Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag: 2025 edition

Tags July 20, 2025

Happy Sunday!

As you enter this blog post, I humbly ask you to please ignore several things:

First, that I have not posted in over a year. Life was Life and filled up faster than I could have imagined. Oops. Forget work-life balance: the work-social-school-leisure balance is wild to manage. It's a work in progress, but we're getting there.
Second, that blogging feels like an unused muscle right now. I'm slowly getting back into this writing style, but it’s still an adjustment.
And third, that the year is more than halfway over, and this tag is late in coming. *shrugs helplessly* It is what it is.

Anyways, as just mentioned, it is almost August, and though I haven't been blogging, I have been reading. Oh, boy, have I been reading. As of the day I'm writing this, I have read 43 books so far in 2025. That number shocks me, considering just how little time I've had to read. But hey, I'm not complaining XD!

BEST BOOK YOU'VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

I've honestly read so many good books this year, it's hard to pick one. But The Howling Dark by Christopher Ruocchio was absolutely insane in the best possible way. It's got everything—space travel, a dash of horror, literary references galore, and a fascinating protagonist.

~~yes, technically this is book two in a series, and the next question deals with sequels. it's fine.~~

BEST SEQUEL YOU'VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

No question: The Legendary Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud. I've been looking forward to this last book in the trilogy for two years, and it was everything I could have asked for. I miss these characters already XD.

A NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN'T READ BUT WANT TO

Black Dragon by Katie Hanna came out a few months ago, and I still need to snag a copy. I adored Water Horse and cannot wait to jump back into this world.

YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK FOR THE REST OF 2025

The first book in Millie Florence's Mage Pocket series! It comes out October 27th, and I'm so hyped. (seriously, she keeps posting about it on Instagram, and I keep losing my mind about it all over again !!!!)

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT SO FAR

I picked up This Was Our Pact, a MG graphic novel by Ryan Andrews, because of the stunning cover. And while the art didn't disappoint at all, the story did let me down a little. I wish the main character's internal conflict had been a bit more front-and-center, as I didn't sense very many stakes tied to this conflict. It's a shame, because I was rather more invested in his emotional journey than in the finding-our-way-back-home plotline.

Then again, this is a MG graphic novel, and I am definitely not the target audience anymore, so take this review with several grains of salt XD.

BIGGEST SURPRISE SO FAR

The Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover. I know, I know, it's a movie novelization.

Somehow this book made the movie better.

You should definitely read this if you like Star Wars. It's nothing short of incredible.

NEW FAVORITE AUTHOR

Christopher Ruocchio! I heard about him through a Discord server earlier this year, and his Sun Eater series (book two of which is the aforementioned The Howling Dark) have all been five-star reads for me. I'll be checking out everything this man has ever written—as soon as I catch up with the Sun Eater series. (Only four more books to go XD.)

NEW FAVORITE CHARACTER

Technically this isn't a new favorite character, as I've watched both anime adaptations of Trigun before this year. I didn't start reading the manga until 2025, though, and the original version of Vash the Stampede is just . . . ack, I love him so much. He strikes a perfect balance of bright-and-happy and also angsty XD. I have cried multiple times over his portrayal in the manga and wish there was more to read.

NEW FAVORITE SHIP

*crickets chirping*

I'm . . . um . . . I'm really not a shipper XD. I'll go with Hadrian and Valka from the Sun Eater series, I suppose. I like them together well enough, though to say I ship them is a bit of a stretch.

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

The Winners by Fredrick Backman. Sobbed through the last fifty pages. This is no surprise, given I've cried over every book Backman has written, but still—ow.

(in general, the Beartown series, of which The Winners is book three, is a heartbreaking series that deals with heavy topics. if you consider reading this series, please look at the content warnings; it's a rough go.)

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

The Box and the Dragonfly by Ted Sanders! This MG fantasy made me feel like I was 10 and discovering a new favorite series in the library all over again. I found myself riveted and wonderstruck over this book. 10/10 recommend. The worldbuilding in particular is crazy.

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU'VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

~~not me trying to remember what books I've bought this year~~

Well, I got the first three books of the Stormlight Archives free, and those covers are absolutely stunning!

BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

Hard to pick just one, but in addition to the books I've already mentioned:

- Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

- Blue Period by Tsubasa Yamaguchi

- The Dreams Between Us by Brooke Riley

One Quirk Later // when your assassination victim overrides your plans

Friends + Tours August 25, 2021

Happy Wednesday!

~~yes I am aware that this is not Sunday. I couldn't get this post ready by last Sunday. XD~~

Today I'm finally participating in Jem Jones' One Quirk Later story prompt madness! I've been meaning to participate for the longest time, but I didn't have the time or energy.

Not that I have the time or energy now, but oh well, I needed to write something this month.

So, before we jump into the story, you should probably check out Jem's post and see this month's prompt. I'm not including the prompt here (a) because you should go see Jem's post, and (b) because my story kind of went off the rails and doesn't fit the prompt that well anymore. XD

I apologize, it's a bit of a long story (1.5k words), and I haven't edited it that much. But the deadline is almost upon me, so here you go XD.

