The Crow Box by Nikki Rae (Shadow and Ink #1)

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Title: The Crow Box
Series: Shadow and Ink
Author: Nikki Rae
Date Added: July 8, 2016
Date Started: August 9, 2018
Date Finished: August 22, 2018
Reading Duration: 13 day
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror

Cover of The Crow Box by Nikki Rae (Shadow and Ink #1)Pages: 164
Publication Date: January 14, 2016
Publisher: Self
Media: eBook/Kindle

The small wooden box is dirty, the size of a human fist, and sealed with wax. When Corbin takes it upon herself to clean it and break the seal, a voice she has tried to ignore gathers strength. Shadows play on the walls at night, and with a family history of mental illness, Corbin fears the worst. But the voice tells her it is real. That its name is Six and it will prove it in time.

Drawn to this mysterious entity, Corbin isn’t sure what to believe and the line between reality and her imagination blurs more every day.

Some doors should not be opened; can this one be closed?

This novel did many good things.  It established its characters really well from the start.  We know Corbin’s mother is a hoarder without the MC needing to blatantly say it, and it makes it all the more real because we’re shown.  She (the mom in this case) has some kind of mental health condition that allows her to collect disability (which in and of itself is a privilege), and she has her “good” days where she can put on a bathrobe, fix her hair and makeup, and cook burnt toast and runny eggs.

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A Sunshine Blogger Award from A Geeky Gal

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More catch up.  Apparently I have a lot of Sunshine Blogger Awards to catch up on.  A Geeky Gal is lovely.  So much gaming and cosplay.  All of the stuff I love ♥

Question time!

1. What game are you currently playing?

I’m still in the midst of Final Fantasy VII Remake, which is of course amazing btw.  Even though I’ve technically finished it, as in finished all of the chapters, I still have a lot of side stuff to complete before the next part comes out, since I know there will be some way to transfer your data from the first game to the second (think Mass Effect), and I want to have everything I possibly can.

I started this game called Golf Story, but I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.  It’s not really pulling me in.  It’s a sports RPG about (shock) golf.  I’m going to give it some more time, but I haven’t picked it up in a few days.

Finally I’m playing this awesome puzzle game called The House of da Vinci II.  If you like The Room (the puzzle game not the god awful movie lol), I’d highly recommend this and the first one.  So.  Good.

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The State of the Gamer: 7/2/20

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<–The State of the Gamer: 6/18/20           The State of the Gamer: 7/16/20–>

A weekly post updated every other Thursday detailing my current gaming projects.  I have an account at Grouvee, which is a site you can use to keep track of your backlog, so please feel free to friend me there!

What I Purchased

  • Later Daters – $5.99 @ Nintendo eShop
  • Sudoky – $0.69 @ Nintendo eShop

What I Demoed

  • Bravely Default II – I absolutely loved this.  It’s so cute and almost fully voice acted.  I loved Elvis with his Scottish brogue, Adelle rocking an Irish lilt, and Gloria’s refined RP.  I’ll probably drop the $60 or so this costs when it comes out because I am a thot for Squeenix.
  • The Almost Gone – I’m not sure how I feel about this.  The directions are a bit confusing since it goes room to room.  It’s also a little creepy with the weird ambiance background, and I jumped at the fridge part (Fridge Horror anyone?).  I get what it’s trying to do, but this may be a watch for me.

What I Finished

Title: The House of da Vinci II
Series Title: The House of da Vinci
System: Kindle (Android)

Date Started: 6/4/20
Date Finished: 6/30/20

Sequel bait is sequel bait, but it’s absolutely cool.  The end is obviously not the end, and I”m hoping the next one comes out soon.  It’s almost like numerous games in one due to the variety of puzzles, and I can readily admit I solved some of them on sheer luck alone.

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The State of the Reader: 7/1/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 6/17/20         The State of the Reader: 7/15/20–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Purchased: 3

Finished: 1

Title: Supernice: Smile. Or Else.
Author: Petra Jacob
Date Added: June 11, 2020
Date Started: May 20, 2020

Cover of Supernice by Petra JacobMedia: eBook

Every single book I read by this author just gets better, and the first one I read, Riddled With Senses, was already excellent.  It’s like her take on current culture becomes more acerbic and accurate, because what occurs by the end of Supernice is exactly what would happen.  The mindset of people would absolutely lead them down heinous paths, and there would most definitely be others who’d oppose it.

