March Doodles!

A tntduo au based off a book, Heartless by Marissa Meyer.

Story and characters beneath the cut.

Some trigger warnings first: Major Character Death, semi-graphic violence, blood, and fate stuff

Also techno is kind of ooc in this but he's legit just there for plot reasons

• One night he goes down to a ball, everyone stares at him and he is uncomfortable the whole evening. Suddenly the visitors from chess show up and with them is a jester.

So in this au, Wilbur would be the queen of hearts [though he's not crowned yet and when he is, hes king], karl is the mad hatter, Dream is the Cheshire cat, there is no king of hearts and the rest of the characters are basically brand new

For the new characters created by Meyer there is:

Jest, a court jester and magician. He hails from chess [white witches area] he falls in love with the queen of hearts so in this au quackity takes his role

Raven, a quiet shapeshifter who travels with jest, sapnap will be taking his role but he and Q are just friends

Peter Peter, a farmer. Techno takes his role for a very specific reason

The sisters, they are like the fates from Greek mythology and I'm thinking they're gonna be either badlands characters or like Hannah and Co

And some changes to the original story I've made,

In the original, the queen is courting the king and when she marries him thats how she gets her title. In this, Wilbur is the son of the mother of hearts, Kristen, and is heir to the throne. His mother has fallen ill and he is suddenly thrust into a situation where everyone is expecting him to become king.

A couple relationships are also swapped for familial or platonic relationships due to characters in the roles

• Wilbur is the prince of hearts. His mother has fallen ill and he now has to deal with his mom being sick and being prepared to take the throne. He doesn't like the responsibility and all he wants to do is run away with his servant Tommy [who is like a brother to him wink wink] and be a musician.

• The jester gets up and performs, it distracts Wilbur for a second but a noble pulls him aside and is very obviously trying to gain the young princes favor. Wilbur manages to escape the conversation and runs out to the garden to get some air.

• He is standing by the hedges when the jester lands next to him and asks him what hes doing. Wilbur says thst he only needed some air very angrily. The jester tilts his head and says that he understands that Wilburs life sucks right now. Wilbur didn't expect him to sympathize and becomes a lot nicer suddenly.

• Wilbur introduces himself and the jester says his name is quackity. They talk for a but, gossiping abt the nobles while walking. Then Quackity walks over to a tree in the garden and picks a white rose off it and hands it to Wilbur.

• Wilbur is about to thank him when he suddenly hears screaming. They run back to the ballroom and find out a beast had attacked the ball. Wilbur looks back for quackity but he disappeared.

• After everything settled down, Wilbur went to sleep. He dreamt of 3 voices whispering in his ear: murderer, martyr, monarch, mad

• The next day, Wilbur is strumming on his guitar when Tommy comes in and says Wil is needed downstairs

• Wilbur goes downstairs and sees karl, the hatter, standing next to quackity. Quackity has a creature on his shoulders. It has the body of a red panda but the markings of a normal panda bear. Must be a chess thing.

• Karl gives wilbur a hat that is supposed to make him seem more kingly. Wilbur doesnt want to wear it but does anyways.

• Karl, quackity, and Wilbur all hang out in the gardens. During their conversations Wilbur asks why karl is a hatter. Karl says it's a family business. He then says that every person in his family has gone mad. Wilbur asks if he's mad, and karl simply says "not yet!"

• They hear a loud noise and the creature on quackitys shoulders jumps off and turns into a man, weilding an axe. He steps in front of the other as a figure walks out of the bushes.

• Turns out it was just ranboo, the apprentice of techno and he got lost. Prolly forgot his way again. The creature puts down his axe quackity says "thank you sapnap"

• Karl and sapnap start talking and quackity walks back over to Wilbur. He asks Wil about the rose and Wilbur says he lost it when the ball was attacked. Quackity walks off and Wilbur follows him. He disappears for a second then reappears in front of wilbur, holding another rose. He asks Wilbur doesnt lose this one. Wilbur nods.

• Wilbur is then called into the palace, royal duties. He says a quick to goodbye to quackity but he's already gone.

• After an agonizing dinner, Wilbur goes to sleep. He wakes up sometime during the night to vines covering his bed and blankets. He shoves them off

• He hears a soft voice whisper and turns towards it. He sees 3 people dressed in black, red, and white. He asks who they are and the tallest one says they are the fates. Wilbur questions but they don't answer. They say in perfect unison, "murderer, martyr, monarch, mad"

• Wilbur wakes up and there are no vines on his bed. He passes it off as a weird dream and heads to do his duties. He visits his mother first though. She isn't doing well but she still speaks to him for a while.

• He heads downstairs and tommy informs him that there is a lunch party down at the docks soon. Wilbur grumbles but gets ready and goes down.

• The party is boring but then quackity walks in. Wilbur heads over to him because he's better company that 98% of the party. They talk and joke for a while, letting speakers come and go. Everytime a noble tries to suck up to Wilbur, quackity sits behind them and makes fart noises. Which is far too funny for Wilbur.

• Unfortunately by 4, they have to part ways but quackity promises to meet Wilbur in the gardens that night.

• Wilbur heads back to the castle and as he's wandering the halls, a shape appears in the corner of his eye

• He turns and sees dream, floating. Dreams mocks him for becoming attached to the jester and Wilbur glares at him. Wilbur asks why he's there, he only comes when necessary.

• Dreams mask somehow smiles wider and he says that he has an answer to a question Wilbur hasn't asked yet. He tells Wilbur who the fates are, and that the words he's been hearing are a prophecy. It makes Wilbur scared, since the words were all so awful.

• He yells at dream and continues walking. He does the rest of his work and waits in the garden for quackity.

• Soon he appears and Wilbur is relieved. Quackity takes wilburs hand and they walk through the garden. They talk about the day, but Wilbur doesnt mention the prophecy.

• When they get to the center of the garden, with the white rose tree, quackity stops and grips wilburs hand tighter. He says that he has a confession. He says that he was originally sent here to steal the rulers heart since the heart of a king or queen is incredibly powerful.

• Wilbur steps back in fear but quackity explains that now he doesn't want to do that. He walks forwards and Wilbur doesn't move. Q says he came to steal wilburs heart, but it seems that Wilbur stole his. Then they kiss.

• A couple of kisses and confessions later quackity takes wilburs arm and walks him back to the palace. Using magic, he gets them up to the balcony of wilburs room. Quackity bids him adieu and jumps off, disappearing into the night.

• Next day Wilbur wants to find quackity but can't. Figures he's busy

• He goes to Karl's shop to look for him but he's not there. Karl does mention that he has a gift for Wilbur.

• He gets a guitar from chess from karl, it is beautiful and perfectly tuned already. He takes it back to the palace, where he strums and messes with it

• He practices it the rest of that day, loving the sweet melody.

• But he had to go. That night there is a smaller gathering of citizens, including techno, ranboo, fundy, niki, eret, and others.

• Quackity is there but Wilbur is too busy to talk to him as much as he wants to.

• Fundy notices the new guitar and asks Wilbur to play, so he does.

• It's beautiful, the guitar probably magically adding to it. Wilbur sings along as well.

• Fundy claps and so do others standing farther afway. But then suddenly fundy starts growling and looses control. He becomes a full rabid fox, transforming from a hybrid.

• He attacks Wilbur but Sapnap comes out and kills fundy just before he rips out wilburs throat.

• People scream murderer but Wilbur aquits sapnap because he saved the prince. He mourns fundy and gives gifts to his family

• Wilbur is slightly hurt from the attack and quackity quickly takes him to a well.

• The well heals Wilbur and quackity explains that they need the heart of a royal to save the country. Wilbur says he will let himself be crowned and give his heart to quackity. Quackity agrees to give his heart too.

• Quackify explains that the well is a portal to his realm. Wilbur says he'll go with. Sapnap, karl, Wilbur, and quackity all enter the well and meet the fates. They say they will let the others through as long as no one goes through a door. If they do, their prophecy will come true.

• They go through a maze, trying tk find their way to chess. The doors are all around, leading to a multitude of places around the kingdom of hearts. Wilbur ignores them

• Until, they pass by a door that leads to technos farm. Inside the cabin Wilbur sees tommy waving frantically. Wilbur gets immediately concerned for him and begs the others to help him save tommy

• Quackity reminds that they can't go through without risking the prophecy and Wilbur says he can't leave tommy. Quackity is conflicted but follows Wilbur through the portal.

• They break into the cabin and tommy runs for wilbur. He says that the creature that had been attacking things was ranboo, that he transformed for some reason. Tommy attempted to tell others but techno trapped him out of fear for ranboo.

• They run out but techno cuts them off near the fence. He is pissed. Tommy yells at him for trying to save ranboo even though he's killing other people.

• Techno says he couldn't let him die. He blames karl because it all started after karl gave ranboo something from chess and it got worse after Wilbur sang his song on the guitar from chess.

• Suddenly the creature, or ranboo, comes barreling and attacks Wilbur. Quackity and sapnap start fighting techno while karl stands to the side. Wilbur pulls out a dagger. It pains him to do so but he kills ranboo

• Sapnap is on the ground, hit his head. Techno is fighting quackity and sees Wilbur kill ranboo. He lets quackity go as he runs towards ranboom. Wilbur heads to sapnap and stands him up.