~~Send letter to target.~~

~~Obtain tower floor plan.~~

~~Order flowers for target’s grave.~~

~~Sharpen knife.~~

Callum stared at his checklist in satisfaction. He’d cut its completion a bit close. The flower company was lacking their usual selection, and he’d mulled over their options for far too long. It was nearly midnight before he’d returned to his dwelling, flower order placed, to sharpen his knife.

But all was going well thus far – all that was left was to sneak into the tower and assassinate his target, and his day would officially be successful.

He would worry another day about whether her family liked the flowers.

He touched the knives sheathed at his thighs and double-checked his tool belt. He always brought a variety of weapons to an assassination: knives, poisons, even small explosives. But he drew the line at large weapons. Swords were too conspicuous, and axes were just heavy.

Rubbing the back of his neck with a gloved hand, he examined the thin file he’d received of his next target: a seventeen-year-old girl named Elspeth. Of the nobility, though it wasn’t uncommon for targets to be among that class. Based on the time he’d sent her the letter, she would have had twelve hours to prepare for her death.

He almost smiled. But he was an assassin, trained to be brutal and emotionless. And just because he was known as the Kindly Assassin didn’t mean he smiled.

He was ahead of schedule on this assassination. That never happened. Maybe he’d get a day off after this.

Callum donned his mask - black as the shadows, covering the top half of his face - and left his dwelling. No one frequented the streets at this time of night – at least, no one with an innocent profession. But Callum knew thieves, assassins, and other such workers hid in the shadowy alleys, wearing similar masks as his own. He, however, walked openly down the street. No one would pick him out of a crowd anyways. His simple dark clothes showed nothing suspicious at a glance, and his plain appearance didn't draw more attention than anyone else's.

Besides, the only people who would mess with him were other assassins. And those would never approach him while he was on the job. Standard assassin conduct.

He darted down a few empty streets, and his target’s home, a lone tower in the middle of the city, rose into view. Stone blocks formed its outer wall, but its conic roof was comprised of thick wooden beams. Callum couldn’t see most of the tower now – just vague shapes and colors – but he remembered enough about its structure to know that there was exactly one practical way in that didn't involve additional death.

He sighed. Stars, why did all the well-paying jobs involve climbing? He’d never invested in climbing gear – it was too confusing. But climbing without that was terrifying, and that was his challenge now. There was precisely one window on the side of his target: the one belonging to the target herself.

Breath catching, he hoisted himself off the ground and began scaling the wall quickly, not letting himself think of the growing distance between himself and the ground. The unsmoothed stone poked at his hands, despite his gloves. The air grew cooler as he ascended.

Somehow he managed to reach the window without panicking, but the hardest part was ahead. He hoped against hope that the window was unlocked. If not, things were about to get noisy.

But his worries were unfounded. The window was already open.

Odd that a window should be open this late.

But he’d seen stranger things happen, and he was grateful he didn't have to mess with it. He took his chance and clambered in.

Any other night, Callum would have glanced around the room, made note of the surrounding features, and planned a method of escape within seconds. But now his attention was drawn to the figure in the center of the room, clothed in a black dress and with a hood over her head, a burning candle on the desk next to her. Underneath the hood, a girl’s face could faintly be seen.

He cocked his head and touched one of the knives at his side. “You must be the lady Elspeth. I see you got my letter. Have you gotten your affairs in order? I’d hate for you to leave this life with any regrets.”

She stood stiffly in front of him, arms crossed. "I apologize in advance for the inconvenience my murder is going to have on your life."

Callum paused for a moment, confused. Then it clicked, and he nearly choked trying to suppress his laughter. "Wait, did you rehearse that?"

"Oh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware I was here to entertain you." Callum imagined her scowling. "I wanted to have a strong opening statement."

"Well," he said, "it's not the worst I've ever heard." He couldn’t forget the time one of his targets, a noblewoman, had performed a three-act play all by herself. In addition to its lengthiness, the woman also couldn't act.

“Excuse me," Elspeth shot back, "it’s rather difficult to act calm when you get a letter saying that you’ll die in twelve hours.”

Callum shrugged. “Aren’t you glad you got the news, though? If I hadn’t told you, you’d already be dead.”

“Am I supposed to be thanking the man trying to kill me?” She threw her hood off, revealing frizzy brown hair that was pulled into a loose ponytail.

“At least I’m letting you choose the manner of your death.” He unsheathed the knife on his left side. “So, what will it be? I’ve got knives, bombs, a whole variety of poisons –”

“Excuse me, I wasn’t done with my speech,” Elspeth said, interrupting him (rather rudely, Callum thought). “Instead of murdering me, I thought you might be interested in a business opportunity. You are the Kindly Assassin, after all.”

Callum raised an eyebrow. Watching as the candle’s light danced across the knife’s blade, he said, “Curious. What makes you think the Kindly Assassin would help you with anything?”

“Because I don’t think you’re as ruthless as you claim to be – not counting the name.”

“My lady, the Kindly Assassin is one of the most intimidating names in the city today.”

