#tamsyn u have done it again
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Gideon the Ninth Reaction - Chapter 20
i just wanna apologise in advance for how long these posts are getting lol, i have a lot of Thoughts about this book
oh wait nope they are going back to the creepy lab where two people just got murdered. great plan guys
Dulcinea wanting to team up surprised me a little, but it really shouldn't have. she's been paying a lot of attention to the Ninth, and especially Gideon.
'thousands of years after you're gone ... is when you really live' this is such a different, almost warmer, perspective on death and necromancy, and i can see why it appeals to Dulcinea specifically, who's clearly had to come to terms with her mortality pretty early on in life. but its also part of the more disturbing theme that the past never really goes away, and can't help but view this line along the same lines of discovering the ancient study last chapter, and the ancient laboratory, and Canaan House in general, which are only just now having their secrets revealed, and the terrible consequences of those secrets becoming apparent, after thousands of years
'she grasped a railing, leaned over, and proffered her hand' well this is getting very courtly romance
ah yes lets go through the door decorated with a swirl of human teeth, i'm sure there's happy fun times to be had in there. harrow, resident goth interior designer who specialises in bone decor, is probably taking notes as we speak
even after hurting her hand twice, Harrow really just can't resist experimenting even further huh. she's so very reluctant to accept that her existing powers aren't enough by themselves for this
ooohhhh, having to literally suck the life force out of your cavalier to win?? thats so sick and twisted and i love it. these challenges are, again, clearly relying on this intense relationship between the pair, both in trusting them absolutely and in this literal soul-siphoning/melding link thing.
however, it feels like Gideon's really getting the brunt of it in these challenges. Harrow's absolutely putting in an awful lot of effort and power, but it's the cavalier who has to fight the bone amalgamation, the cavalier who has to have their life literally siphoned out. they're about trust and a bond between them, but also seemingly about a willingness to sacrifice your cavalier to achieve that goal, and i have a really bad feeling about where exactly this is going in terms of how exactly one achieves lyctorhood
'under no circumstances will i ever desire your juice' Harrow you may wish to revisit this sentiment when you guys (to my limited knowledge) eventually become girlfriends
'none of this is worth it, at all [...] i'm sorry. We take so much' i'm like 90% sure the voice talking to Gideon throughout all this was Dulcinea, largely because it doesn't really make sense for it to be anyone else, but there were certain lines, specifically these ones, that made me suspicious at first it might be some(one? thing?) else. but it also feels fitting that its Dulcinea coaching her through this.
wow, just wow, i'm really impressed with the writing in this chapter, and how the pain Gideon is feeling is expressed. its such an abstract experience/feeling to describe, but i think its done incredibly well
'Ha-ha, said Gideon, first time you didn't call me Griddle, and died' ok i know she didn't but THANKS for giving me an absolute heart attack with that sentence Tamsyn Muir
Harrow i get understand u are protective of Gideon but let Dulcinea comfort her plz
'you can't just ask someone why they want to be a Lyctor'. ahh the duality of Gideon the Ninth. this just evocative prose about how it feels to be on the brink of death, and then immediately afterwards hits you in the face with a mean girls reference. beautiful, iconic, effervescent.
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Books of 2023
the list nobody asked for <3
My reading habits had gone a bit stagnant in the past couple of years so this year i made the effort to engage in reading again and wow books really are good!! who would have thought!
Sharing this year's book log with the small reviews i did while reading yeah i am That kind of list lover if u feel like being nosy, (and maybe even help mi crowdsource reading recs based on my likes 👀🤲?)
The left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula i Need to know your thoughts on omegaver- [gunshot]
THAT ASIDE yeah. mrs Le Guin you've done it again. I can see why everyone got their brain chemistry altered by this book.
The Membranes - Chi Ta-Wei
another brain chemistry altering book. would love to discuss it with a gender studies major lmao
Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdie
its a v atmospheric and poignant story, I know I would have loved it more if I was familiar with the rich religious/cultural background it draws from
The Masquerade Series - Seth Dickinson
Crazy insane in the membrane about this series. one of the most compelling worldbuildings I've ever seen, and most importantly it features one of the most crazy wet pathetic scrunkly meow meow protagonists i've ever had the pleasure of reading about.
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
i liked the writing style of this book a lot! idk how well it holds up re: intersexuality topic, but its a very engaging read.
Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers: Monstrosity, Patriarchy, and the Fear of Female Power - Jude Ellison, Sady Doyle
The title says it all honestly, its a beautiful, thought provoking and engaging essay, spanning eras, pop culture phenomenons, and real life events on the topic of women and horror.
The cat who saved books - Sōsuke Natsukawa
this was so cute and heartfelt, it will really make you go Ah Yes, this is Why we Love Books <333
The Locked Tomb Series - Tamsyn Muir
now when people say there is a girl who is the cursed sacrifice of 2000 infants who falls in love with the sleeping embodiment of the soul of the Earth (barbie) and also another girl who is the only survivor of the aforementioned sacrifice and is. a Jesus metaphor? and also the two girls become one at some point. and every book is a different genre. and god is bisexual. and memes survived the nuclear apocalypse. I can just nod and say so true.