• Techno growls and turns around in anger. He looks at Wilbur, and says that he killed someone he loves. He stands up, picks up a hoe from the field and swings it. Wilbur flinches but nothing comes. When he opens his eyes, quackity has a thick sheet of metal through his face and techno is covered in blood

• Techno realizes what he did and runs into the forest. Sapnap chases after him.

• Wilbur runs to quackitys side and cries. Tommy and karl have to pull him off of quackitys body.

• They return him to the palace and for several days he refuses to leave. He is informed that his mother only has a few hours left and he goes to say his goodbyes. She passes away while holding his hand and he doesn't cry, he was all out of tears.

• He returns to his room and goes to bed. He dreams of the fates yet again. Bad comes up to him and says that the prophecy came true. Sapnap was a murderer, and now quackity was a martyr. Karl was bound to go mad anytime. All that was left was monarch.

• Wilbur growls at them and says he's not going to be king. He doesnt care, he wants techno dead.

• The fates laugh and antfrost says that they can help with that. All they need is his heart, the heart of a king is powerful after all.

• He says that he will go to coronation and he will become king, then he will give them his heart. Only, if they bring him techno. They agree and the deal is set.

• When Wilbur wakes up, sapnap is waiting by the window. Wilbur walks over and they hug. Sapnap lost someone close to him too.

• Wilbur quickly gets ready. He heads downstairs and tells the nobles that he is going to be coronated today. They rush to get everything ready while Wilbur stands in the hall

• Suddenly he sees a smirk, and dream materializes in front of him. He says he has no time for dreams shit tonight, and dream simply says that he wanted to offer his condolences. And his told you so's. Wilbur glares at him and tells him to get out of his kingdom or he'll kill dream. Dream disappears and heads out.

• Then comes the coronation. Sapnap sits on wilburs shoulders the whole time. Then Wilbur becomes king and sits on his new throne. Suddenly, there is a loud bang and the throne rooms doors are thrown open

• Enter the badland fates. They drag techno with them. They say that they have held up their end of the deal and now it is wilburs turn. Everyone is in shock but Wilbur walks towards them regardless

• Bad holds a hand up and plunges it into wilburs chest. He pulls it out, holding a red and cracked heart. There is no scar on wilburs chest, nor a hole in his shirt. But there is a weight lifted, he no longer aches for quackity. All he has left is his anger.

• He walks back up to his throne. His advisor asks what they are to do with techno. Wilbur says a trial.

• So they put techno on trial for murder. Techno explains his situation and how Wilbur killed ranboo. Wilbur explains that ranboo was the creature.

• The jury returns with a not guilty verdict but Wilbur rejects it. He yells that he doesn't care and that techno was a murderer. He turns to sapnap and tells him to stand. He was the white kings executioner and now he will be wilburs.

• Sapnap wields his axe, standing over a kneeling techno. The court room is dead silent.

• Wilbur sits up on his throne

• "Off with his head"

aaron & the family he's found all by himself; vol. 1 // vol. 2

( ft. the first meeting & the first family game night )

okay, rundown of his first meeting w the vixens!

the vixens don't really like the foxes. they cheer at their games and all, but outside of that, they mostly stick with the football players

bcs, well, the foxes are,, intimidating and most of the vixens don't get how or why katelyn started dating one

especially one half of the terrifying duo that is the twinyards. like these tiny blonde angst goblins have absolutely zero chill, and this is the backliner one, the one that shattered the nose of a dude basically twice his size

they may be short as fuck but they're scary, and the vixens are worried that he might break katelyn's heart

but katelyn's sure about aaron minyard, and when cleo softly asks, "is he worth it?" she knows her answer is a yes

savannah and the rest of the girls aren't convinced tho, so she asks aaron if he'll meet them for one of the afterparties they have after games

he agrees after seeing the hopeful look on her face

and surprise, surprise, it isn't a complete disaster!!

see, aaron has a habit of mirroring the nature of the person he's with. in the book, we mostly see him as an asshole bcs it's from neil's pov, and neil, as much as i adore him, is an asshole

i think that when he's with nicky ( someone he loves and trusts ), he's like, nicer. it's not in his nature to be cheery or anything but he's less,, hostile? and way more relaxed

and katelyn's been nothing but sweet and polite to him, bcs katelyn's sweet and polite till you give her a reason not to be

so he's sweet and polite back, or at least, sweet and polite as aaron minyard can get.

yeah, he's definitely interesting enough, clever and quick-witted enough, respectful and loyal and insanely talented enough, that katelyn decides he's worth it. doubts he'll ever get boring

and yes, she knows this is a big risk, bcs she knows the foxes' rep, knows how fucked up he must to secure a place on the psu foxes, notices how aaron flinches when she makes any sudden movement

but you know what? fuck it

so when aaron tells her his strange, twisted little deal with his brother, katelyn's willing to fight for him

and after nearly 2 months of this, she drags him to the vixens with their fingers interlocked and a hope in her heart that they'd play nice like she's asked ( practically begged ) them to

aaron's buzzing a bit with nervous energy. it's very endearing, how his eyes had lit up at the sight of her, then how she felt her anxiety about the night melt away into excitement

sav tries, bless her, tries to engage aaron in half-hearted conversation about exy ( which she hates ) and aaron tries back, but that fizzles out bcs for someone on a full-ride exy scholarship, aaron doesn't like exy at all

thank god that marissa, who's been trying to be less of a bitch all night, bless her too, lets it slip that sav detests exy

"okay, i can't anymore. minyard, savannah actually hates exy and she hates the foxes too, but we're hoping that you're an exception."

aaron, holding back a laugh: honestly? same.

sav: oh thank fucking GOD we have something to talk about then

"yeah, the entire sport sucks, doesn't it? i literally play it at college level and i still have barely figured out the goddamn rules."

"exactly! and my entire family's fucking obsessed for some reason, it's so annoying! ugh and the foxes suck even more, they're all so goddamn rude for no reason. except maybe the cute goalie."

". . ."

"eww not your brother, i meant renee walker,, and maybe you're not too bad either, minyard."

"you flatter me."

katelyn watches their exchange with more than a little amusement. aaron's not smiling, but his features have softened and he's flushed from the alcohol he'd had and she can't rly believe that this is the boy who they all thought would break her heart

bcs later when aaron comes up to her with a cookie dough cupcake ( her favourite ) she didn't even know was served at the party, leans into her so his face is buried in her neck, whispers "thanks for taking me", when she takes in all her friends laughing and chatting and waving at her, when sav gives her a thumbs-up and nods to aaron, she's never felt more whole

like she was part of something bigger than herself

then aaron starts hanging around them more! yeah he saw the look on katelyn's face and he was going to TRY for her or so help him- usually just with katelyn, sav, and cleo

she invites him to the "family game night" sav is making them have, and he's like "sure why not."

he knocks on the door of sav and cleo's dorm and sav lets him in

"yo, minyard! glad you make it, katelyn's out on a donut run but she'll be back soon."

okay,, okay. so he'll,,, what? interact w people?? hell fucking no

then he realises that it's only cleo in the dorm, plugged into her headphones, playing mario kart, and thanks katelyn for ensuring there would only be ppl that like, he didn't mind

the other vixens were okay, but way too LOUD, and aaron wasn't rly up for spending a whole night w them

cleo hands him a controller, an invitation to play, and he takes it gratefully. he and cleo hadn't talked that much at the party, but she was perfectly tolerable so far, which was a good sign

and mario kart was a part of his childhood, one of the only few that nicky's parents had owned, so he and his cousin had spent hours curled up in front of tv trying to beat each other

even tho he beats nicky most of the time, cleo absolutely destroys him. he mentally tries to brush it off as him being rusty ( which he definitely is ) but damn, cleo's good. still, she brushes off the compliment when aaron blurts it out

okay so then katelyn comes back with like way too many donuts and they start playing monopoly gathered around the coffee table

sav insists on putting on some music. wannabe starts playing. she winks at aaron and aaron winks back, still not smiling. cleo snorts and katelyn kisses his cheek

listen, cleo is a monopoly master. soon, she owns over half the board and it's pretty clear she's gonna win, someone ( savannah riley jameson, everyone ) flips the board

"jameson, what the actual fuck."

"shut the hell up, minyard."

