1. Discontent and Civilizations by Mohsin Hamid (Nfn)(Middleeastern)

2. Land of Mirrors by Maria Medem (Graphic)(Translation)(Hispanic)

3. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Secondary Phase) by Douglas Adams

4. Dreaming of Ramadi in Detroit by Aisha Sabatini Sloan (Nfn)(Black)(Queer)

5. Weasels in the Attic by Hiroko Oyamada (Asian)(Translation)

6. The Brujos of Borderland High by Gume Laurel III (Verse)(Hispanic)(YA)

7. The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa (Asian)(Translation)

8. Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico (European)(Translation)

9. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (*)

10. Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker

11. The Hundred-year House by Rebecca Makkai (*)

12. Liberation Day by George Saunders

13. What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher (Trans MC)

14. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (*)

15. Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa (Asian)(Translation)

16. By the Grace of the Gods Vol 6 by Ranran Roy (Graphic)

17. By the Grace of the Gods Vol 7 by Ranran Roy (Graphic)

18. The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (Asian American)

19. Fast Funny Women by Gina Barreca (nfn)

20. The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid (Middleeastern)

21. Invisible City by Italo Calvino (Translation)(Italian)

22. The Apothecary Diaries Vol 5 by Natsu Hyuuga (Graphic)

23. Pink Slime by Fernanda Trias (Translation)(Uruguay)

24. An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten (Translation)(European)

25. Final Girls by Mira Grant

26. Pearl by Sian Hughes

27. Squared3 by Mira Grant

28. Ashes by Alvaro Ortiz (Graphic)(Translation)

29. Lupin Leaps In by Georgia Dunn (Graphic)(*)

30. Doctor Who: Death's Deal by Darren Jones

1. The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai (Asian)(Translation)

2. By the Grace of the Gods Vol 1 by Ranran Roy (Graphic)

3. The Art of the Novel by Milan Kundera (Nfn)(Translation)

4. Alone by Megan Freeman (Verse)(JR)

5. Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri (American/Asian) (Translation)

6. Nevada by Imogen Binnie (Trans)

7. Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses (Asian)(Nfn)
 
8. Honkers Under the Holly by Amy Award

9. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (JR)

10. How to Write Short by Roy Peter Clark (Nfn)

11. The Apothecary Diaries Vol 1 by Natsu Hyuuga (Graphic)

12. Panpocalypse by Carley Moore(Queer Romance)(Trans)(Disabled MC)

13. Safe Harbor by Padme Venkatraman (JR)(Verse)(Asian)

14. Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson (Black)

15. A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre (Translation)(Mentally Ill MC)

16. The Undying by Anne Boyer (Nfn)

17. Wolf White Van by John Darnielle (Mentally Ill MC)(Disabled MC)

18. Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans (Black)(Poems)(Queer MC)(*)

19. Held by Anne Michaels (Disabled SC)(*)

20. Milk Fed by Melissa Broder (Jewish)(Mentally Ill MC)

21. Playing in the Dark by Toni Morrison (Black)(Nfn)

22. The Apothecary Diaries Vol 2 by Natsu Hyuuga (Graphic)

23. The Apothecary Diaries Vol 3 by Natsu Hyuuga (Graphic)

24. By the Grace of the Gods Vol 2 by Ranran Roy (Graphic)

25. I Remain in Darkness by Annie Ernaux (Translation)(Memoir)(Chronic Illness)(*)

26. Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin Abridged (Queer Romance)(Trans)

27. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu (Asian)(*)

28. Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks (Memoir)

29. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (Asian)(Translation)(Terminally ill MC)

30. Somehow by Ann Lamott (nfn)(*)

31. She of the Mountains by Vivek Shraya (Asian American)

31. Invasion by K A Applegate (Graphic)

32. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid(Middle eastern)(Queer Romance)(*)

33. Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

34. You've Lost A Lot of Blood by Eric Larroca (Queer Romance)

35. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez (*)