The Area X Trilogy - Jeff VanderMeer
Rotating this series in the microwave of my mind at the speed of light it's soSO GOOD!! the movie doesn't even come close honestly u NEED to read the books. and then go touch grass and be aware of every strand in a completely new way.
The Dawn of Yangchen - F. C. Yee
nice read! I was more invested in the worldbuilding crumbs than in the actual story lmao, I will forever think about the HEATED airball rivalry between the air temples and about the swt greetings / bethrotal armbands.
Inuit Stories of Being and Rebirth: Gender, Shamanism, and the Third Sex - Bernard Saladin d'Anglure
starting w a disclaimer bc I feel like the topic of native colonization was ignored when it should have been way more prominent when talking about the context of where and when these testimonies were collected?? That aside it was very interesting and well put together, with first account testimonies of Inuit elders about their myths, lifestyles and beliefs.
Pachinko - Min Jin Lee
i read the book after having seen the tv series (which i also rlly recommend). Very moving story about a family and its generations, from Korea under Japanese colonization to modern day America.
Her body and other parties - Carmen Maria Marchado
sometimes I go about my day then I remember this book exists and stare at the wall for 30 minutes.
Dictionnaire de l'impossible - Didier Van Cauwelaert
big miss. this collection of articles about "strange impossible phenomenons" sounded so quirky and interesting but i sure would have loved if the author hadnt so clearly picked a side. and also way too much church for my tastes.
He who Drowned the World - Shelley Parker Chan
Im not even gonna speak about this one if you've followed me since july you know what pits of insanity and despair i'm in
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin
Sometimes!! the book with pretty covers put in the "famous on socials" bookstore section!! are good!! It's about being othered it's about connection it's about diaspora it's about love and friendship and most of all it's about viddy games.
Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel
reading this post-covid and learning it was written in 2017 was A TRIP. Psychic damage at every page. still feeling very normla.
The Mask of Apollo - Mary Renault
Ugh i desperately wanted to like this book because the setup is so interesting and full of potential, but the end result was just. flat. flat story flat characters the plot focusing on the wrong things at the wrong times i was so DONE when i reached the end otz.
Babel - R. F. Kuang
LOVED the worldbuilding in this, the "lost in translation" system of magic is one of the most interesting things ive ever read. I think theres something about the writing in general that didn't win me over completely?? but all in all a very good
Red Ocean - Han Song
This sure is a Book. That i've Read. its so profundly strange and unlike anything ive come across that i dont even know what to feel about it. i think 90% of my confusion comes from Not Getting Cultural References so if someone has a "red ocean explained" essay plz send it my way bc i couldnt find one.
#taking with me into next year Chromorama and The seven moons of Maali Almeida#anyway blease talk to me about your fave books!!#or about the ones in this list!!#send post#books
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hiya it's me again, the anon with ~questionable~ taste in fictional men i guess (is this really how i want to be known help)
thank you so much for the recs!! i've read/am reading some of those, but i've dutifully put the rest onto my read list—cannot wait to dive into some new stories o7 (also, i used to do a similar thing w/ranking stuff, except in a notebook LOL lost the notebook after i moved and my life has been in shambles ever since. but i digress.)
if you're up for offering some book recs as well i am most certainly 👀 !! i haven't lost myself in a good book in so long & i really miss it.
anywhoo, gonna cut myself off here before my rambling gets outta hand. sending you lotsa good vibes, cheers!
LMAO i'm sorry but that's your official title now. questionable taste in fictional men anon. hello <3
i hope you end of liking them!!! i am going to make ur to-read list a bit longer now hopefully. most of these are ya but to be fair ya fucks
gideon the ninth by tamsyn muir OBVIOUSLY
only a monster by vanessa len - i think the romance falls a little flat which does seem to be partially by design, but the premise/world/plot are all SO fun and fascinating and i love her draco malfoy-knock off friend
the scarlet alchemist by kylie lee baker - i have read a couple of wu zetian stories now and i think this is definitely one of the better adaptations. the pacing IS a little weird but i feel like the twists are interesting enough that i was fine with it LOL
the cruel prince by holly black - i love the cruel prince and that's all there is to say. ruthless protag done believably imo. fairies. romance with a questionable man
every heart a doorway by seanan mcguire if u haven't read it already
the beholder by anna bright - big fan of this one and its sequel bc it does not do what u expect it to do as a ya romance, in a very nice way
tiger, tiger by petra nordlund - bonus webcomic rec, volume one is published but also you can read online on her website for free. IT IS SO GOOD i read it all in like 3 days and now wait on the edge of my seat for new pages
#Anonymous#me banging my fists against the wall vanessa len PLEASE let your protag kiss her draco malfoy knockoff friend
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📚LET'S READ
congrats on one year lovely!! im a little late to the beach but im hoping to sit away from the water and get some reading done 🤔 i am a SUCKER for murder mystery of any kind, i love anything where all the pieces come together in a satisfying way and of course a good twist reveal!! buuuut that being said I am also a lover of anything written by neil gaiman, always a go to for me
i hope you’re having a wonderful day, no worries if none of this is up your street!! this is pretty much just me popping in for a chat as well 🖤
hi mavis!!!!! im so glad to see u!!!