"come on, sav, i was winning!"

katelyn's trying to pick up all the pieces and aaron bends down to help her, shaking his head at sav, who pouts and joins them while cleo grins, headphones slung around her shoulders while she perches herself onto the arm of the settee and hums to wake me up before you go-go

next, sav begs them to play twister. cleo's great at most games, but she has a particular dislike for twister, so she's out quick

katelyn is super bendy, bcs she took gymnastics for years, and aaron holds his own surprisingly well, considering the fact that he's short as fuck

sav: katie, right hand red

katelyn, ending up right on top of a blushing aaron: okay, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?

sav: i stopped spinning like 15 turns ago, i'm surprised you didn't notice sooner

eventually aaron collapses and katelyn is hailed as the queen of twister and they spend the next 10 minutes just calling out random spots for katelyn to try

she gets all of them, and aaron is actually smiling now and it doesn't matter that it's only a tiny quirk of his lips, it's something and katelyn cherishes it

they play some sort of surgeon simulator thingy next, and aaron "gonna be a future neurosurgeon" minyard is awesome at it, bcs duh

katelyn's not very good at this. her hands get SHAKY okay

cleo also sucks at this, bcs she keeps getting nervous and having muscle spasms. sav's just doing the dumbest shit bcs it's bringing aaron closer to the edge of cardiac arrest

aaron: jameson holy shit what are you DOING

sav, slicing open the spinal cord: okay so what if i take out the lungs through the back haha

and now sav is sulking over the fact that she hadn't absolutely murdered the others at a game

so she brings out the ultimate game. the game of bastards, one that tears families apart, sets friendships on fire, starts wars too gruesome to be started by anything other than this wretched, cursed artefact. . .

s c r a b b l e

aaron's already having war flashbacks. katelyn groans and goes to make popcorn, bcs this shit's gonna take FOREVER and she knows it. cleo, an english major, is preparing herself for battle with the force of nature that is savannah

"the fuck do you MEAN fergalicious isn't a word???"

"savannah, please."

"no, here, listen to this."

"sav, we were listening to that!" katelyn complains. sav sighs and switches the song back to her "90's bops" playlist, then changes it to "hell yeah feminism" which instantly starts playing run the world ( girls )

katelyn happily starts singing and aaron's not even reluctant to hum along

sav and cleo are still arguing. this has been going on for so long. sav looks ready to flip over the board again, so cleo does it first

katelyn: cleo what the heck

cleo, the tired mom friend: don't fucking curse

aaron is also tired, but in a good way, in kind of that soft lazy droopy way

he falls asleep leaning against the sofa and katelyn's shoulder, with god is a woman playing in the background while sav and cleo continue arguing. cleo is standing on the coffee table. it's true anarchy

he wakes up on the sofa with a blanket thrown over him and sunlight streaming in through the lacy curtains and katelyn making a complete mess of the kitchen in a futile attempt to make breakfast. sav and cleo are draped across each other on the floor

katelyn, struggling to pick up burning toast: morning babe, how did you sleep?

aaron, calmly using a pair of tongs: pretty well. who wants pancakes?

sav, instantly shooting up: DID YOU SAY PANCAKES

so he makes pancakes! nicky taught him as soon as he'd gained custody of the twins, so he's pretty much an expert. he tries to teach katelyn, but then just gives up bcs she's clearly not listening in favour of staring at him

and they all gather around the coffee table and cleo's humming along to the song on her headphones and wow these pancakes are rly good omg

while aaron is chatting to cleo about what video games they should play next, sav whispers, "kate finley, if you don't marry this boy just for his god-tier pancakes, i will."

"sav, you're a lesbian."

"not anymore, i've decided that i am pancake-sexual."

aaron hears all of this btw, bcs cleo stops when she hears them talking. he blushes, and smiles, just a little bit

( if anyone actually cares about this, tell me! shoot me an ask if there's any particular ask you want to see with these characters, or just the foxes! )

Boston, Salem & MA playlist

Ever been to Boston and Salem in Massachusetts? I hope to someday soon. Salem, Bruins, Cape Cod, Edgar Allen Poe, the history! Many great bands hail from Boston and Massachusetts, like Dinosuar Jr, Aerosmith and Guerilla Toss...ugh! So many bands. Converge, Isis, Cave-In, Pixies, Magic Circle....Not to mention the songs about Salem, MA and the witch trials, Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson and even Lizzy Bordon (in RI section).  The history of this region is fascinating. The Pilgrims and the Boston Tea Party etc. Many songs about this period of time. Hope you enjoy this playlist. Also I threw in a little Rhode Island and New Hampshire too.

Remember people, live life deliciously!

001 Times Of Grace - Strength In Numbers 002 Boston - Peace of Mind 003 Dinosaur Jr - Freak Scene 004 Pixies - trompe le monde 005 Cheers TV show - Opening 006 Aerosmith - Beyond Beautiful 007 The Byrds - Boston 008 Dave Loggins - Please Come To Boston 009 The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Boston Tea Party 010 Buffalo Tom - Crutch 011 Escuela Grind - No Worship 012 Made Out Of Babies - Grimace (The Ruiner) 013 dropkick murphys -for boston 014 Lemonheads - Hate Your Friends 015 The Cars - Drive 016 Morphine - Honey White 017 The Breeders - Cannonball 018 Isis - Ghost Key 019 Better Than Ezra - Normal Town 020 Killswitch Engage - Starting Over 021 Converge -  Sadness Comes Home 022 Grief - Come To Grief 023 Aerosmith - Draw The Line 024 Dinosaur Jr. -  Watch the Corners 025 Friend & Lover - Boston is a lovely town 026 Magic Circle -  Departed Souls 027 All Pigs Must Die - Hungry Wolf, Easy Prey 028 Shadows Fall - The Light That Blinds 029 The Bee Gees- 'Massachusetts' 030 Belly - Feed The Tree 031 Boston - Rock and Roll Band 032 The Pixies - Planet Of Sound 033 Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - Massachusetts Avenue 034 Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations 035 The Rosebuds - Back To Boston 036 Cave In - Inspire 037 Pearl Jam - Brain of J. 038 Tool - Sweat 039 Adam Ant - Bright Lights Black Leather 040 Tristania - My Lost Lenore 041 Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor 042 The Kingston Trio - MTA 043 Ylvis - Massachusetts 044 Captain Beefheart - 25th Century Quaker 045 Elder - Deadweight 046 Morne - Coming Of Winter 047 Lou Reed - I Wanna Be Black 048 Lyres - Boston 049 Rotting Christ - The Raven 050 Killswitch Engage- Rose Of Sharyn 051 Macabre - Boston Strangler Albert de Salvo 052 Dar Williams - Flinty Kind of Woman 053 STEELY DAN, The Boston Rag 054 The Beach Boys - Do You Like Worms 055 The Freeze-This is Boston not LA 056 Art Gruthie - Massachusetts 057 THE CARS _ Good Times Roll 058 Richard Band - Re-Animator OST Prologue - Main Title 059 Gang Green - Skate To Hell 060 Guerilla Toss - Come Up With Me 061 Karyn Crisis' Gospel of the Witches -Salem's Wounds 062 Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse now 063 the MODERN LOVERS _Roadrunner_ 1972 064 Edgar Allen Poe - Black Cat 065 Rammstein - Stein um Stein 066 The Necromancers - Salem Girl Part I 067 Orange Goblin - Sons Of Salem 068 Danny Elfman - [Sleepy Hollow OST] Main Titles 069 King Diamond - Abigail 070 The Cult - The Witch 071 Witch - Eye 072 Cavalera Conspiracy -  The Crucible 073 Queens Of The Stone Age -  Burn The Witch 074 Salem - Witch Burning 075 Danny Elfman - [Sleepy Hollow OST] Into The Woods (The Witch) 076 Clutch - Sucker for the Witch 077 Bewitched TV show  - Theme 078 John Zorn - Witchfinder 079 Blood Ceremony -  The Witch's Dance 080 Billy Talent - The dead can't Testify 081 The Misfits -  Witch Hunt 082 Rob Zombie - Lords Of Salem 083 Acid Witch -  Witchfynder Finder 084 King Diamond - Salem 085 The Cramps Big Black Witchcraft Rock 086 Mount Salem - Lucid 087 Sleepy Hollow TV SHow - Main Theme 088 Demons & Wizards - Beneath These Waves 089 Hexvessel -  Woman of Salem 090 Cradle of Filth - Her Ghost in the Fog 091 Metal Church - Of Unsound mind 092 Lich King -  Ed-209 093 Disrupt - Religion is a Fraud 094 The Witch OST - Witch's Coven 095 Fuming Mouth - Out of the Shadows 096 Abigail Williams - Acolytes 097 Clutch -  Worm Drink 098 1476 - A Circle Of Hope & Despair 099 Sleepy Hollow (2014) Soundtrack 100 Pixies - All Over the World 101 Sonic Youth - New Hampshire 102 Meliah Rage - Absolute Power 103 Albert Goes West - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds 104 Symphony X - King of Terrors 105 Alan Vega - American Dreamer 106 Van Der Graaf Generator - Pilgrims 107 ZZ Top  - I Thank You 108 Walt Disney's Johnny Tremain, _The Sons of Liberty 109 Paul Simon - American Tune (LP version) 110 SAXON - Sailing to America 111 Old Man Gloom  - Skullstorm 112 Mastodon -  I Am Ahab 113 Patti Page - Old Cape Cod 114 Ty Seagull - Archangel Thunderbird 115 Morphine - Buena 116 Manticora - On a Sea of Grass 117 Young Widows -  Old Skin 118 Hurriganes - Slippin And Slidin 119 Glacier - O World! I Remain No Longer Here. 120 Marissa Nadler - Blue Vapor 121 SEA - Penumbra 122 Vital Remains - Infidel 123 Throwing Muses - Bright Yellow Gun 124 Ike and Tina Topless Turner - Sweet Rhode Island Red 125 Flotsam and Jetsam -  She Took an Axe 126 Lizzy Borden - Council for the Cauldron 127 Rob Noyes - Further off 128 The Real Kids - All Kindsa Girls 129 Immunerable Forms - Puritys Demand 130 Blonde Redhead  - Inside You 131 Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse Now 132 Wear Your Wounds - Adrift In You 133 Howlin' Rain - Phantom In The Valley 134 J Mascis - Every Morning 135 Killswitch Engage - The Signal Fire (feat. Howard Jones) 136 Refuse Resist - _Still in Massachusetts 137 Church of Misery - Boston Strangler 138 City On A Hill TV show - Opening Theme 139 Pixies - U-Mass 140 Warhorse - Amber Vial 141 Zozobra - The Cruelest Cut 142 REVOCATION - Scattering The Flock 143 Metal Church - Of unsound mind 144 Seven Spires - Drowner Of Worlds 145 Boston Legal - TV show theme song 146 Converge -  Trespasses 147 Cave In - Anchor 148 Give up the Ghost - Love American 149 Dinosaur Jr. - Tiny 150 Boston Bruins theme song - Lets Go Bruins 151 Buffalo Tom - Staples 152 Trap Them - [Crown Feral #02] Hellionaires 153 Knights Of Bostonia - State Radio 154 Juliana Hatfield 3 - Feelin Massachusetts 155 The Red Chord  - Hymns And Crippled Anthems 156 CLUTCH - Emily Dickinson 157 New Kids On The Block - Step By Step 158 MELIAH RAGE - Decline of rule 159 Belly - Gepetto 160 AEROSMITH - Get A Grip 666 Denis Leary  - ASSHOLE  Also, check out the awesome L.A Witch Halloween Quarantine playlist at: https://floodmagazine.com/82347/l-a-witch-quarantine-helloween-playlist/?fbclid=IwAR3QRJEIMt57z-X_Zrfx5Ae7rjLkLdpOnjes6iv4yczqxAvLcG3OdfCulWw