“Maybe for weak-minded people,” she scoffed. “I am no such person, and I think you, mister kindly assassin, have promise for me.”

Callum sheathed his knife, withholding a smile. “All right, my lady. Let’s hear what you have to say. But I warn you, I’ll probably kill you afterwards anyways.” At the very least, this should give him an entertaining story. He’d had people bargain for their lives before, but not like this.

Clearing her throat, Elspeth strode to her desk, pulled out a thick book, and held it up for Callum to see. “I’ve got my proposition for you in here.” She threw it at him from across the room, and he nearly dropped his knife trying to catch it. In all his years in the assassination business, he’d never had anyone throw something at him. “Read it tonight. Send me another letter tomorrow. Let me know if you’re in.”

Callum examined the book, a worn leather-bound notebook. Pages stuck out of it like sticks in unshaved wood blocks. He didn’t even bother opening it. “And how do you know I won’t kill you now and take this notebook with me?”

She shrugged. “Simple. I’ve got guards on standby outside my bedroom door. If you even think about it, I’ll yell as loudly as I can.”

“They would be too slow.”

“But I’d take you down with me.”

They stared daggers at each other, neither moving.

Finally, Callum sighed. “Fine. I’ll give it a look-over. But on one condition.”

“Do tell.” She crossed her arms again. “But make it quick. I’ve spent too much time negotiating with you already.”

Stars, did this girl ever think about another person?

“The condition is this.” Callum held his blade parallel with his face. “While I’m considering whatever is in here, you don’t tell a soul about tonight.”

She snorted. “Oh. That’s all? I was planning that from the beginning. Glad to hear we’re on the same page. Now, get going. I have other matters to attend to.”

Callum tucked the notebook in the back of his belt and sheathed his knife. “You’re lucky I still have time before your assassination due date.”

“I was counting on it.”

He rolled his eyes. “Well, have a good night, my lady.” He bit off another sarcastic comment and climbed out the window.

It wasn’t until he was halfway down the tower that he realized what had just happened.

He had let a target successfully convince him not to kill her.

Well, he thought, the faintest smirk touching his face. This could be interesting.

And that's that! I'm hoping to make this a serial of sorts - one installment per Quirk - but we'll see if that happens. College does tend to drain the life out of you, after all. XD

I hope you enjoyed this story! And if you didn't, thanks for reading anyways!

And now I must return to the wonderful world that is homework deadlines. *vanishes*

-Nicole <3

Behind the Blogger Tag

Blogging Life January 17, 2021

Happy Sunday!

As you're reading this, I'm currently heading back to college. #yikes I can't promise that I won't disappear, but I'm hoping to post once every two weeks. HOPEFULLY I learned enough about time management last semester to successfully pull this off.

~~just watch me fail epically at this~~

But, in case I do disappear right off the bat, I decided to do the Behind the Blogger Tag to reassure you that I am actually a blogger and not a supernatural being who can only stay in this form for so long. XD

Thank the person who nominated you. Thank you so much, Jenna! <3

Answer the questions.

Ping back to the creator: Ellyn of Allonsythornraxx (which is the best name EVER)

Nominate 5+ bloggers to do the tag.

Why did you start blogging, and why have you kept blogging?

Oof, that's a loaded question.

I started blogging rather reluctantly. My parents and teachers kept saying that it would be "a great way to improve my writing." So I started my first blog out of peer pressure. XD

Why I kept blogging . . . well, it was because of you, honestly. Through blogging, I discovered a community of young writers unlike anything from my wildest dreams. And I knew that these were my people. So yeah, thank you for giving me a chance. <3 <3

What is your favorite type of blog post to write?

Recently, I've loved writing story analysis posts! Ironically, those are also the scariest posts for me to publish. I'm always worried I missed some huge plot thing in my analysis which would ruin it. XD But you know, those posts are always a work in progress. ~~and maybe one day I'll actually write about a book instead of anime~~

What are your top three favorite blog posts?

That's SO HARD. But since you're making me choose . . .

You Were Made For More - no, it's not the greatest poem ever written, but it really helped me get through the summer of 2018.
They're Not Just For Kids: A Rant - I'm thinking of making an anime-focused part 2, because the stigma of cartoons only being "for kids" is still something that ticks me off.
How To Write a Bestselling YA Fantasy Novel - definitely a classic XD

Honestly, I still like a lot of my blog posts, even the older ones. It surprises me, because usually people HATE their early posts. And . . . yeah, mine aren't the greatest things to ever appear on the Internet. But we all had to start somewhere, and I don't think I did a horrible job on them. *shrugs*

What are some of your favorite things to do to relax?

~~Binge-watch YouTube~~

~~Binge-watch TV shows~~

~~Procrastinate~~

Read books, of course! I'm a book blogger, what did you expect? ;) But I also really love to journal. It's a great way for me to unload stress and unwind from the day.

What are three of your favorite things?

My Zuko Funko Pop.

My bullet journal.

And the stash of dark chocolate I've hoarded in my desk for weeks. Don't ask how much there is. It's embarrassing.

What are your proudest blogging moments?

