books
-
Check out the corresponding Goodreads post here! I was pretty tame in my analysis over there; but I had a lot more (admittedly salty and spoiler-laden) thoughts–so I figured, what better use than to commission them for my blog? Obligatory disclaimer: these are my opinions. This is in no way a commentary on anything other…
-
Harry Potter features the outright or implied redemptions of several characters—most notably Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, and Regulus Black. But, even in the cases where the character is supposed to have made a complete switch, their motivations and behaviors still don’t make complete sense with someone who’s begun to understood the evil they’ve committed, and…
-
Full name: Hayden Alve-Sacha Caerleon Powers: emotional and physical darkness Intuitive and pensive, Hayden picks up on a lot more than most kids his age. He enjoys equal parts solitude and companionship, and is happy merely sitting and reading in silence with his friends. Hayden is fluent in four different languages. EXCERPT Hayden tiptoed into…
-
Certain female characters can spark a passionate debate just by their mention. And it’s all about the same basic question—how objectively “good” is the character in the eyes of the fans? Rating objectivity in matters of taste is, simply put, a futile matter. The only metrics by which we can judge the “goodness” of a…
-
The pendant was old and bulky, decorated with the delicate touch of enamel flowers. Emily’s mother Rachel had discovered it a few months ago, helping her own mother Lucy to clear out the relics collecting dust in the woman’s attic. Despite the flickering bulb in the ceiling and the abundance of cobwebs, Emily and her…
-
Full name: Itachar Emery Powers: not awakened yet Sweet and bubbly, Emery loves playing with her cat Fluff, listening to music, and escaping into imaginary worlds with a good book. She’s the only of her immediate family and relatives to have been born with magic. EXCERPT They’d known from birth that she’d be special. Aside…
-
Full name: Drew Rukani Powers: not awakened yet One of the three children named in the prophecy to defeat the Soul-Stealer. Curious and easygoing, Drew loves spending time with his friends and family—in particular roughhousing with his adoptive cousins, or discussing his favorite comics with his dormmates. Despite being orphaned at a young age, he’s…
-
Today’s selection is a guest post from my good friend, artist and writer Ash Alexander. You can find them on Instagram as @a_humble_humanoid, or Bluesky as @a-humble-humanoid. Romantasy is a genre I have a massive bone to pick with. I don’t fault anyone for enjoying a guilty pleasure; and everyone is well within their rights…
-
Full name: Lavinia Reyes Powers: not awakened yet One of the three children named in the prophecy to defeat the Soul-Stealer. Fierce yet gentle, Lavinia wishes for a better world while doing her best day-to-day to make that happen. She cares deeply for both those she loves, and those who don’t have anyone to stand…
-
“What do you do here, darling?” The girl started, then blinked as she spun around, as if there were someone else sitting here the woman could’ve been talking to. Leyla Isles let a coy smile curl her lips. “I meant you, sweetie.” The girl fluttered her lashes a second time; then she ducked her head,…