Shanie’s Dream Fic: A Masterpost

The following is a Masterpost of all my various finished, started, and sketched out dream stories. They are listed here as the dreams originally were, not as the stories the dreams became. Listings are by Saga/Series, Story Title, and Month/Year of original dream. Also listed are the fandoms of the dreams and any specific warnings the fics might carry. For the record, this isn’t a post really for anyone on here. It’s mostly for my own records. I do have a copy on my cloud storage but I’m putting it here as well on the off chance anyone is curious. BTW: I’m putting this here so that I don’t have to list it every time. As far as the WWE dreams go. Absolutely NONE of them are Kayfabe compliant. That’s the problem with not watching the shows regularly. I don’t dream about the TV side of it often. The Zowens dream is close though. It’s sort of a hybrid. The rest? Well, all of them are some level of NKC, but some are not only non-kayfabe, they are straight up AU.  BTW2: In every single one of these stories involving me I am some manner of queer. I’m pretty sure in all but maybe one or two. I’m either wlw, ace, or both. NOT ONE of the first person dreams contains romance between me and another character. The best you get is a single platonic fake-relationship story. (That one did have a smut scene in it but it isn’t romantic.)

Anyway, list behind the cut!

ADVENTURES IN DREAMLAND Master Post

SAGA   A Family Beyond Blood

Part 1 Darkness Fallen (August 2019) I find myself trapped in a world where I died as a child. Now as a spirit I must find a way to restore the universe to it’s proper order. (Somehow my young death caused the entire universe to splinter) *McMahon Family and MCU Dream* Part 2 Death and Life on Planet Earth (August 2019)

Having saved the universe but not ourselves, I vow to do whatever it takes to return Shane to his rightful place with his family. *McMahon Family and MCU Dream*

Part 3 A World Restored to Fall (August 2019)

The universe has been reset again, and I have been returned to my proper timeline. Or have I? There’re odd happenings in a local bookshop and it’s up to me to figure out how to stop them *Original Dream Featuring IRL People*

Part 4 World War Winter (August 2019)

Nuclear Holocaust has occurred. The world is at war with the machines. As a soldier in the CAMP forces, I must leave everything I know behind and face down the android army. But, maybe there’s a familiar face or two in CAMP after all... *McMahon Family Dream* *VIOLENT*

Part 5 Of Queens and Kingdoms (August 2019)

The world is reset. AGAIN. This time, it’s me, Shane and Marissa in a new land where the middle ages and modern times are happening simultaneously and women are the dominant gender. And, somehow, I’m the bloody queen. *McMahon Family and WWE Universe Dream*

Part 6 Titans Reign (August 2019)

Having ascended to the throne and filling the royal court with WWE superstars, I must now find a way to rule over a land I barely know. Meanwhile, a sinister plot is brewing to put the patriarchy back in power. *McMahon Family and WWE Universe Dream*

SAGA That’s What Friends Are For

Part 1 Death of a Fangirl (and Birth of a Friend) (October 2019) [Only Published Story on List]

I find myself being given the chance to meet Shane. Unfortunately, my mental illness turns the dream into a nightmare and my life unravels. But don’t worry. Shane will save the day. He always does. *Shane O Mac Dream*

Part 2 With A Song In Her Heart (October 2019)

Shane has been ignoring my texts, so I hunt him down. My search finds me at a pride festival where a spontaneous song catches his attention a little too well. *Shane O Mac Dream*

Part 3 One Last Birthday to Celebrate (November 2019)

It’s Christmastime in Squirrel Hill. For some dumb reason, Shane McMahon has decided to visit me the day before his birthday. Naturally I surprise him with a present. The other surprise (getting caught in a domestic dispute) is far less pleasant. *Shane O Mac Dream* *VIOLENT*

Part 4 The Pink Rose (Not a Dream)

I survived the shooting. Waking up in a hospital, I find my mother and a room full of flowers from the WWE Superstars. But one flower, a lone pink rose, is unlabeled. Wanna take a wild guess who sent that one? *WWE Universe Story NOT Based on A Dream*

Part 5 Dreams and Demons (December 2019)

So, it seems that watching your friend nearly die in a hail of bullets isn’t the best for your mental health. At WrestleMania 37, Shane is presented with a choice. Me, or TV. Of course he chooses me, this is my dream, what other choice   would there be? *WWE Universe Dream*

[Are you starting to see why I never publish any of these. They are painfully bad self inserts and woefully self-indulgent. But they are also therapy, hence the writing]

SERIES   Trippy Shorts

Story 1 A Little Fall of Acid Rain (August 2019)

The world is ending – but only in NYC. I’m there. So are the McMahons. Destruction and danger abound. *McMahon Family Dream*

Story 2 I Know Who I Am (September 2019)

All of my favorites from TV, movies, music, and wrestling are turning up murdered. Each time, a cryptic message is left behind, written in blood. Can I figure out the connection before everyone I like is killed? *General Pop Culture Dream* *EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND DISTURBING*

Story 3 Fixed Points and Fixed Pairings [An Unfinished Symphony] (September 2019)

One night, outside the bar, I am approached by an older version of myself. She brings a time machine and a mission – go back to the attitude era and change time so Shane remains the heir apparent. But some people are just meant to be together, and others just refuse to listen – even to an angel from the future. *WWE Universe Dream*

Story 4 A Song of Summer [A Snapshot] (October 2019)

As an Agent of SHIELD, it doesn’t take a genius to see that Black Widow and Hawkeye are in love. So, through the power of music, I decide to try and hook them up. *MCU Dream*

Story 5 Journeys Beginning [A Snapshot] (December 2019)

One day at school, I find myself amid an alien incursion. But don’t worry, the Doctor is on the case. Also, Shane is involved because of course he is. *Shane O Mac and Doctor Who Dream*

Story 6 Arson, Murder, and Revolution (January 2020)

At a Hollywood LGBTQ party, I find myself caught in a plot by the Trump administration to commit mass murder. When it goes awry, revolution stirs and it’s up to me and several other progressive celebrities to light the fuse *General Pop Culture Dream* *VIOLENT*

[See, they aren’t all about Shane. Just... most of them]

STAND ALONE STORIES

Once Upon a Dream (August 2019)

I black out drunk in an alley one night and awake to find myself in a dream. It’s 1990 and I’m somehow a middle-aged black woman. Also sharing the dream is a young and angry Shane McMahon. Together we use the circumstances of the dream to fuck shit up for the NYPD. *Shane O Mac Dream* *VIOLENT*

The Many Deaths of a Tabhead (August 2019)

Five years after getting hooked on a new drug called Tabs, I find myself in an endless loop of getting murdered. The only way out is to survive. Too bad I have no memory, and everyone wants me dead *Original Story Featuring IRL People* *VIOLENT AND DISTURBING*

Champion of the Faerie Queen (December 2019)

Did you know that Marissa McMahon is the Faerie Queen and Shane is her consort? Neither did I. And, it seems, when war comes a calling, it’s up to me to save the McMahons and the country. But I’ve got superpowers now, so that helps. *McMahon Family, MCU, and DC Universe Dream*

To Earthquakes, Lovers, and Newfound Friends (May 2020)