Oh, heavens . . . every blogging moment I've ever had has slipped out of my mind.

Honestly, my proudest blogging moments were the first time someone commented on my blog, and the first time someone responded to my comment on their blog. At that moment, I just remember feeling a huge sense of relief that people were accepting me into the community.

I'm a very self-doubting person, in case you can't tell. XD

What are your hobbies outside of blogging?

I mean, reading, writing, Spotify . . . storytelling in general.

Describe your personality in three words.

*flees from this question* You expect me to sum up my entire being in three words???

*sighs* All right, fine.

Obsessed with stories.

What are your top three pet peeves?

~~when people ask me to describe myself in three words~~

Interruptions. When I think I've finished a task and then realize I missed an entire part of it. When I throw off a bullet journal spread by misdrawing one line in pen.

What's something your followers don't know about you?

I recently acquired Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit, and it comes with a copy of the One Ring. So basically, I'm a Ringbearer now. XD

Ah, yes, the hardest part of the tag. Picking people to tag. XD

Samantha @ Bookshire

Emily @ The Ones That Really Matter

Ribbon Ash @ Virtual Paper

Diamond @ I Have 12% of a Plan

and YOU! Because you are an AMAZING blogger, and you deserve to show the world. :D

And here are the questions for copy/paste purposes:

Why did you start blogging, and why have you kept blogging?

What is your favorite type of blog post to write?

What are your top three favorite blog posts?

What are some of your favorite things to do to relax?

What are three of your favorite things?

What are your proudest blogging moments?

What are your hobbies outside of blogging?

Describe your personality in three words.

What are your top three pet peeves?

What's something your followers don't know about you?

And that's the end of this tag! I hope this was entertaining for you to read.

You won't see me post next week, but hopefully I'll be able to post every other week! *fingers crossed*

So, until then . . .

-Nicole <3

How did you get started blogging? What are YOUR top three pet peeves? (Please tell me I'm not the only one who struggles to describe themselves XD) Let's chat!

The Sunshine Blogger Award x1000 (only a slight exaggeration)

Tags December 06, 2020

HAPPY SUNDAY!!! *tackle-hugs you*

Wow, it has been a longgggg time since I've written a blog post, and I do apologize for that. The past few months have been weird and crazy and fun, what with school and all. But now that exams are done, I can FINALLY sit down and start writing blog posts again. And this time, I don't plan on disappearing for a while. <3

Anyways, to get myself back in the blogosphere, I'm doing the Sunshine Blogger Award! I have been tagged for this six times. I probably should have done it earlier. It's fine. XD

THE RULES

1. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you and link back to their blog(s) so others can find them. All right, a huge shoutout to Sarah @ Pen of a Ready Writer, Lacy @ The Life of an Elf, Bethany @ Scribbled Fiction, Ash @ Starlight Strands, Rakayle @ A Story Detective, and MovieCritic @ Movies Meet Their Match for tagging me! You need to check out their blogs - they're all so kind and incredible! <3

2. List the rules and display an award logo on your blog post.

3. Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you. So, plot twist, I'm not doing this. There would be 66 questions to go through, and I don't think anyone wants that. XD Instead, I'll pick my favorite 3-4 questions from each blogger.

4. Ask the nominees 11 new questions. This was a struggle for me when I did this tag last time. We'll see what happens. XD

SARAH'S QUESTIONS

What's your dream work space aesthetic?

. . . I have literally never thought about this before, but it's such an interesting question!

I really like the library aesthetic - bookshelves around every corner, pages rustling, stuff like that. But if I were to work in that environment, I would have to make sure I couldn't see anyone. For some reason, whenever I work in a crowded library, I get really distracted. *shrugs*

What's a subject in school that surprised you by not being as awful as you thought?

Chemistry! I mean, don't get me wrong, the math aspects are still awful. But the non-math elements are super interesting, and I'm hoping it's helpful for a future story. We'll see.

. . . who am I kidding, the main reason I liked chemistry in high school was because we got to make lava. It was pretty great. :D

What song's lyrics have had the most impact on you and why?

I don't think I could narrow down any song that's influenced me throughout my life. I only started listening to music regularly about . . . three years ago? But in 2020, "Pompeii" by Bastille has definitely impacted me - especially the line "But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?"

So many things changed this year, but at the same time it feels as though we've reached a new normal of sorts. And this song really reflects that feeling for me.

LACY'S QUESTIONS

Favorite scene from a book (can be a WIP)?

Wait. Favorite scene EVER? *screams*

Okay, okay, that's too broad. I'm separating this into two categories:

- Scene from one of my WIPs: it's a tie between (a) a scene in Project Chaos involving Aspen (which made me cry) and (b) a reunion scene I'm planning for the Inhumans (which I'm sure will make me cry).

- Scene from a different book/movie/show: I think the "Hello, Zuko here" scene in season three of Avatar: the Last Airbender might have to steal this award. It's just . . . it's just awkward perfection, what can I say?

In your opinion, what is the most overrated emoji?

The high-five emoji. I didn't understand it was a high-five emoji for the longest time - I thought it was a prayer emoji. And besides, when do you ever use the high-five emoji anyways?? It just seems so pointless to me.