36. At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich

37. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

38. By the Grace of the Gods Vol 3 by Ranran Roy (Graphic)

39. By the Grace of the Gods Vol 4 by Ranran Roy (Graphic)

40. Everything is TB by John Green (")(nfn)

41. The Apothecary Diaries Vol 4 by Natsu Hyuuga (Graphic)

42. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Primary Phase) by Douglas Adams

43. Ghost Music by An Yu(Asian)

44. Mauve Desert by Nicole Brossard (Translation)(Queer Romance)

45. Away by Megan E. Freeman (JR)(Verse)

46. The Place of Shells by Mia Ishizawa (Asian)(Translation)

47. The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez (Mentally Ill SC)

48. The Unfortunates by JK Chukwu (Black)(Mentally Ill MC)(Queer MC)

49. A Calm and Normal Heart by Chelsea T Hicks (Indigenous)

50. By the Grace of the Gods Vol 5 by Ranran Roy (Graphic)

51. Your Emergency Contact has Experienced a Emergency by Chen Chen(Asian)(Poems)(Queer Relationship)

52. Black Eggs by Sadako Kurihara (*)(nfn)(Asian)(Poetry)(Translation)

53. A Working Life by Eileen Myles (Poems)(Queer MC)

54. It's Lonely at the Center of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood (Memoir)(Graphic)(Mentally Ill MC)

55. Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur (Poems)(WOC)(Canadian)

56. Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana(Black)

57. I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times by Taylor Byas (*)(Poems)(Black)

58. Romit and Jamil by Pamela Laskin (Middle Eastern)(Verse)(YA)

59. The Old Guard Book 1: Opening Fire by Greg Rucka (Graphic)

60. The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August (*)(Trans MC)

61. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (Trans MC)

62. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice (Indigenous)(Canadian)

Rereading

1. Brood by Jackie Polzin

Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)
Relationship: Bakugou Katsuki/Yagi Toshinori | All Might; past Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yagi Toshinori | All Might; Bakugou Katsuki/Monoma Neito
Length: 49k
Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence; Danger to Children (consistent with setting); Passing mention of Suicidal Ideation

Author's Website: hemingyay's AO3

Summary: Katsuki says, ‘You’d think differently of me if you knew everything.’ If you knew how bad things are with my quirk now. Or about my massive disgusting crush on you, Katsuki thinks.

‘I wouldn’t. Whatever happens, I’m always going to be in your corner, Katsuki,’ All Might tells him.

—

After Katsuki loses an arm saving Izuku, he drops twenty spots in the hero rankings and the world assumes his career is over. Forced back to Musutafu, he’s appointed a babysitter while he recovers: All Might.

It doesn’t help he never got over his giant, stupid teenage crush on him and his quirk isn't working the way it used to. In any case, Toshinori really doesn’t seem to mind.


Review: So I'm mostly in the teacher track part of the BNHA fandom. Where canon disabled characters abound even if not well explored in canon. Yagi Toshinori who is very obviously dealing with a degrading body in canon is a particular hot bed for deeply disabled and adult fics.

This is an unusual overlap between that and the younger generation. Where Yagi as mentor is acting as a mentor into becoming disabled and retaining heroic status. In mirror to his canon issues about being a mentor while dealing with his own issues around quirklessness.

Also some really raunchy and kinky sex. That acts as part of the character arc. Rather than sex and romance being the character arc.

lonsdaleite

Coming out a little late this week. Was working to finish up my Feb goals. Managed 56 books read but only 24 of 28 prompt fills for February Ficlet. Likely effected by the two emergency pinch hits I picked up for a joint length of 5k.



Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson; Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington; Eddie Munson & Wayne Munson
Length: 120k
Warnings: Canon typical violence; Era/Region expected queerphobia;

Author's Website: FarahsAmboolents' AO3

Summary: Series from a variety of POVs following Eddie post Season 4 where he survives but is disabled. Wayne is a great gay uncle. And Steve becomes a Firefighter who's a friend of Dorothy much to oblivious Eddie's surprise.

