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realife-mermaid · 3 years

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Reading Log for May/June

We are GETTING INTO THIS SHIT lmao I was behind in my goodreads goal and slacking on some of my reading goals so I tried to read more for May and June. Here is that effort, I think I did a fantastic job, and also I read a lot of books that I fOcking LOVED which was a nice change from the “mostly eh” pattern I’ve been stuck in.

I also bought a bunch of books (mostly starring queer and/or characters of color bc I realized my books feature way too many cishets) then inventoried all my books and redid my counts. And in June I ONLY read queer books as a “this is a gays only event go home!” power move on all the heterosexuals currently on my bookshelves. Can’t let those dudes get too cocky, they gotta know they’re on a Bisexual Bookshelf and they can’t be embarrassing me. So books 7 on are all queer in some way, and most of them were written by queer authors as well.

New Total Books Count: 184

New Unread Books Count: 94

Goodreads Goal: 49

This Place: 150 Years Retold Anthology - 3.5 stars. Eh. To be honest the summary was really misleading. I thought it would be more post apocalyptic takes on colonialism but instead it was mostly just straight history. Some of them did not have enough story for the pages they got and some of them had far too much story for the pages they got, or told them in a really awkward way. Still, seeing history centered from an Indigenous perspective was interesting and there’s some beautiful art here. Standouts include Red Clouds (read that one during daylight hours for my peace of mind if no one else’s lol), Rosie (BEST art by far), and Migwite’tmeg: We Remember It.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie - 5 stars. I know he’s a grade A creep but I bought this several years ago before I knew that and I wanted to at least read it once. I both understand why it’s considered a classic (the stories about Norma, Samuel Builds-the-Fire, and James Many Horses really stuck me with specifically) but I can also Really pick up on Alexie’s opinions of women lol.

Clockwork Prince by Cassie Clare - 4.5 Stars. So much better than the first one. Felt like there was more going on, the romantic scenes are SO beautifully romantic, the character arcs more well defined, and the writing really improved. Still too long, and idc what she says, Jem should have gotten a POV chapter and the fact that he didn’t bc ~plot reasons~ is just laziness, so I knocked half a star off. Also, the audiobook I listened to was AWESOME, the male voice did such a good job, and the female voice improved as well.

Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones - 5 stars. This was a solid, 4 star horror urban fantasy/coming of age story and then the last two chapters just punched me in the chest and took it into “absolute favorites” category. Told from the point of view of the nameless nephew who may or may not be a werewolf, raised by his werewolf aunt and uncle, who have been on the move since his grandfather died, it’s a fantastic horror book and a fresh take on werewolves and also just a great book.

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee - 5 stars. Historical fiction about a Chinese aspiring acrobat who boards the titanic in the hopes of reconnecting with her twin brother. It’s SO GOOD, so engaging, with characters that feel so alive and painfully real. Loved it and loved being emotionally destroyed by the ending. The injustice of what happened to the lower class passengers really STUCK with me, I had to sit with my feelings after.

Among Others by Jo Walton - 5 stars. I don’t even know how to describe how much I loved it. I think The Book Thief might have a rival for my affections. It’s magic realism about a girl named Mor in, as she puts it, the Scouring of the Shire section of the story. Evil has been defeated, so what do you do next? It’s about grief, disability, abuse, and the power of connection and love and LIFE and I cried reading it. Everyone should read it.

Nature Poem by Tommy Pico - 4 stars. This was an audiobook listen and I loved hearing his narration. Very animated and fun. The poem itself is very interesting and there’s quite a few bits that really stuck with me about like Indigenous Experience and also about being gay and Indigenous. Excited to read more of his work.

Space Opera by Catherynne Valente - 5 stars. I would like to formally apologize to my friend Addi @monstersandheartache who recommended this to me like a year ago and I dragged my feet on reading it because I’m a dumbass holy shit. So funny, so witty, so zany, and yet so ripe with emotion. It’s Eurovision in Space and pays homage to sci-fi and glam rock, and the general overreaching theme reminds me a lot, of all things, Pacific Rim - it’s a humanist ballad of queer rockstars singing to (and often fucking and flirting with) aliens and it’s so damn good.

Beast by Brie Spangler - 3 stars. The writing was solid, I liked how Jamie as a trans girl was written to be very Aware of how others perceive her but just ignoring it bc she’s here to Have Fun, and the beginning was very good but the characters went from lovably dumb to plain annoying around the 70% mark. There comes a point when there has to be more to the plot than “I say something dumb, we argue, don’t talk, and then make up” ya know. Disappointing bc I was looking forward to this one.

Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsburg - 3 stars. I think every teenager should read howl because that’s when it’s most gonna resonate, when it’s the first time you’ve read something like this, because the Beat Generation WAS the first time they were doing this. Now though, there’s so many poems that say similar things that the moment of “I didn’t know other people felt like this” won’t ring as true. I did really like A Supermarket in California.

Fortitude Smashed by Taylor Brooke - 3 stars. This is one of those “clock runs out when you meet your soulmate” stories and it was really boring. There were also a lot of PoV switches, like multiple in one chapter and I found it distracting and annoying.