What do you have a possibly unhealthy stash of?

Besides books? ~~too many books can never be unhealthy~~ Right now, it'd have to be junk food. I have an absurd amount of chocolate stashed in my bedroom. The sadder part is, I'm going to eat it all myself.

Would you rather have a pet giraffe or live in Antarctica with the penguins?

I LOVE THIS QUESTION SO MUCH. And while I'd love to go penguin-sledding in Antarctica (if you know, you know), I think I'd rather stay warm and have a pet giraffe.

I will admit, though, I don't know where I would keep said giraffe. I'm sure I could figure something out, though.

BETHANY'S QUESTIONS

What is the song you know every word to?

The entirety of Hamilton. I wish I was kidding, but at long last I think I've got the entire musical down. (okay, maybe not Say No to This, but let's be honest, I don't want that in my head)

You're going to battle against the boss villain. What fictional mentor are you bringing back to life to give you advice?

Um. There are too many to choose from. I don't know if I can do this.

Right now, I'm thinking I want Brom from the Inheritance Cycle. I don't know why. I just think he would give great advice that would take into account all my physical inabilities. ~~aka my lack of muscle, strength, and speed~~

In your opinion, what is the best book in the world?

I literally have no idea why I picked this question, because I don't have an answer for it. XD

Actually, never mind, I have an answer: the Bible. ;)

ASH'S QUESTIONS

What's your favorite color and why?

My favorite color is teal. It's a gorgeous color! ~~definitely has nothing to do with the fact that I once shipped Sophie Foster with a certain teal-eyed boy, definitely not~~

What inspired you to start blogging?

This is actually a really long story, but essentially one day I stumbled upon Katie Grace's blog (A Writer's Faith), thus discovering the blogosphere and becoming driven to start blogging.

If you were given $1000 to spend right now, what would you do?

Probably panic, because I'm very indecisive and horrible at snap decisions. So basically I'd waste this golden opportunity to partially pay for college and buy books.

RAKAYLE'S QUESTIONS

What movie did you last watch?

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation! We recently bought the six-movie collection of the MI movies and are slowly going through them. This one, #5, was pretty good - although I still stand by my opinion that Fallout is the best one.

One YouTube channel you recommend?

~~you all know what's coming~~

Personally, I highly recommend TwoSetViolin, a classical music / comedy channel. ;) Their content is precisely my kind of humor, and I learn things about classical music from them! (I've even considered making a fandom letter for them, but also . . . they're real people, and it feels weird. XD)

But if you're tired of my non-stop promotion of this channel, I'd also recommend Dein0mite. He's a lesser-known piano channel who is very educational when it comes to memes. While his humor is also spot-on, he's worth watching just because you can tell that he loves playing the piano.

(I kid you not, Megalovania started playing while I wrote Dein0mite's description, and if you're familiar with his channel, you'll know why I'm FREAKING OUT OVER THIS.)

What language do you want to learn?

Korean! I have a Korean friend, and she's really inspired me to learn the language.

But I didn't realize how hard learning Asian languages would be to an English speaker. If anyone has any advice, please let me know. XD

Have you ever played Minecraft?

Um, HECK YEAH I HAVE. That game deserves all the hype it has ever received. I don't really play it anymore (*cries*), but I hope that someday I have the time and motivation to pick it back up again!

(let's be honest, though, the real reason I don't play anymore is because I had a giant wooden mansion in survival mode and one day I accidentally set it on fire -_-)

MOVIECRITIC'S QUESTIONS

Are there any movies you like better than the book they were based on?

Actually, yes. I much prefer the Rise of the Guardians movie (the one with Jack Frost) to the book series on which it's based.

Now, don't get me wrong - the books are good. But something about the movie is just so magical and fun, and the books don't really capture that, in my opinion. I would still highly recommend both, though. :D

If you were in an action movie, what would be your weapon of choice?

First off, if I was in an action movie, I would die about five minutes in. BUT, if I somehow managed to survive those five minutes, I'd probably want a gun. I don't know how to use guns, but it'd probably go better than if I used knives or (heaven forbid) straight-up martial arts.

But can I please just be the behind-the-scenes tech person that never fights, like Benjy in Mission Impossible? XD

What are the best and worst books you've read so far this year?

Ooo, this is really hard. I think the best books I've read so far would have to be the Lockwood and Co. series by Jonathan Stroud. It's a fantastic series about children who fight ghosts for a living, and it's just EPIC. (Lockwood the character is also legitimately amazing <3)

As for worst . . . maybe A Map for Wrecked Girls? It wasn't really my type of story, and it had a LOT of mature content that I don't believe was well-written. Another book I didn't like this year was Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf. It was a school read, and I just did NOT like the overall experience. :(

What are your thoughts on time travel?

TIME TRAVEL IS SO COOL IN FICTION - when done right. ~~looking at you, Flash~~

THE TAGGED

*sigh* we've hit this part again, haven't we?