In lovely SoCal, I’m watching a movie when an earthquake strikes. I soon find myself both blind and badly burned. The only hope I have to survive is a certain pair of lovers who just happen to be in the area for some R&R. *Zowens Dream*

Penny and Kicks vs The World (June 2020)

As a longtime WWE employee, I’ve been best friends with Shane for years. But in the fallout of Coronavirus, the public is looking for a scapegoat. Vince is more than happy to offer up my father. Now, the entire wrestling world is in turmoil and Shane and I are just trying to weather the storm. *WWE Universe Dream* *VIOLENT*

Virginia Gothic (October 2019)

In a world where my highschool sweetheart and I never broke up, we must forge a path on our own through hardship and rejection. But what is the meaning of the mysterious Jesus statue? And why is Bacchus being so damn shifty? *Original Dream Featuring IRL People*

Uzil (January 2020)

An mystical being from the horsehead nebula takes up residence in a little boy’s guinea pig. The miracles come quickly and soon they are inseparable. *Original Third Person Dream* (I wasn’t in this one)

The E-Manual (February 2020)

The end of days is drawing near. I have been chosen as a prophet of the end times by the Almighty himself. I must go out into the world armed with only scripture and a mystical magazine, trying to convert as many people as possible before time runs out. *A Mostly Original Dream* (Shane’s in the last two pages)

Seraphina and the Seven Wishes (April 2020)

The world is a video game and the McMahon’s are the Addams family. It only gets weirder from there. *McMahon Family Dream*

A Matter of Science (And Opinion) (May 2020)

I accidentally set fire to my apartment during a spell. I’m promptly arrested and call The Doctor as my defense. Sadly, the call is rerouted to Stormcage and SpongeBob SquarePants ends up on the case instead. This one is every bit as absurd as it sounds. *Doctor Who and SpongeBob SquarePants Dream*

A Revolution In This Century (Enter Me) (November 2019) The year is 2027. Climate Change has decimated the globe and revolution has reduced the Ruling Elite to food reserves. However, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and soon the new ruling poor become as ruthless as the 1% had been. In this horrible dystopia, I am a powerful government official who has taken on the McMahons as consorts for the sole purpose of saving their skins. *McMahon Family Dream* *VIOLENT, DISTURBING, AND A BIT SMUTTY*

Crystal Vision – A Dozen Birthdays (December 2019)

After showing kindness to an enchantress, I am given my hearts greatest desire – a place in Shane’s life. I am sent back in time to 2005 as a WWE Makeup tech and given 12 years in the life of my childhood heroes. But a lot happened in the WWE from 2005 to 2017 and not all of it good. How much can and do I dare change? *WWE Universe Dream* *Painfully NKC. Disturbing subject matter involved because 2007 is a thing.*

Dr. Slime and the Wondernerds (August 2019)

Three high school nerds find themselves in possession of a mysterious green substance. When it explodes during an experiment, they find they have been given superpowers. However, this is the real world and super-powered “freaks” get picked apart, not celebrated. Can the teens resist using their powers? *Original Third Person Dream* (I’m not in this one)

Planeswalking Like A Grecian (October 2019)

After death, Xena finds herself on the Astral Plane. Promptly running into Joxer, they must find a way to survive the dangers of the afterlife. But don’t worry. Gabrielle has a plan. *Xenaverse Dream* (I’m not in this one)

The Foresight Curse (June 2020)

The problem with knowing the future is that you usually don’t have the ability to change it. So when Radar O’Reilly realizes Henry’s fate the day before it happens, he has to spend the next day trying to drown out the feelings of dread and sorrow, if only for the Colonel’s sake. Funny thing though, sometimes fate takes a left turn and you get a second chance to say goodbye. *M*A*S*H Universe Dream* (I’m not in this one) Vampires, Wraiths, and Shades, Oh My! (December 2019)

In the middle ages, I am orphaned at a very young age by vampires and taken in by Vampire Hunters (AU Shane and Stephanie). Now a teenager, I fight alongside them to protect the world from the dangers of the night. *McMahon Family Vampire AU Dream*

WHEW! I’m pretty sure that’s all of them! I have so dang many dreams it’s hard to keep track of them all! Anyway, out of all of these, only a handful are finished, ONE is published (Death of a Fangirl) and a ton of them aren’t far past the sketch stage. So, this is my list. Every story on here I at least have sketched out. I doubt I will ever even bother writing many of these, but the intent is present.

All hail the Coral Queen and FOLLOW! Laura @lauradoesmyhair @lauradoesmyhair @lauradoesmyhair . . . . . Reposted from @lauradoesmyhair (@get_regrann) - Coral Queen on ⁣ @stormymarz ⁣ ⁣ Pantone Color of the year is coral and I’m obsessed with Marissas perfectly icy blonde next to this neon orange coral 🧡 ⁣ Formula Below 👇🏻⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Used @trionicshaircare Lift Thru with my lightening powder and @olaplex ⁣ ⁣ Color was @pulpriothair Lava on her root, her blonde is mercury + clear + 1 drop lilac 🧡⁣ Styled with @unite_hair boosta and texturiza and waved with my @stylecraftus flat iron 🖤🙌🏻 ⁣ #lauradoesmyhair @lauradoesmyhair ⁣ (at Halo Salon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B613VfYJikG/?igshid=1ebse1370cxml

“We made this family all on our own little stars that won’t be lost and always have a way home.”

@thebrokentoys1

4.5/5

“Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

Heartless by Marissa Meyer tells the backstory of the Queen of Hearts from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Before the Queen became known for her phrase “Off with your head”, she was known for her love of baking. Catherine Pinkerton was the only daughter of the Marques of Rock Turtle Cove. Her parents wished nothing more than to have Cath become the Queen of the Kingdom of Hearts, but Cath would rather open a bakery with her best friend and maid Mary Ann. At the King’s annual black and white ball Cath is enthralled by the new royal Joker. When the King attempts to announce his plans to propose to Cath, Cheshire makes a convenient distraction so that Cath can escape. Overcome by anxiety and slight suffocation from her corset, Cath faints and it revived by none other than the Joker himself. The Joker, Jest, and Cath innocently flirt and engage in witty banter before he helps her hail a carriage to take her home. For the rest of the evening all that Cath can think about is Jest, until her parents return from the ball and tell Cath about the Jabberwock attack.

The King is more preoccupied with courting Cath than he is with finding a solution to the Jabberwock problem. Cath doesn’t want to ruin her family’s reputation by turning the King down, but she can’t get her mind off of Jest. Jest gives Cath a chance to experience life away from duty and obligation. Just reveals to Cath what he is really doing in Hearts. Jest is a Rook from the land of Chess, sent by the White King to obtain a Queen’s heart in order to end the war between the Red and White Kingdoms. Now that Jest has developed feelings for Cath he can’t go through with allowing her to becoming Queen so that he may steal her heart. Cath tells him that when the King proposes, she will say no and that they will find a way to be together. When Cath is injured in an encounter with the Jabberwock, Jest magically wisks her off to be healed, but her friends and family believe him to have stolen her away. When Jest brings Cath back home, he is declared a fugitive and Cath’s hopes of her parents ever approving of Jest are destroyed before her very eyes.

Cath knows that the only way that she can be with Jest and have the future she wants is if the two run away together. Jest tells Cath that any Pawn in Chess that makes it through enemy territory and that can defeat the Red Queen will win the mantle of White Queen. When the war is over the actual White Queen can resume her place, and Cath can be free to have her bakery and to be with Jest. Hatta the Hatter, messenger for the White King and long-time friend of Jest, helps Cath make her way to Chess. First, they must gain access from the Sisters who live in the treacle well. Each of the three Sisters requires a payment, something that the individual paying the tithe has no use for, and then the patron will be allowed to pass. A raven’s feather, Jest’s bells, and five minutes of Hatta’s time are given to the Sisters, who also provide a parting prophecy. They state that the four travelers, Jest and his companion Raven, Cath, and Hatta will meet their fates as martyr, murderer, monarch, and mad if they pass through any doors. Their message becomes clear when Hatta leads the travelers to a crossroads full of doors. The entrance to Chess proves to be a looking glass, but before they can pass through Cath hears a scream coming from one of the doors. Cath looks through one of the doors and sees Mary Ann trapped inside of a giant pumpkin.

Against Hatta’s warnings, Cath passes through the door and rushes off to free Mary Ann. Peter Peter the pumpkin farmer had trapped her, intending on feeding her to his wife, the Jabberwock. Raven manages to free Mary Ann and Cath slays the Jabberwock. In retaliation for his wife’s death, Peter Peter uses an axe to execute Jest before rushing off to avoid the consequences of his actions. With Jest’s death, the Sister’s prophecy begins to come true. Hatta drags Cath back home, where she rages and begs for Jest to be brough back. The Sisters appear and offer Cath a trade. They cannot bring Jest back, but they can ensure that Cath has vengeance upon Peter Peter. In exchange, the Sisters want the Queen’s heart that Jest had originally meant to steal.