No Man of Woman Born by Ana Mardoll - 5 stars. It’s a short story compilation about trans characters subverting gendered prophecies. Really smart, interesting world building and it also juggled giving characters personalities with very little time to do it incredibly well. I liked the third story about Nociem (awesome world building) and the sweet wish dragon story at the ending.

Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde - 4 stars. I wasn’t like, exactly sure how to rate this because the prose is beautiful, Ballad of Reading Gaol is just amazing, and several other poems really spoke to me and then BAM anti-semitic reference to the merchant of Venice. It was a lot, but also, I liked it enough I might finally read his other stuff.

Cinnamon Blade by Shira Glassman - 3 stars. It’s sort of urban fantasy esque erotic short and tbh, I think if it had been a full length novel I might have liked it more. Just too much going on in the background, and Soledad didn’t really have a personality beyond “quirky.”

Girls Made of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan - 5 stars. This is a heavy book. It’s centered around a girl named Lei from the paper caste, the lowest caste, who is forced to be a concubine for the demon king. While there, she comes to grips with the oppression her people face and falls in love with another concubine, Wren. The love story is sweet and well developed but this is a difficult book. I was unsettled and panicked the whole time I read, just like Lei is forced to be. The rough, vivid, and fascinating world building makes this an awesome, but disturbing read. I’m so excited to be deeply unsettled when I read the sequel.

Marriage of Unconvenience by Chelsea M. Cameron - 3.5 stars. Sweet, cute, and funny but it reads more like fanfic than a novel in a bad way. Like, it really needed a round of edits and also the backgrounds characters change personalities a few times. But still a fun and cute story about a lesbian who marries her best friend for the money, only for the two women to fall in love.

Our Bloody Pearl by DN Bryn - 3 stars. The concept is great but the dialogue was weird and preachy and the narrative voice was sooooo boring. It’s cute but forgettable and a lot to get through.

The Cursebreaker Countess by Sasha L. Miller - 4 stars. Kas breaks a curse on a sleeping woman named Anika mostly because the curse freaks her out, only to get dragged into a political feud involving magic that she barely understands. This was slow moving, more adventure fantasy than high fantasy, but I liked the slow pace. It was like unraveling a knot. Also Kas and Anika are awesome characters separately and as a couple they’re adorable.

Heart and Hand by Rebel Carter - 4.5 stars. Julie answers an ad for a mail order bride, packing up from her high society life to move to the Montana terrifies - except she will be marrying not one man, but a pair of best friends. I thought this was MMF bc it was on a bunch of “Bi love interests” and MMF lists but it is in fact MFM, which was slightly annoying bc the relationship between Will and Forest was incredibly romantic and it felt like a waste of a great dynamic. So I knocked off half a star. Otherwise this was a really solid read. Incredibly well written with a town that is well developed as it’s own entity, and three characters that all have lovely arcs. It’s steamy, romantic, and sugar sweet and I loved it (also WoC in a historical AND a triad romance? Bro sign me UP).

Peter Darling by Austin Chant - 5 stars. Once again I should never doubt Addi ever because holy crap this was so good. Peter Pan goes back to Neverland only to find that since he’s grown up, Neverland doesn’t appeal like it used to, but neither can he go home, to where he would never be accepted as Peter, but forced to live as his assigned gender at birth. This is like. Immaculate. Beautifully written, fast paced, romantic, heartbreaking, but with an ending that feels so full of hope. Not wrapped up with a neat bow, but instead looking to the future.

New Books Read: 19

Rereads: 1

Total of Books Read: 14/94; 19/184

Goodreads Goal: 30/49

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sheepish-outlaw · 4 years

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This Land Was Made For You and Me (Prologue)

Arthur Morgan x Werewolf!Reader

Hey guys! This is my first time writing a fanfic, I’ve had an idea for an Arthur x werewolf reader fic for a while now and I've finally found the courage to write a bit and post it. So I hope ya’ll enjoy!

Warnings: Mentions of child and animal abuse.

Arthur was only five when his mother, Beatrice, had passed. He can’t remember much about her, but he can remember how loving, caring, and kind his mother was, her favourite flower, how she’d sing to him in the night if he couldn’t sleep. His father, Lyle Morgan, wasn’t always abusive, he never cared for Arthur, occasionally he would get yelled at or blatantly ignored, but none of that mattered, not when he had his mother’s love and affection. It was only when she passed away that he started to get beaten black and blue by his father.

Too scared to speak up in case that had gotten him beaten by Lyle, so he became docile, never speaking unless absolutely necessary. Arthur would only find sanctuary drawing in a journal he managed to snatch from some drunken fool out by an old tree not too far from his home, and company from a stray that he managed to befriend in town, he named the little light brown mongrel Dusty. Arthur was about nine years old at the time.