Review: I'm a collector of Group Dad friend fics. Where to various extents everybody in a friend's group gets adopted by a dude. Sometimes that's a time traveling friend. Sometimes like this one it's the chill gay uncle.

First fic is from Wayne's POV post season 4. Where he doesn't know about the Upside down. The outsider POV is chefs kiss. From there the timeline spreads as kids grow and come out as friends of Dorothy. Learn to live with me disabilities. And various other parts of being in your early 20s and on the outside of your community. With Wayne as an older queer rep of how to survive in that liminal space.

The Sarge Series

Media Type: Novel in Verse
Genre: Mystery; Experimental; Thriller
Length: /3.45 hours
Warnings: Cults, Sexism, Past attempted sexual assault, Queerphobia, Dementia, Character death, Abortion mention, Alcohol/drug use
Complete/Ongoing:
Free/Paid: Paid
Distributor: Little Brown Books

Creator's Website: Amelia Brunskill

Summary:Nine girls bound together
in beautiful, virtuous Havenwood,
a refuge from an unsafe world.

Then there are eight
one of them gone --
departed with no warning.
Did this member of their pack
stray willingly,
or did something more sinister occur?

The girls seek answers
not knowing if they should be angry
or frightened
or perhaps,
they should be both.

Review: So this is kinda a mixed bag rec. I enjoyed it and I think anybody reading it will find interesting ideas about how to construct a book. But its not the kind of book I'm going to go out and share with everybody I know. And not just because of the major trigger warnings.

A mystery about a missing girl told partially by each of the titular members of the pack. It is also told in plural narrative when more than two of the girls are present in a place or scene. Which is a fascinating way to look into the group think in a closed high control religious group.

As you see things on three levels. What the girls as a whole know they should think and do. What the girls communicate to each other and those outside the group when they are more free to think for themselves. And how the group then works together to integrate the individual knowledge into their religious doctrine.

As I've seen said in other recs, I don't think the fairly banal mystery took away from what the author was trying to explore here. But I also don't think I'd go you know that mystery was just too good it took away from the point of the narrative setup if it had been more twisty.

Wolfpack Book
Wolfpack Audiobook

Media Type: Video Easay
Genre: Media Commentary
Length: 40 minutes
Warnings: Spoilers for Kentucky Route Zero, Apocalypse, Depression,
Complete/Ongoing: Complete
Free/Paid: Free
Distributor:YouTube/Nebula

Creator's Website: Lilyalexandre's Nebula


Summary: In Kentucky Route Zero, the world is ending, and you can’t save it. Can you find a good life anyway?

Review: Lily Alexander is one of my favorite video essayists. This essay is her only one about a video game but she brings her same editing sensibilities to the project. Music underscores the points she is trying to make and on screen text from the game is summarize to help keep the pace.

The game itself is a slower point and click adventure that doesn't follow the traditional genre structures. LA does a good job exploring these differences from a trans and disabled POV. While also walking you through the story and it's atmosphere.

Finding Hope in Kentucky Route Zero

Media Type: Live Action Video
Genre: Adventure, Video Game Commentary
Length: 36 minutes
Warnings: Canon typical violence for MMO
Complete/Ongoing: Stand Alone part of Ongoing series
Free/Paid: Free
Distributor: Youtube

Creator's Website: Viva Plus


Summary: Baelin (Rowan Bettjeman), a simple background NPC in the video game 'Skycraft' has been walking the same route for as long as he can remember. However, his peaceful (and mindless) routine is violently shaken as a short-tempered Adventurer (Ben Van Lier) drags him off his path and into a dangerous quest to escort a mysterious NPC girl named Willow (Phoenix Cross) across the harsh world of Azerim.

Review: I'm a sicker for a non verbal.or differently verbal maim Character. And fishing mechanics in video games. Put them together and you get chibi cat nip. While not one of the big players in the Epic NPC player skit universe he pops up time to time as both an identity joke as he's played by the same actor as Bodger who ia on a lot og skits and for Fishing themed skits.