By this point, I think most people have done this tag. If you haven't done it yet, you're tagged. No exceptions. XD

And your questions to answer are as follows:

What's been the best part about your day today?
Most anticipated book or movie release of 2021?
Current favorite song?
What's something that surprised you about blogging?
What drives you to get out of bed in the morning?
Chocolate or caramel?
Show us three GIFs that describe your blog post writing process.
A book that changed your life?
Describe your ideal day.
If you could delete any food from existence, what would it be and why?
Least favorite social media platform?

~~those questions should not have been that hard to create XD~~

It's so good to be blogging again! I've missed talking to you guys, and I can't wait to share more random content with you all. Thanks for sticking around. <3

-Nicole <3

How's life been for you these past couple months? Do you play Minecraft? What's your weapon of choice? Let's talk! :D

The Hobbiton Tag! // ft. my love of hot chocolate

Fandom Ramblings September 20, 2020

Happy Sunday!

Yes, I'm "back" - kind of. I've really missed blogging, and I don't think I can disappear entirely without going crazy. You can expect posts on random Sundays. XD

BUT we're not here to talk about my mess of a posting schedule. We're here to talk about one of the most important bookish events of the year.

This week, on September 22nd, Bilbo and Frodo have their birthdays! And I remembered that I have this super-old tag that Emily created last year. I didn't do it then because I was on semi-hiatus, but now I have time in my posting schedule!

Let's just do this.

THE RULES

Please use the above graphic and link back to me!
Answer the questions!
Tag as many people as you like! (okay, but seriously, thank you for not clarifying, because I literally have no idea who has all done this XD)

THE TAG

You've invited Bilbo over for second breakfast. What are you serving? Hmmmm, for second breakfast? Maybe some waffles and sausage, with strawberries on the side. And chocolate milk. *shrugs* ~~I was so close to just answering with strawberry Pop-Tarts. You have no idea how long I've eaten those for breakfast.~~

It's a nice, cozy evening in your hobbit hole. What kind of hot drink do you relax with? Hot chocolate, of course! #superiortocoffee #sorrynotsorry

You have to invite either Gollum or the Sackville-Bagginses to your birthday party. Who do you choose? Is "neither" an answer?

No?

I guess I'd have to pick the Sackville-Bagginses then - I'd have a better chance of survival. XD I can't stop thinking about Gollum searching the house for gold rings and getting violent when he wants to keep one.

Cold weather has settled into the Shire. Do you curl up with a sweater or a blanket? If I had to choose between them, I'd pick a blanket. I'm not a fan of sweaters. I just find them so itchy and uncomfortable. *runs from the sweater fans*

Who would you rather go on an adventure with, Bilbo or Frodo? EMILY, THIS IS SUCH A CRUEL QUESTION.

I feel like Bilbo would go on way less dangerous adventures than Frodo, so I'd have to go with Bilbo for that reason alone. I don't want to deal with Ringwraiths, sorry. ~~or a giant war, or a dark lord, or a giant spider in a claustrophobic cave, or . . .~~

You're stuck in your hobbit hole with a snowstorm outside. How do you spend your evening? Reading, writing, or watching a movie! And hot chocolate. We can't forget that. ;)

You're planning your birthday party. What's the entertainment: Gandalf's fireworks or Merry and Pippin's singing and dancing? Hmmmm . . . *is scheming for a loophole* I'd say Gandalf's fireworks, for two reasons:

His fireworks are the most epic inventions ever.
If I invite Merry and Pippin, we're bound to get some singing and dancing anyways. ;)

Of course, as a hobbit, you'd prefer to go barefoot. But if you were the sort for such things, would you prefer fuzzy socks or cozy slippers? Socks all the way! I've tried slippers before, and . . . I don't know why, but I'm just not a fan? But socks are just closer to being barefoot.

Sam's brought you some of his autumn harvest! What do you make: pumpkin pie? Baked apples? Butternut squash soup? The options are endless! All right, confession time: I am such a picky eater it's not even funny. As a result, I don't really like those classic autumn foods. So I would hope that Sam brings potatoes, just so I can make mashed potatoes. XD

(my taste in food is the most pathetic thing ever, seriously)

It's a beautiful, crisp autumn day in the Shire. What are your plans for the day? Ooo, this is a fun question! I'd probably wake up late, take a walk outside, then spend the rest of the day reading or writing. ~~actually, who am I kidding, I'd just binge-watch a TV show or YouTube. that's what I do anyways~~

Okay, that was one of the coziest tags I've ever done. I'm getting alllllll the autumn/Shire vibes right now. *grabs a hoodie*

If you haven't done this tag yet, I tag you! And I hope you find a way to celebrate Bilbo and Frodo's birthday on Tuesday. Just remember: just like in Middle-earth, there is still hope, even in these crazy times. <3

-Nicole <3

How are you celebrating Bilbo and Frodo's birthdays? Do you like fall? Do you prefer hot chocolate, tea, or coffee? Let's talk!

WIP Spotlight: Project Chaos! + What My Characters Did in Quarantine

Tags August 09, 2020

Happy Sunday!

In my July Happenings post, I mentioned that I finished the first draft of Project Chaos during the last week of July!