To complete her end of the bargain, Cath marries the King and become the Queen of Hearts, a position she never wanted, but now intends to have work in her favor. The Sisters bring Peter Peter before the King, Queen, and a jury to determine his guilt. The Sisters take Cath’s heart, which she no longer has need of, and she feels nothing but unending rage and vengeance. The bumbling jury finds Peter Peter to be innocent, but Cath uses her power as the Queen to order his execution anyway. Raven, once a Rook and executioner to the White throne, agrees to serve as Cath’s executioner and get his own vengeance on the man that killed his companion. Jest met his end as a martyr, Cath became a monarch, and Raven agreed to a lifetime of murder, but what about Hatta. Hatta spent years traveling between Hearts and Chess in an attempt to outrun Time and the impending madness that had taken his father and grandfather before him. When Cath steps into Hatta’s shop she can immediately tell that something is wrong. Gone are the vibrant guests and jovial atmosphere. Hatta, the sole attendant of his tea party, sits surrounded by his hats and mourns his friend. It is in this mourning that madness finally catches up with Hatta, and the Sister’s prophecy is fulfilled.  

Full disclosure, I am a huge Alice in Wonderland fan and have been for a very long time. I started the book with high expectations given the subject matter, and I was not disappointed. The style in which Meyer writes the novel is reminiscent of Carroll’s original tale, which gives the story a kind of authenticity. It is as if the story really is a part of the original version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I had several reasons to be skeptical about this book. First, I tend to not like stand-alone novels as much as those in a series. I always feel like I am not given enough time to be emotionally invested in the characters, and that the story is not as well developed because it is limited to one book. Second, I always feel like novels meant to provide a background story or justification for a villainous character are trying too hard. They over emphasize past traumas or use superficial situations to justify the future actions of the villainous character. Luckily, neither of these issues were present with Heartless. The story and characters were well developed and the forbidden romance between Cath and Jest is provided with enough attention that it doesn’t feel forced. Though I was already “familiar” with some of the characters (ie. The Hatter, White Rabbit, etc) which made it easier for me to take interest in them, the actual emotional connection felt is related to Meyer’s new characters, which shows just how good her writing really is. My apprehension regarding Heartless being the backstory for the Queen of Hearts was partially due to how Meyer handled Levana’s origin story in Fairest. Fairest felt like a book of half-hearted excuses for Levana’s tyranny, but Heartless did not fall into the same traps. The reader truly comes to like Cath and to want to see her have her happy ending. As you are reading Heartless it is easy to forget that Cath will eventually become the villain we all love to hate.

Meyer did an exceptional job bringing her version of Wonderland to life. Her novel is unique while also paying homage to the original style of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Part romance, part fantasy, and part nonsense, Heartless is an engaging and enjoyable read. I highly recommend this novel to fans of Alice in Wonderland, those who enjoy retellings of traditional fairytales, and to those who are alright with not getting a happy ending.

A - C | D - H | I - L | M - O | P - R | S - Z | Recent

Reviews are alphabetical by author and then by title.

Maas, Sarah J. - A Court of Frost & Starlight - A Court of Mist & Fury - A ​Court of Silver Flames - A Court of Thorns & Roses - A Court of Wings & Ruin - House of Earth and Blood - House of Sky and Breath

MacDonald, George - The Princess & Curdie - The Princess & The Goblin

Machado, Carmen Maria - Her Body & Other Parties

Macmillan, Gilly - What She Knew

Mafi, Tahereh - Ignite Me - Shatter Me - Unite Me - Unravel Me - A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Malerman, Josh - Bird Box - Malorie

Mandel, David - Hail Hydra

Mandel, Emily St. John - Station Eleven

Marney, Ellie - None Shall Sleep

Marsh, Sarah Glenn - Reign of the Fallen

Marshall, Kate Alice - Our Last Echoes - Rules for Vanishing

Martin, T. Michael - The End Games

Martinez, A. Lee - Gil's All Fright Diner

Mastai, Elan - All Our Wrong Todays

Matheson, Richard - I Am Legend

Mathieu, Jennifer - Moxie

Mbalia, Kwame - Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

McCafferty, Megan - The Mall

McCann, Alexandra - Angels Can’t Swim

McCauley, Kyrie - All the Dead Lie Down

McGuire, Seanan - Across the Green Grass Fields - Angel of the Overpass - Beneath the Sugar Sky - Come Tumbling Down - Down Among the Sticks & Bones - Every Heart a Doorway - The Girl in the Green Silk Gown - In An Absent Dream - Laughter at the Academy - A Local Habitation - Lost in the Moment and Found - Middlegame - Rosemary & Rue - Seasonal Fears - Sparrow Hill Road - Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1: Spider-Geddon - Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider, Vol. 2: Impossible Year - Where the Drowned Girls Go

McKay, Kirsty - The Assassin Game

McKinley, Robin - Sunshine

McLelland, Brad - The Crooked Door

McManus, Karen M. - One of Us Is Back - One of Us Is Lying - One of Us Is Next - Two Can Keep a Secret - You’ll Be the Death of Me

McQuiston, Casey - Red, White & Royal Blue

Means Coleman, Robin R. - The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar

Mele, Dana - People Like Us - Summer’s Edge

Meyer, Marissa - Cinder - Cress - Fairest - Heartless - Scarlet - Stars Above - Winter

Meyer, Stephenie - Life & Death: Twilight Reimagined - Midnight Sun - The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Miller, Linsey - Mask of Shadows - Ruin of Stars

Miller, Madeline - The Song of Achilles

Moreno-Garcia, Silvia - Mexican Gothic

Morgenstern, Erin - The Night Circus

Morgyn, Ava - Resurrection Girls

Murphy, Julie - Dumplin’ - A Merry Little Meet Cute - Puddin' - Pumpkin - Ramona Blue

Murphy, Monica - Just Friends - One Night - Pretty Dead Girls

Myracle, Lauren - Let it Snow

Nachampassack-Maloney, Mandy - Surviving Tiger Lily

Nafisi, Azar - Reading Lolita in Tehran

Nelson, Jandy - I'll Give You The Sun

Ness, Patrick - A Monster Calls

Nicole, L.H. - Legendary

Nijkamp, Marieke - Before I Let Go - Even If We Break

Niven, Jennifer - All The Bright Places

Nix, Garth - Sabriel

North, Alex - The Whisper Man

Oakes, Colleen - Blood of Wonderland - Queen of Hearts - War of the Cards

Oakes, Stephanie - The Arsonist

O'Farrell, Maggie - I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes With Death

Okorafor, Nnedi - Binti - Home - The Night Masquerade

Oliver, Lauren - Before I Fall

Olsen, Lance - Theories of Forgetting

Ormsbee, Kathryn - Tash Hearts Tolstoy

Oseman, Alice - Radio Silence

Owens, Delia - Where the Crawdads Sing

January Doodles!

Albums in Stores – Sep. 28th, 2018

Today sees new releases from Hippo Campus, Restorations, and Anti-Flag. If you hit read more you can see all the releases we have in our calendar for the week. Hit the quote bubble to access our forums and talk about what came out today, what albums you picked up, and to make mention of anything we may have missed. Against the Current – Past Lives Alt-J – Reduxer Amber Arcades – European Heartbreak Amy Ray – Holler Anti-Flag – American Reckoning Bayside – Acoustic Volume 2 Beartooth – Disease Cher – Dancing Queen Cypress Hill – Elephants On Acid Dillon Francis – Wut Wut Gouge Away – Burnt Sugar GØGGS – Pre Strike Sweep Hail The Sun – Mental Knife Hippo Campus – Bambi Lala Lala – The Lamb Lil Wayne – Tha Carter V Logic – Young Sinatra IV Loretta Lynn – Wouldn’t It Be Great Lupe Fiasco – Drogas Wave Marissa Nadler – For My Crimes Mudhoney – Digital Garbage New Mexican – Take It On Our Shoulders Reason – There You Have It Restorations – LP5000 Riverside – Wasteland Rod Stewart – Blood Red Roses Roosevelt – Young Romance SOB X RBE – Gangin II Sam Phillips – World on Sticks Terror – Total Retaliation The Black Lillies – Stranger To Me The Joy Formidable – AAARTH Tim Hecker – Konoyo Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – An American Treasure Tony Joe White – Bad Mouthin’ Well Wisher – This is Fine --- Please consider supporting us so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/albums-in-stores-today/albums-in-stores-sep-28th-2018/

Book Club Picks - Spring 2018

My book club is on hiatus at the moment so I've just been reliving the HP series via audiobook lately, but that doesn't mean I'm not continually adding to my list of books that I want to read with my two buddies once we get back going again. I thought I'd share my last 10 additions to the list with you all. Just FYI, the descriptions below are from GoodReads.

Annhilation  by Jeff Vandermeer: Area X has been cut off from the rest of the continent for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of a pristine, Edenic landscape; all the members of the second expedition committed suicide; the third expedition died in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another; the members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within months of their return, all had died of aggressive cancer. This is the twelfth expedition. Their group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain and collect specimens; to record all their observations, scientific and otherwise, of their surroundings and of one another; and, above all, to avoid being contaminated by Area X itself. They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers—they discover a massive topographic anomaly and life forms that surpass understanding—but it’s the surprises that came across the border with them, and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another, that change everything.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton: Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful. But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision.  With the future of Orléans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.