The happiness and companionship he found with his new four-legged friend didn’t last long, the mongrel had followed Arthur home one night without him realising, deciding to sleep on the porch to wait for his new master to come out and play. Arthur had awoken to his father’s raised voice (nothing new there) and the pained cries from a dog. Eyes widening he leapt from the bed to the porch, heart lurching into his throat, hoping it wasn’t what he thinks it is.

He reached the front of the house, only to find his father had grabbed poor Dusty by the scruff of the neck. Upon further inspection, Dusty’s left hind leg had been broken, no doubt by his father's hand. Arthur spoke before he thought. Tears gathered at the corner of his eyes at seeing his little buddy in such pain, grabbing his father’s pant leg he begged for him to let him go, to not hurt him more than what he has. Of course, it didn’t work. This only ended with him getting a black eye and poor Dusty put six foot under.

After that day, Arthur closed in on himself more, he even stopped drawing in his little journal.

Two years had passed since then, The day Lyle Morgan hanged for the countless crimes he committed had finally arrived. Arthur didn’t feel anything when he watched the law drag his father away. He followed them to the hanging post and watched him swing. Only then did he truly feel something, he felt peace, yet no relief. Even with his father’s so-called ‘company’ he wasn’t really alone. Now he was. 11 years old, All alone, no family, no home, nothing but his name and the clothes on his back. He’s now an orphan, alone and terrified.

He and his father lived in a small town in Ohio. After Lyle’s demise he left for the city of Columbus. He hated cities, but this is what he felt he needed to do in order to turn his life around. It did, but not for the better.

Another two years passed since he decided to move to Columbus, during those two years, he became more angry, angry at himself, at his now-dead father, at his mother for leaving him so early on in his life, at everyone willing to ignore him and not offering help in his time of need. The only thing people would offer is a cold shoulder and a look of disgust as they set their eyes on his scrawny, filth covered form.

Arthur hated it. Hated having to sneak into stables for a good night's rest, stealing food so he wouldn’t starve, and worst of all, being alone.

Until she came along.

He had been rummaging through the rubbish in the alley behind an Orphanage for anything to eat or maybe some semi-decent clothes to wear since his are now full of numerous holes and rather small for him, his pants are at least a few inches above the ankles, his shirt now ripped in most places, like his pants are a few inches above his wrists.

The girl had run into Arthur as she was sneaking out of the orphanage, no she literally ran into him. Both children fall to the fall with a harsh thud, with the girl landing on top of Arthur, slightly dazed from the impact. She glanced up only to be met by furious teal eyes. Giving him a sheepish smile, she gets up off him and holds out a hand to help him up. He scoffs, swatting the hand away from him before getting up himself. The young girl rolls her eyes at his attitude.

The girl opens her mouth to say something, only to be stopped by the doors of the orphanage crash open followed by footsteps thundering against the concrete path. Before he can react she grabs his hand dragging him out of the alley and into an abandoned building across the street taking cover until the so-called ‘carers’ stop their search.

Arthur leans against the wall slowly sliding down to the floor. Gazing up at the ceiling, taking deep breaths to calm his rapidly beating heart. He was so damn tired and hungry. His stomach lets out a loud growl, causing the girl to look towards him. As quickly as his gaze met hers, he looked away, feeling his face heat up in embarrassment.

Letting out a giggle as he glares at her, she pulls out two small rolls of bread, holding one out for him to take. “Here.” Oh, how he wanted to take the bread from her. He’s starving but her small, thin frame made him think otherwise. She needed it more than him.

He tensed as she grabbed a hold of his hand once again, placing the bread roll into his palm pushing it towards him. Shyly he looked towards her giving a quiet ‘thank you’ before scarfing down his first bit of food in days. Both children stayed quiet while eating, just listening to the rain that had started to pour only moments ago. It was rather peaceful.

After a moment of peace and enjoying some food, Arthur decided to speak up.

“Arthur,”

His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She tilted her head to the side giving him a look of confusion.

“Huh?”

“I’m Arthur. Arthur Morgan.”

Smiling she tells him her name “Oh! Sorry, I’m (Y/N) (S/N). Nice t’ meet ya, Arthur.”

After that Arthur and (Y/N) become quick friends. Arthur learned that (Y/N) was only a year younger than him and she wasn’t always at the orphanage. She had an uncle whom she was with, he went missing about a two years ago after going out hunting one day. She's been travelling throughout Ohio staying in stables, lending a hand for a little money or staying in an orphanage for a day or two so she can rest up, also stealing some extra food from the kitchen before sneaking out of the orphanage to travel again.

In turn, Arthur told her about his past, about everything.

After getting to know one another they decided to stick together, “ We can look out for each other.” She said smiling. Arthur yawned while he nodded.

Starting to relax more he begins to get himself comfy on the floor before going to sleep. Before he drifts off into a deep slumber his eyes land onto (Y/N), she was already asleep lying on her stomach with her head resting on her crossed arms as a soft snore left her lips, laughing a little to himself, for the first time in what seemed like forever, he found he wasn’t alone anymore.

#arthur morgan x reader #arthur morgan x female reader #arthur morgan imagine #rdr2 #arthur morgan #werewolf reader #fanfiction

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