What song makes you feel better?
What is your go to comfort show?
Reading or writing? Why?
Whats your favorite feeling?
How do you like to take care of yourself?
What’s your favorite candle scent?
Who do you feel most like yourself around?
Whats a fabric/texture that’s nostalgic for you?
Best childhood moment?
When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? (or just felt really good afterwards)
Do you have a comfort item? Tell us about it!
What calms you down?
Bath or shower to relax?
Whats something upcoming that you’re excited for?
Comfort food?
What’s something you want to create soon?
How do you feel best loved?
What age in life do you think you’ll feel most yourself at?
Have you ever written or received a love letter?
Tell us about a memory you hold close to your heart.
Tea, Coffee, or hot cocoa?
Name of your favorite playlist?
Have you ever received flowers?
Who is your bestfriend?
If your soul was a color, what would it be?
If you could live anywhere with anyone you want, where would it be and who would you bring?
Do you like to garden? Have you ever grown something?
What are you proudest of?
Are you a kind person?
What do your hobbies look like?
loons
"I can't believe [media] was actually about _____ the whole time!!!"
[one possible interpretation, yep]
[literally the main theme??]
[worst take you've seen in your life]
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries
By Heather Fawcett
Genre: Fantasy
Tl;Dr: 5/5
Synopsis: An epistolary story about a professor who travels to an isolated mountain town to study the Fae for her encyclopedia, but she learns about love, friendship, and community along the way
CW: Mild violence
Review: (Minor Spoilers)
5 Star TL;DR: believable and charming characters, a grumpy yet completely endearing MC, and a strong use of the journal format.
I found this book so immersive and charming. Scientific discovery as an ongoing narrative theme was relatable (as a scientist) and stayed relevant throughout without being grating. The other themes of coming to trust and rely on others and the importance of community, grew in intensity over the story. In that way, we were able to watch Emily’s heart soften and the world open up to embrace her. This is a slow paced fantasy, so we mainly get to watch Emily coming around to the idea of making friends and building meaningful relationships, alongside the magical action.
Emily was complicated and nuanced in such a beautiful and honest way. Although it is not confirmed by the author, Emily reads as autistic. I’m not autistic, so I can only speak from my outside perspective, but it felt real and not heavy handed (please let me know if I am way off here!). Because Emily was so realized, I found it easy to relate to her and root for her.
The Fae mythos was well thought out and integrated into the story. I don’t have a background in the Fae, so maybe I missed a few inaccuracies (ie. me not realizing that changelings are often used as a harmful allegory for transness, oof). However, as a package, the light magic system and fae mythos were compelling and fun to read about.
The romance was a big hit! Wendell and Emily are complete opposites, yet they function as perfect complements to each other. I love the level of tenderness that Wendell expresses for her and the resolute and pragmatic honesty that Emily brings in return. I was kicking my feet in delight. But remember, dear reader, I am a silly little goose.
Overall, I would recommend this to everyone, but especially people who like the Fae, light fantasy, or sweet romances.
museums should repatriate artifacts belonging to living cultures and display reproductions instead
Im about 100 pgs in! I'm absolutely entranced by Kim's depiction of ballet. I know nothing about ballet schools or the like, but I feel like I do now!! The book is so dreamy and atmospheric, and I love how draws you into the MCs mind.
The story telling jumps between past and present. I'm starting to see our MC really start to fracture as she comes to terms with what she went through when she returns to her home and is faced with familiar people and places. A deeply relatable feeling tbh when you return to your hometown ☠️
Current read! The closest I'll get to being a ballerina.
“What was archaeology to him? It was the opposite of killing things. It was trying to will life back into stuff that had been forgotten and buried for thousands or millions of years. It was not about shards and pieces of bone or treasure; it was about kneeling down in the elements, paying very close attention, and trying to locate a spark of the human life that had once touched that spot there.”
— Marilyn Johnson, Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble
i am about to create an au SO self indulgent. the target audience is 1 person and that person is me
Yo! I'm Kris (they/them)! I'm a queer scientist who loves to read, play TTRPGs, and do art. ✨a reading blog✨
98 posts