The Red Sister by Mark Lawrence: At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist. But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse. Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer: The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies — humans with extraordinary abilities — who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone... except the villains they once overthrew. Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice — and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both

War Cross by Marie Lu: For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation. Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore: The incredible true story of the women who fought America's Undark danger. The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War. Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive — until they begin to fall mysteriously ill. But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come. Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

Wicked Wonders by Ellen Klages: Inside of these critically-acclaimed tales are memorable characters who are smart, subversive, and singular. A rebellious child identifies with wicked Maleficent instead of Sleeping Beauty. Best friends Anna and Corry share a last melancholy morning before emigration to another planet. A prep-school girl requires more than mere luck to win at dice with a faerie. Ladies who lunch keeping dividing that one last bite of dessert in the paradox of female politeness.  Whether on a habitat on Mars or in a boardinghouse in London, discover Ellen Klages' wicked, wondrous adventures full of brazenness, wit, empathy, and courage.

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman: In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, stubbornly, is a troublemaker. You can't make a scene at your sister's wedding and break a relative's nose with one punch (no matter how pompous he is) and not suffer the consequences. As her family plans to send her to a nunnery, Tess yanks on her boots and sets out on a journey across the Southlands, alone and pretending to be a boy. Where Tess is headed is a mystery, even to her. So when she runs into an old friend, it's a stroke of luck. This friend is a quigutl--a subspecies of dragon--who gives her both a purpose and protection on the road. But Tess is guarding a troubling secret. Her tumultuous past is a heavy burden to carry, and the memories she's tried to forget threaten to expose her to the world in more ways than one.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is meticulously planned – from the layout of the winding roads, to the colours of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother – who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the alluring mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past, and a disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community. When the Richardsons' friends attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town and puts Mia and Mrs. Richardson on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Mrs. Richardson becomes determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs to her own family – and Mia's.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi: Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.  But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now, Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.  Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for the enemy.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Also, let me know what you (and your book club, if you are in one) are reading these days in the comment section!

Hey Guys!

Today I am going to be talking about my favourite reads from last year. I made this post last January about my favourites from 2016 and I love that post. I love going back and looking over it and seeing what I thought about a book when it was still fresh to me and it really makes me remember some books that I had kind of forgotten how much I love. So I have decided to make it a yearly post. 2017 was an amazing reading year for me. I read over 100 books and over 30 of those were 5 star reads. There were very few books that I read last year that I rated 3 stars or lower. I loved so much of what I read. this means that narrowing this list down was quite hard, but I eventually did it. most of these aren’t in an order of preference, except number 1. That was my favourite read last year and is one of my all-time favourites now. Also, I cheated slightly and included full trilogies and series as one, not multiple. But, this is the longest intro ever, so let’s get to the actual post.

Shades Of Magic by V E Schwab

This is one of my all-time favourite trilogies. This multi-verse trilogy puts a whole new spin on the magical universe. It is fast paced and dark, sexy and funny, and full of incredible characters. You follow a magician called Kell as he finds himself on a deadly adventure with an unlikely ally in the form of a young cut-throat called Lila. You cannot help but love this trilogy. It keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. This is one of the best magic based stories that I have read in a long time.

A Court Of Thorns And Roses Trilogy by Sarah J Maas

This (admittedly loose) Beauty And The Beast retelling is one of my favourite books that I have read this year. It is fast paced, action filled and so interesting. I couldn’t put it down. In this story you watch teenager Feyre trade her freedom for the lives of her family. Forced to leave her human life behind her, she is taken to Prythian, the fairy world. While there she discovers the secrets of the world, makes friends and slowly falls in love. This is a brilliant story. It is so gripping; I couldn’t put it down. (and that is just the first book!). If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to.

Heroes Of Olympus by Rick Riordan

I know that I have mentioned this series in a previous reads post, but it needs to be in this one as well. This series is amazing. It follows on from the original Percy Jackson books but has a whole host of new characters and a completely new storyline. I would go as far as to say it is better than the original series. It is darker and more complex. The story follows the group as they battle their way across the world trying to unite their friends and prevent the goddess Gia from waking and destroying the world. This series is absolutely incredible; you will want to marathon the books. It is the perfect series to escape into.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

This book is essentially the YA equivalent of The Night Circus. It is beautiful, magical, imaginative and quiet dark. The story follows sisters Scarlet and Tella as they venture into the game of Caraval, looking for an escape from their abusive father and dead end lives. They are thrown into a world of deception, mystery, love and joy. This is one of those stories that you will instantly fall in love with. It will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time, you never know what way that it is going to twist next. You never know what is real, and what isn’t. I truly love this book.

A Monster Calls Patrick Ness

This is a stunningly beautiful book. It is essentially a contemporary story, but with a fantasy, supernatural twist running through it. In this book you follow teenager Conor as he deals with all the emotions and struggles of his mother’s illness. When he is visited by a monster, you learn some very important life lessons with him. This book is absolutely incredible. You will sob uncontrollably but you won’t care. As soon as you start reading it, you won’t want to put it down. It is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter day.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

if you are only going to read one book this year, it needs to be this one. This incredible YA contemporary follows 16-year-old Starr as she witnesses her best friend get murdered by a cop, and the aftermath of this event. The whole book is themed around the black lives matter movement and is such an important read. But not only is a topic that we all need to focus on and tackle more, the book itself is incredible. You are instantly so connected to the characters and you want justice for them. Honestly, everybody needs to read this book.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I freaking love this book. Generally speaking, I am not a massive fan of classics, but I adored this book. I had been wanting to read it for about five years and finally, after seeing the film, I decided to give it a go and I am so glad that I did. This is the ultimate story of consequences and depravity and it is just amazing. If you haven’t read this, you need to.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

You need to read this book. Follow 16-year-old Vivian through most of the junior year at East Rockport High. At this very corrupted school, the football team are hailed as gods, allowed to do as they please with no repercussions, not even by teachers. Viv has had enough of ‘make me a sandwich’ comments, strictly enforced dress codes that only target girls, being grouped in hallways and all the other stuff that is going on at her school. So, taking inspiration from her ex rebel mother, she starts a zine called Moxie and triggers a revolution. This is a brilliant book. It explores feminism and girl’s rights and the idea that one girl can cause a change. I read this in just one sitting. It is brilliant. Everyone needs to read it.

Spellslinger by Sebastien De Castell

welcome to a world of magic and tricks. This is the first book in a new fantasy series and it is incredible. It has instantly become one of my all-time favourite books. In Spellslinger you follow 15-year-old Kellen as he navigates his way through a world where magic is everything. But he has an issue, his is disappearing. You follow him as he tries to uncover the secrets of his magic, untangle a web of lies surrounding him and try to survive long enough to save his sister. This is a fast paced, adrenaline fuelled book that will leave you itching for the next one. A must read for any fantasy lover.

The Upside Of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

This is hands down the best contemporary that I have read in ages. This story follows 17-year-old Molly over the course of one unforgettable summer. She is the girl who has had 26 crushes, but never done anything about it. this story follows her as she develops crush 27, makes new friends and generally starts to discover who she is. This is a beautiful story full of brilliant characters, and realistic storylines. I have never related to a story as much as I did this one. It is sweet and funny and so good. It is the perfect summer read.

Wilde Like Me by Louise Pentland

When you read this book, you will fall in love with Robin Wilde. This brilliant debut follows 20 something, single mum Robin over a year of her life. You see her deal with everything from mummy issues to dating and the book even touches on elements of mild depression. This book is sweet and funny, daring and brilliant. It has highs and lows and many funny moments. I read this in just two days, it was such a good book and I cannot wait for the next one. It is the perfect summer read.

Maze Runner by James Dashner

This is a truly brilliant trilogy. You follow 16-year-old Thomas as he is thrown into a terrifying world of lies, fear and monsters. With no memories of his old life, you discover and learn about the world alongside him and end up really rooting for him. These are the type of books that you are instantly sucked into and don’t want to put down. There is constantly so much going on. Fighting, adventure, mystery, friendship, drama and so much more. If you want a series that you can really get into, then this is the trilogy for you.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This is the story of a 17-year-old girl’s suicide. After Hannah takes her own life, tapes suddenly start arriving on her classmate’s doorsteps, on them, Hannah’s reasons for ending her life. Throughout this book you see how people’s actions have consequences, how everything is all linked together and entwined. And how everything can snowball. This is a heart-breaking story and is well worth a read. You will laugh and cry and really connect with the characters. I do suggest listening to this one, is because of the format of the book. The book is told from Clay’s (one of the people who has received the tapes) POV but is primarily Hannah speaking. The audiobook is read by Debra Wiseman and Joel Johnstone who each take a POV. This just makes the story a lot easier to follow and much more enjoyable. There is also something about listening to this that just feels right. Plus, they are both amazing actors who really help to bring the story to life and to connect you to the characters. But however you read it, this is one of those books that you just cannot put down.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

I love this book. It is the best Wonderland retelling that I have found so far. In this story you follow Kath, the future Queen of Hearts, as she discovers who she is and who she wants to be. You watch her fall in love with someone she can’t ever have and discover how she became so heartless. This is a really fun, all be it, mildly devastating, story full of love and friendship, cute couples and a lot of whimsy. I would highly recommend the audiobook for this one as it really makes the book.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stievater

Welcome to the paranormal world. This is the first book in a four-part series that follows a group of friends as they try to find and wake a long dead, and lost, welsh king. The story revolves around ghosts and lay lines, magic and psychics. It is a stunning book and is well worth a read. the writing is almost lyrical, the characters are brilliant and the storylines are so interesting. I cannot wait to continue with the series.