i've seen that you really like richard osman, is that right? i don't read a ton of thrillers/murder mysteries because i am boring but am trying to read more of them!! i also adore neil, so hopefully a few of these are things you'd be in to!!
-The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir. I recommended this on another post but it's really one of my favorite series. It's got mystery (like, so much mystery, honestly I didn't know what the hell was going on most of the time) and it's really brilliant writing and it has the logical and emotional layers that I feel I get from lots of Gaiman's work, too. It is def hard sci-fi/fantasy, but it's got literally countless twist reveals that are so entertaining I am going to be rereading the first three books soon (the fourth comes out in October).
-You might have read him, but anything by Phillip Pullman! His Dark Materials was my favorite series as a kid and I re-read it a few years ago and it holds up very well. Again, much closer to Gaiman than a murder-mystery, but really so good. And it's got a new series in the same universe called The Book of Dust that is more adult than the original trilogy!
-A few other authors like Neil that I've enjoyed are Alix E. Harrow and Nnedi Okorafor.
-A coworker of mine loves mysteries and she really enjoyed Anthony Horowitz, who I have no doubt you've heard of/read. I wish I had more murder recs for you, I am going to endeavor to read some!! Please let me know where to start <3
join the celebration!
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22 In 2022
Rules! Choose 22 books you want to read or goals you want to achieve in 2022. That’s it! It can be a mix of books and goals, or 22 books, or 22 goals…. it’s up to you. Then tag some friends to play along!
I was tagged by @agardenandlibrary and @bigcats-birds-and-books
The Ikessar Falcon by KS Villoso, as well as The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng but with my track record for finishing series I understand that's a stretch goal lol
The Burning God by RF Kuang, maybe I'm cheating because this is my next read of maybe I'm setting myself up for success
Steelstriker by Marie Lu, I was supposed to read this in December but life and crochet projects got in the way
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire, I did start this in October I think? But it needed more brain power than I had to give
Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa, this was in my stack of books to read before 2022 that I then ignored for six months
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen, the only reason I've yet to read this is because of who I am as a person and also I really love her writing and I won't have anything new of hers to read
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri, another from my read before 2022 pile
The Liars Knot by MA Carrick, I must know what my bastard of a son Vargo is up to
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is it out yet? No. Do we have a release date? Actually goodreads says September but I'm not sure if that's accurate. I DON'T CARE, I WANT TO MEET NONA
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, it's been intimidating me since I bought it and it's finally time for me to attempt to read it or put it in the donation bin
more general book goals is to get through my "read before donating" stack thats still hanging around and taking up desk space. It does NOT spark joy and I want it gone
Breath of the Wild, yes I intended to play this while recovering from surgery but it just? Never happened??
Witcher: Blood and Wine, I've been putting this off because it's all that's left and I'm not ready to say goodbye and not have more witcher game to experience for the first time
SKYRIM! I want to play Skyrim! Unfortunately I only have it on switch, so I have to play unmodded, which everyone says is Bad?? dunno I want to be a cat person
Love Live! (anime), most definitely want to finish watching this series at least through Sunshine. The mobile game looks like its on its way out, so I want to get to the anime before its even more difficult to get a hold of
I have all the makings for a pride themed blanket that I want to at least start this year
I want to get into resin crafting, I have a bunch of fun ideas! Not sure how feasible this one is tbh considering price and need for a clean ventilated space
Oh! I want to crochet a net and hang on from my ceiling for all my stuffed animals lol I decided last year not to feel guilty or ashamed for the things that make me happy, like stuffed animals!
I think. This will be the year. I finally attempt to make croissants. I've been putting it off because croissant pastry dough is notoriously difficult to get right and if you screw it up there's no fixing it, and it's a LOT of work and I've been in pain lol but I want to try! Love those crispy crescents!!
I want to limit the books I buy, and if I do buy a book I either want it to be a book I've already read and want to keep as a friend, or read it within three months of acquiring it (I'm being generous I know me I won't read them right away lmao)
I have such a back log of puzzles that I need to do
THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES
this was as difficult as I feared thank u. I know by know making health goals is useless because health is uncontrollable. If this is the year I get a functioning computer, I'd also like to write Actual Reviews again and make more original content for this blog. I do really miss writing reviews!
I've lost track of who has done this already so if you want to do this here is me tagging you!
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