It was fun seeing him used to full effect in Baelin's Route. Particularly since despite the longer format, Viva La Dirt League didn't flinch from committing to the bit. The signature that makes their skits so iconic. All of Baelin's attacks remain fishing themed. His dialog never slips. An despite it all you will still get a heart felt narrative involving intreage and growing friendship. Though not a lot of surprises to the plot as grough older mam rescues young innocent protagonist despite his attempts to be mission oriented is beyond icon and reaching to the point of parody at thod point.

Baelin's Route

Fandom: Game of Thrones (TV)
Relationship: Tormund Giantsbane/Jon Snow; Jon Snow & Ned Stark; Jon Snow & Daenerys Targaryen
Length: 49k
Warnings: Temporary Character Death (due to time travel); Canon Typical Violence

Author's Website: tciddaemina's AO3

Summary: The Night King dies eight years early, slain by a Jon Snow who remembers a life once lived. Here are the repercussions.

Review: Time travel fixits run a pretty wide range of fixes. From complete fix every plot point to came back just before the big event and fix that one thing and solves the issue in one blow. This one is unusual because it's in the lesser seen middle ground. Where the character changed most things by fucking off and doing something completely different from canon.

I'm this case Jon comes back and immediately goes north of the wall. Leaving a note to his father to deal with the canon shit. The narrative then follows him and later Tormund in saving the Wildlings/Free Folk. And south of the wall, almost as a side effect. Which means most of the main fic is focused on different Free folk cultures.

With a little of the original canon plot elements creeping in around the Epilogue from Ned's POV. But even then his focus is mainly on his trip through the North to see Jon. With the sequel set a few years later and highlighting the differences in broader world.

As someone with a soft spot for culture focused fiction this absolute focus on interpersonal and cultural byplay is an absolute joy. Along with the kindness shown among the various characters in situations where in canon cruelty would rule the day.

i woke upon the dawn series

Fandom: 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù; 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)
Relationship: Cangse Sanren/Lan Qiren/Wei Changze; Parental Lan Qiren
Length: 40k
Warnings: Past and Implied Attempted Noncon, Temporary Character Death (due to time travel), Mention of Past Child Abuse

Author's Website: Stratisphyre AO3

Summary: “...the elders have ordered the child to be removed to the wet nurse. Madam Lan will be permitted to see him once a month once her confinement has ended.”

Lan Qiren considered this for a moment; the long years of watching his sister-in-law waste away, the grief Wangji and Xichen carried throughout their lives after her death, the pain their family had suffered through because of it.

And then, channelling his gremlin nephew-in-law who sat so close to the surface of his thoughts, Lan Qiren set his shoulders back and replied, “Over my dead fucking body.”

On the heels of a great tragedy, Lan Qiren finds himself sent back in time to his youth. He decides to save, in order, his sister-in-law, his best friend, his best friend’s husband, and the only sect leader who may have a chance of standing against Wen Ruohan.

Review: Time travel fixits are a mainstay of the Untamed fandom. It's like it's a tragedy or something./sarcasm

Less common is for Lan Qiren to be the one to go back. After the death of Lan Zhan's immediate family he accidentally n triggers one of Wei Wuxian's arrays traveling back to Lan Zhan's birth. Overly cautious he tries to focus on the Lan's historical problems rather than the world, starting with his sister in laws imprisonment.

Thankfully for the world at large he's forgotten a few things. Like the fact his interfering best friend  is still alive and interested not only in figuring out what's going on with him, but stopping the war as well. Add her logistically skilled husband and you have a buecratically managed end to the war. And really is there any better way to woo a Lan than forms filed in triplicate?

Both the slow burn and thr fixit are handled with Stratisphyre's usual deft hand. And weaving them both together makes for a fun and fast paced read.

in stillness, clear water to the bottom