Wonder by R J Palacio

Welcome to the book that will make you think like an 11-year-old again. This book is a contemporary middle grade story about a young boy with serve facial disfigurement. You follow Auggie as he goes to school for the first time. The story is set over the first year of middle school and is told from multiple perspectives. You get chunks of the story from different people. From Auggie himself, to his sister, friends and even his sister’s boyfriend. Each character tells the whole story from their perspective, but also progresses the story. This is a truly stunning book that leaves you with so many feelings. It contains some very important life messages and is a book that everyone needs to read in their lifetime.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

This is one of my favourite contemporaries that I have read this year. It follows 18-year-old Cath, an avid fanfiction writer, as she navigates her way through her first year of college. this book is full of brilliant characters, amazing relationships and complex storylines. You cannot help but fall in love with the characters and the storyline. It is sweet and funny, but also sad and so relatable. This story was so much more complex then I was expecting and I ended up really enjoying it.

Mortal Instruments + Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

this is without a doubt one of the best YA fantasy series, ever. It is full of adventure and drama, mystery and love, creatures and friendship. This is one of those series that that will always have you on the edge f your seat. You will want to read them all back to back. The series follows teenager Clary as she uncovers who she really is and is thrown head-first into the world of Shadowhunter’s and Downworlders. With amazing storylines, interesting characters, endless twists and a sprinkling of humour, this is the perfect series to curl up with and lose yourself in.

Have you ever wondered about Magnus Bane’s life? Then this is the book for you. This is a novella bind up centred around him. every story is from his point of view and it is amazing. You get so many little glimpses into his past, from meeting the formation of the accords to his first date with Alec. this book has it all. This is a must read for any fan of the Shadowhunter world.

Lockwood And Co by Jonathan Stroud

This is a middle grade series, which I would never give to a middle grader. The Lockwood & Co series focuses around a ghost hunting, private investigator agency. The series is set in a universe where ghost freely wonder the streets at night and it is up to children/teenagers (the only people that can actively see them) to hunt them and take them down. The books follow a specific agency ‘Lockwood & Co’ on their adventures. These books sound light-hearted, but they aren’t. Yes, there are a lot funny moments, but there are also lots of scary and disturbing ones as well. For instance, there is a moment in the first book with a bleeding room and a well were monks were buried alive. Definitely not a book I would give to anyone under 16, but it is a very good read. perfect for Halloween.

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

This is a stunning YA contemporary that follows two teenagers, Maggie and West, as they both struggle to come to terms with losing a parent. The pair connect over their joint experiences and slowly fall for each other. This is a beautiful story about loss and love, friendship and trust, and the idea that no two people experience the same thing, in the same way. It is honestly such a good book. It is beautifully written and you will instantly fall in love with the characters and the story. It is the first in a series of companion novels titled ‘The Field Party’ and they are well worth a read.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

This book is the first in the DC Icons series and features, surprisingly, around Wonder Woman. Well, around Diana, before she was Wonder Woman. You follow her as she helps to save the world for the first time. This book was amazing. It was fast paced and action packed but also really relatable and complex. I loved every second of it. although the actual story is set in the summer time, it is the perfect read for this time of year. I honestly read this in one sitting, I just could not put it down.

Vicious by V E Schwab

What makes a villain? Read this book and find out. this story follows Victor and Eli, as they try to uncover the secrets of EO’s (extra ordinaries). This is a story about friendship and betrayal, good and evil, heroes and villains. This book has serious X-Men vibes. It boasts complex characters, a storyline that you have to slowly unravel and a completely unique plot. This is the perfect book to sink your teeth into during that autumn time.

The Scarecrow Queen by Melinda Sailsbury

Welcome to an epic fantasy trilogy. These books follow a pair of teenage of girls, Twylla and Errin, who live in a very different world to ours. This is a world where myths are real and they are coming to get you. You follow the girls as they discover truths and watch their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. These books twist and turn, you never know what is coming next. There is mystery, drama, murder, betrayal and love. Everything that you could possibly want in a story. As soon as you finish one book, you will instantly want to pick up the next. They really are books to sink your teeth into.

Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns is the perfect spring contemporary. Set in May, follow Q and his friends as they try to unravel the mystery that is Margo and find out where she has gone. This is a brilliant story about love, isolations, friendship and adventure. You can’t help but fall in love with it. It is sweet and funny but also dark and it tackles some serious topics. It is one of those books that you want to read in one sitting. It is perfect to curl up with during spring and just lose yourself in.

Shadow And Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I got through this book in basically one sitting. This story follows Alina as her world implodes and she is thrown into the world of Grisha’s. as her world is turned upside down she is in a race against time to learn to control her new power and uncover the truth of her new world. This is a brilliant story and I am really looking forward to continuing the series. The world is so interesting. It is truly a book that you can be fully absorbed into.

And those are my favourite reads from 2017! I loved so many books last year, it was a really amazing reading year for me. If you would like to know everything else that I read last year or my bookish goals for 2018, I put a post up last week talking all about it. I will link it below. What did you read last year? what were your favourites? Did any of mine make your list? I hope that you have enjoyed todays post and I will see you all again soon.

My Top 25 Reads Of 2017 Hey Guys! Today I am going to be talking about my favourite reads from last year. I made this post last January about my favourites from 2016 and I love that post.

Best Happy Hour Spots In Capitol Hill

One of the most popular of the bunch is a drink known as The Bloody Mary, a cocktail that includes vodka, tomato juice, a variety of spices, lemon, and other garnishes. It’s a very popular drink worldwide, and it’s no surprise that people who visited name of the drink are rumored to have come from two different possible origins. One of these is a waitress named Mary who worked at a Chicago bar called the Bucket of Blood, and the other is that it came from the difficulties of pronouncing the name of a drink, which was called Vladimir. The latter is believed to be more on-point because Fernand Petiot served up a Bloody Mary to Vladimir Smirnov, a member of the Smirnoff vodka family. Some people also believe that it was named after Queen Mary I of England.t the southern border of Alabama love it all the same. KEVIN LIU has given information on The Bloody Mary: The History and Science of an Oddball Classic.

While most classic cocktails gather on the same baseball diamond of normalcy, the Bloody Mary is somewhere outside of left field, halfway between the concession stands and the parking lot. And yet no one would deny its status as a classic enjoyed by casual brunch-goers and cocktail aficionados alike. Serious Eats

The Bloody Mary is hailed as a Hair of the Dog drink because it contains vegetable juices and other spices and salts, which provide the body with nutrients and electrolytes to replenish what is lost from a night of drinking. If you happen to be enjoying yourself in Orange Beach, you may want to stop at a bar and have yourself a delicious glass of Bloody Mary. Check this site about best happy hour Capitol Hill . Preparing for a party can often be daunting. You are trying to make everything perfect so that everyone can enjoy themselves. This means buying all of the right party favors as well as inviting all of the right people to show up. One of the biggest considerations which people take for granted is the drinks they will serve. They buy some wines and a case of beer and think this is acceptable. The Admin of liquor.com has said about THE BLOODY MARY.

The Bloody Mary is arguably the most famous brunch cocktail recipe. While its origins are often debated, the most commonly accepted history holds that it was invented by Fernand “Pete” Petiot at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris during the early 1920’s. The Bloody Mary—in its most basic form a combination of tomato juice and vodka—is easy to make and allows for an infinite number of variations. Liquor

In considering your non-alcoholic drinking guests, it is a good idea to find a cocktail which many people will find interesting and appeal at the same time. You will find this combination in the right Bloody Mary creation. The balance can be found between sweet and earthy with just the right amount of fire to bring everything together. This is a perfect drink for those who want something different, but do not exactly want to have a soda or a juice. Your guests will thank you for the trouble you go through. One of the great things about all of your research is your ability to share your discovery with all of your party guests. Those who prefer not to drink alcohol will appreciate the trouble you have gone to. You are sure to enjoy not only the look on their faces when they take a sip. You will be able to enjoy the Bloody Mary drink yourself. For your guests who do prefer to drink alcohol, they may find themselves putting down their wine and picking up the nonalcoholic drink instead. Marissa Fessenden told us about The History of the Bloody Mary Meat Straw.

The best cocktails come with stories and the Bloody Mary, or the closely related Caesar for Canadians is no exception. However, the best stories about this drink may involve the garnishes that accompany it. Traditionally, a Bloody Mary is served with a celery stalk and perhaps a green olive or pickle. Smith Sonia NMAG

Watch this video for more information about Bloody Mary:

February Doodles!

September Doodles!