*screams forever*

In the 100 days I allotted to write this draft, I ended up with 67,000 words, at least six late nights, one attempted cup of coffee, and my first experience with crying over something I've written. So on the whole, I'd say the endeavor was pretty successful. XD

Since I haven't really talked about what Project Chaos is, I figured I'd do - you guessed it - another dying tag. I've been wondering what these characters would do in quarantine, so let's find out . . .

THE PLOT OF PROJECT CHAOS:

Fifteen years ago, a mysterious force known as the Corruption invaded the country of Levende, destroying villages and technology, along with wiping out thousands of people. But for Karina, it's a bit more personal. The Corruption took her gift - a special ability - making her the only giftless person in Levende.

When a risky trip into a restricted Corrupted area is discovered, Karina and her worrywart brother Morten are sentenced to two years in Exile, a juvenile reformation center. But barely three days into her stay at Exile, it burns down. And the survivors are blamed for it.

Karina is forced to team up with the fire's few survivors in order to clear their names and track down the true culprits. But everyone has their secrets, and can they truly trust each other?

And what happens when the answers they seek are darker than they were expecting?

~~yeah, it's not the best summary ever, but it was pretty spur-of-the-moment. basically, fugitives are forced to clear their names while having trust issues~~

~~And faeries. We can't forget them.~~

Now, I present to you what my characters did in quarantine!

KARINA

the main character

exploration // outer strength // pranks // Strong Independent Woman // hide the pain // pink everblooming flowers // You Don't Know Me // considerable trust issues // giftless but has Personality

Karina got cabin fever on day 1 of quarantine. She FaceTimes at least three people a day, for hours at a time. And when she's not FaceTiming, she's intruding on her brother Morten's privacy. (But hey, that's what happens when he locks himself in his room for hours on end.)

However, does she do online schooling? . . . Of course not. Ever since her school announced that the last semester would not affect her overall GPA, she hasn't even looked at the coursework, much less thought about it. Instead, she spends her days yearning to go outside and talk with people.

And yeah, sometimes she sneaks out of the house - with a mask - and explores the woods outside of her house. But to be fair, they're not that crowded (at least, not anymore).

MORTEN

Karina's brother, the nerd, and the morally upright

books are better than people // constantly worried // brother or babysitter? // why did Karina drag me into this // safety // too smart for his own good // illusion-creating gift

Morten isn't having a horrible time with quarantine. He's found that he prefers online schooling to in-person schooling, although he's been struggling with the technology piece. Why can't teachers mail him the necessary materials instead of using the Internet? He much prefers using his textbook, rather than Zoom lectures.

But he's been studying and learning more than ever before! Since fishing isn't really an option right now, reading has taken priority. He read thirty nonfiction books last week alone. And he's also been taking handwritten notes (his favorite) for a research project he's working on. No, the research project isn't required for school. It's just for fun.

All his friends think that Morten has dropped off the face of the earth because he hasn't contacted them at all since quarantine started. He's just fine with that.

And by the way, don't mention the word "coronavirus" near him, because he's legitimately terrified of it. It's the other reason why he won't leave his room.

LYSANDER

the mom friend

charism // honesty always // rebel // popular yet alone // Daddy Issues 1.0 // soldier // almost isn't good enough // lie detecting gift

The minute online schooling was announced, Lysander went immediately to his Passion Planner and planned out the next three months of life, along with setting up a new daily routine. Unlike a bunch of his fellow classmates whose lives become disorganized and chaotic, HIS life is scheduled out to the minute. From waking up at 4:30 AM and doing a rigorous exercise routine, to getting homework done the day it's assigned (getting straight As in the process), Lysander has Got It Together.

But Karina's FaceTimes keep throwing off this schedule, and it annoys him to no end. Even though he loves talking with her, he urges her to FaceTime at 5 PM precisely, rather than picking random times throughout the day. She doesn't listen.

On the other hand, Lysander wishes that his father didn't have to work at home, because now he's stuck with Towering Expectations constantly. Despite his busy schedule, his father still thinks he can do more and insists that he do all the chores of the house. All of them.

Lysander didn't plan for this.

SYLVE

the cynic

bitter // sarcastic beyond belief // super-powerful and deserves it // outspoken // analytical // never gives up // competitive // ice gift

Sylve believes that the virus is completely political, and so she's taken to Twitter to scream at people constantly. She got 2k followers on her first day, but also a lot of hate comments. She takes great pride in being salty in replies to said hate comments, claiming that she's "outspoken."

In between her Twitter usage, she spends her days watching a ton of YouTube videos and starting all the TV shows she meant to watch, but never did. She only does the bare minimum for her classes because there are more important social issues to attend to!

She also got a kitten that she loves with all her heart. Its name is Misty.

IRIS

the ray of sunshine + cinnamon roll #1

family life // glass half-full // blood-stained hands // regeneration gift // a smile with secrets attached

Iris's mental health has really gone off the deep end. Her typically happy-go-lucky attitude is replaced with tears and gloom when she's alone. So she makes sure that she's almost never alone. She spends a lot of time with her siblings, of which there are many, helping them with schoolwork as best she can. She attends all her Zoom classes - not because she cares about the class, but because she needs that human interaction.

