been recommended school counselling sessions after his parents' divorce and Henry's disappearance in quick succession, and even though he hated the experience, the suggestion of journaling had stuck. He found he couldn't talk about his feelings to anyone otherwise, so he dropped the counselling despite his mom's protests.
His phone buzzed against his thigh, and Hugh dropped the little red notebook to fish it out. It was Melissa, from his job.

'Hugh, I need help at the store. You're 10 mins late, where are you?'

His eyes flashed to the time on his phone. 4:10pm.
“Oh, shoot!” Hugh jumped up, and his friends looked back at him. “Guys, I'm so sorry, but I've got to go—I'm late for my shift! I'm really sorry.”
“Ok, um- good luck?” Noah called after him as he stumbled down an incline to the path they had come from, barely catching his parting words.

(I'm actually having way too much fun with this xD I had more scenes planned after this, but I'm well over the minimum word count sooo let's move on asdfghjkl-)
1078 words

PART 4: Character meeting

“What happened?” Hugh called as he skipped past a strange gathering of colleagues at the door, shrugging on the pale yellow vest of his workplace uniform.
Melissa was by a checkout desk, hands on her hips. “You're 15 minutes late.”
“I know, I know, I'm really sorry.” Hugh ran a hand through his hair. “Got caught up, and- I'm here now! What's going on?”
“We were robbed.”
Hugh's jaw dropped. “What? How bad?”
“It was just a kid, not even 12. Mike chased him down the street,” she stifled a laugh. “Guess what he tried to take?”
Hugh winced in thought. “…Sweets?”
“Nope—two packs of meat and a carton of orange juice.”
Hugh's eyebrows raised. “Seriously?”
Melissa nodded, grabbing some abandoned items from beside the checkout. “Weird, right? Maybe his family was struggling, who knows. That reminds me…” She bit her lip and faced him. “I have to go in a couple hours to see my sister. She had some accident on the stairs.”
“Yikes! How bad?”
“She's not seriously hurt, thankfully, but I need someone to cover my shift so I can get to her on time,” Melissa continued slowly, her eyes pleading.
Oh…
“I know you end at 7, but could you cover until 8 for me? Mike's gone already, and most end sooner than your shift…please?”
“Um…” Hugh slipped past her to take a seat at the checkout desk and log in, giving himself the extra seconds to think.
The neighbor said he'd be home until 9 so I could still go, then help mom after that and squeeze in homework too before…right, the project.
He sighed inwardly. What had he said about caffeine again?
“Sure, I've got it,” he nodded, and watched with a measure of satisfaction as a big smile broke on Melissa's face.
“I could hug you,” she laughed, but turned to take the items away instead. “Thanks Hugh!”
He grimaced a smile as she walked away. Seeing new customers filtering in through the now freed entrance way, he tapped in his details on the screen at the desk to start his shift.
A woman with two young children emerged from an aisle. Her brow was creased in visible stress as her charges tugged at her arms, whining persistently.
“Let me finish!” She mumbled, cheeks flushing as she hauled along both a basket and the children towards the checkouts. “I said not today.”
“May I help you with those?” Hugh called out, watching her glance over at the self service kiosks and employee checkouts indecisively.
She gave a sheepish smile and dragged her kids towards his desk. “Thank you.”
Hugh glanced at the restless children, and the little girl's pale green dress caught his eye. “Hi there…that's a beautiful dress you have.”
The girl stopped pulling her mother's arm, looking at Hugh for the first time. She smiled a little, rubbing a tear from her face. “Thanks.”
“Nice colour too. Is it your favourite?”
She nodded.
“It's very pretty. Can you twirl for me?”
The girl spun around and giggled. Hugh met the mother's eyes while he emptied her basket, and she smiled with appreciation. Even the boy had stopped whining, intrigued by Hugh's conversation.
Hugh now addressed him. “I love your glowing shoes, man.”
A grin showed the boy's two missing teeth, and he stamped his foot to make the colours light up. “They're from my birthday.”
“Oh wow, happy late birthday,” Hugh winked, scanning the remaining items.
“Thank you!”
Hugh printed the receipt, then scribbled a quick message on the back with a pen before handing it to the mother. “Have a wonderful day!”
“You too…” She squinted at the back of the receipt, and her eyes filled. “Oh…thank you.”

'You're so strong, thank you for raising them :)'

He gave her the bags with a smile, then waved at the kids. “Of course. Be good, children.”
They waved back as they left, and a new customer took their place.
“Good afternoon,” Hugh looked up from his screen, and nearly jumped. “Hey, you're…”
“I'm fine,” the girl murmured, placing a basket on the table.
He struggled not to stare as he took the shopping. Faded red splotches painted the front of a white shirt she now tried to hide under the folds of a black leather jacket. His eyes flicked to the items in his hands. Bandages, antiseptic…
He cleared his throat, trying a smile. “Hard day at the office?”
Oh no, don't say that. No, why would you say that?
The girl actually smirked, but it didn't reach her eyes. “Just really clumsy. It's nothing.”
The coils of her dark hair almost looked as wild as his, and he noticed how breathless her voice was. A strange feeling tightened his chest.
“You sure?” He pressed, continuing to scan more items. A bottle of water, a small notepad…
Her brows furrowed. “Yes.”
Hugh inwardly cringed at her sharp tone, but it made his heart race at the same time. It sounded too alike to another tone, long ago. A tone insisting nothing was wrong, everything was okay, forget about it…yet silently pleading.
He shook his head, swiping the last item across the scanner as he leaned forward. “Look, I don't know you, but if there's anything you need…”
The girl pursed her lips and glanced away, but he caught a slightly amused spark in her honey-brown eyes that confused him.
“I appreciate your concern,” she mumbled, flashing a shy smile. “I'm just- you weren't supposed to see that, sorry.”
Hugh squinted, printing a receipt. “Well, that's very reassuring.”
“I know right,” she sighed, rolling her eyes. “I'm sorry, I don't have much to say. I had a bad day, that's all.”
“And the stains?” He smirked, handing the bags and receipt to her.
She hesitated, staring at the back of the receipt. The corners of her lips twitched upwards.

'Smile more, it suits you :)'

“You have no idea.”
Hugh raised an eyebrow, but she spun round and walked away, keeping the jacket folds close to her chest.
Who is she?

1013 words (too much fun again xD)
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TOTAL: 2747 words