But when she can't talk with anybody, she plays some happy pop music and practices sewing and handlettering! She's been meaning to try them for forever, but she's never gotten the chance.

She's not particularly afraid of the virus: she's never once gotten sick, due to her amazing immune system. The only reason she stays indoors is because no one else will go out with her. And Karina doesn't go walking in the woods as much anymore.

ASPEN

#authorfavorite + the quiet one + cinnamon roll #2

innocent yet guilty // tree hugger // silent even when spoken to // scars // pain? all too familiar // fiercely loyal // staring at the stars

Aspen has basically quarantined his entire life, so he makes no adjustment in his schedule. In fact, he's so comfortable with quarantine that Lysander feels compelled to FaceTime him every day to make sure that Aspen hasn't become one with his bedroom.

He spends most of the day tending to the myriad of plants he grows in his bedroom. He has names for them all, but he doesn't tell them to anyone - names are personal things, after all! Otherwise, he takes naps and does a lot of thinking. He only does schoolwork when he's bored.

Two months in, his siblings force him to get a job at a grocery store to help pay the bills, and he's absolutely miserable. He doesn't mind wearing masks, as it gives him a sense of anonymity, but the small talk he has to take part in absolutely kills him.

Aspen has no idea what's happening in the rest of the world. He stopped looking at the news three years ago and never looked back.

KAI

the angsty one

wanderer // what is a normal life? I want one // can beat you up without a gift // singing away sadness // could honestly be a faerie, considering how much he knows about them // Brooding Bad Boy with a Mysterious Past

Kai decided to start a one-man band featuring himself. He started learning electric guitar and bought a drum kit off of Amazon. Lately, he's been writing super-emo songs with titles such as "Bleeding For You" and "Darkness of the Sword." He thinks he's being poetic. No one has the heart to tell him that his sounds sound like trash.

He tried to FaceTime Karina at 1 AM a few times, but she's since blocked him.

Kai doesn't think the virus is that big of a deal. He's been advocating for places to reopen since day one. And he thinks he's being edgy by not wearing a mask. But all he does is get strange looks from Wal-Mart employees because his dark hair is curling past his shoulders and he doesn't ever put it in a ponytail.

*deep breath*

If you made it through all of that, THANK YOU. That was a lot of characters, but I genuinely enjoyed spending 67k words with them. except not Kai. I don't like Kai. ~~we have a very love-hate relationship~~

I don't really know what I'm going to do next in my writing life. I have some ideas, but nothing certain yet. One thing's for sure, though: Project Chaos is going on the back burner for the next few months.

Now excuse me while I proceed to collapse from sleep deprivation.

-Nicole <3

What would your characters do in quarantine? How's your writing going? Let's talk all things writing!!

The Original Outstanding Blogger Award

Tags July 26, 2020

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag: 2025 edition

BEST BOOK YOU'VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

BEST SEQUEL YOU'VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

A NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN'T READ BUT WANT TO

YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK FOR THE REST OF 2025

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT SO FAR

BIGGEST SURPRISE SO FAR

NEW FAVORITE AUTHOR

NEW FAVORITE CHARACTER

NEW FAVORITE SHIP

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU'VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

One Quirk Later // when your assassination victim overrides your plans

Behind the Blogger Tag

Why did you start blogging, and why have you kept blogging?

What is your favorite type of blog post to write?

What are your top three favorite blog posts?

What are some of your favorite things to do to relax?

What are three of your favorite things?

What are your proudest blogging moments?

What are your hobbies outside of blogging?

Describe your personality in three words.

What are your top three pet peeves?

What's something your followers don't know about you?

The Sunshine Blogger Award x1000 (only a slight exaggeration)

THE RULES

SARAH'S QUESTIONS

LACY'S QUESTIONS

BETHANY'S QUESTIONS

ASH'S QUESTIONS

RAKAYLE'S QUESTIONS

MOVIECRITIC'S QUESTIONS

THE TAGGED

The Hobbiton Tag! // ft. my love of hot chocolate

THE RULES

THE TAG

WIP Spotlight: Project Chaos! + What My Characters Did in Quarantine

THE PLOT OF PROJECT CHAOS:

KARINA

the main character

MORTEN

Karina's brother, the nerd, and the morally upright

LYSANDER

the mom friend

SYLVE

the cynic

IRIS

the ray of sunshine + cinnamon roll #1

ASPEN

#authorfavorite + the quiet one + cinnamon roll #2

KAI

the angsty one

The Original Outstanding Blogger Award

THE RULES:

THE QUESTIONS

What sort of protagonist would you be? The fighter, the outcast, the anti-hero, the arrogant then turned humble, the one who makes a lot of bad decisions, the compassionate one? (feel free to add your own if none of these fit.)

What is one creative strength of yours?

Sunshine or rain for a superpower?

Favourite number and why?

What is your favourite type of fictional character?

What is your least favorite genre of a book/movie?

What is your opinion of fairies?

THE TAGGED + THE QUESTIONS

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