Like I do with other books by self/indie published authors, I’ll be reviewing this next (or after the one I already have in draft) since reviews are way more important to get out for them.

Currently Reading

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The Broken Rose: Chapter 24 – Juxtaposition

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The Broken Rose Page

<–Chapter 23                                                                                                                                 Chapter 26–>

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII, its characters, and settings are all property of Square Enix so I can take no credit nor claim any ownership of that. I do take some credit for the story’s plot.
Banner Artwork Disclaimer:  The featured artwork for the banner is entitled White rose I and was created by the very talented Deviant Artist RemusSirion who was gracious enough to grant me permission to use it here.  The picture has been slightly altered from the original. All rights belong to the artist, and links are included for both the artist page and the work.
Chapter artwork disclaimer: the featured artwork for this chapter is entitled SEPHIROTH DAKIMAKURA by ZYEPHENS-INSANITY who graciously allowed me to use their work.  THE PICTURE HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY ALTERED IN APPEARANCE AND TO INCLUDE THE CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE.  ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE ARTISTs.

*******MAJOR CONTENT WARNING*******

Consistent and sustained graphic descriptions and mentions of rape/ sexual assault, sexual slavery/bondage, slavery, human trafficking, physical abuse, graphic descriptions of violence, mental abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, body shaming, starvation, torture, forced pregnancy, forced childbirth, miscarriage, forced miscarriage, abortion, and other potential disturbing and triggering topics.

Aeris discovers a simple solution to what she believed insurmountable.

Artwork of a mostly naked Sephiroth. Either his silver hair or a similarly covered sheet is covering his crotch while wrapped around his legs. His left arm is lifted so his fingers are in his hair and he has a seductive expression (this…was really difficult to do an image description for haha *blush*)

The winter that shadowed his skin marked the Whispers in covers of endless snow, but no one here suffered and none ever froze, least of all his tiny flower.  She bloomed in the whirling, shielded from cold by her angel and Heaven’s Gate. 

Aeris loved watching the shimmering dance of winter light conquering sands.  Where one white ended to other’s begin, the Cetra did try to divine.  Sitting and sipping hot chocolate or tea, as she stared out the seated window.  If Sephiroth joined her, she’d climb on his lap, giggling to perpetual sigh.  Humming to wiggle, she’d tilt back her head, lighting emerald with equal desire.

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The State of the Writer: 6/28/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 6/14/20         The State of the Writer: 7/12/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 3

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 252,087
Prior Word Count: 251,669
Word Difference: +418
Status: Editing
Progress: Prepping to post Chapter 24

I probably could’ve posted the next chapter prior to this update, but I want to do one more mini edit beforehand.  I was also waiting to hear back from the artist on the picture I wanted to use, and it took me forever to think of a chapter title.  I’m pretty happy with it, but it could still potentially change in the future.  I’ll probably have it up before the end of the day.

Project: Story Audio Recording
Title: Northern Lights
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Length: Novel
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Status: Editing
Progress: Adding pictures for slideshow

I’m over 50 images at this point and a little over ten minutes.  It’s been going pretty smoothly since I’m at the part where she goes to the church, and there are a shit ton of images of that especially with the Remake out and all.  I ran into a bit of a snag because there’s a part where I’m thinking of a picture I’ve used before.  Now, this isn’t technically an “issue.”  I’ve already repeated an image, but I did it for a specific reason.  I’m trying not to repeat unless I’m attempting to make a specific point (whatever visual point I could possibly make as a non-visual arts person ugh, I’m going to just apologize profusely when I post this lol), so I have three options.  One, think of another image for the latest; think of another image for the older, or three, use the same image for both.  I’m leaning towards the middle choice, since I think the image would better serve where I am now and I might already have another image for the prior.  I left it last night to give myself a day to ruminate.

I’m trying to figure out ways to post this where I can just give people the password if they ask, because I know it’ll probably get flagged on YouTube for copyright stuff.  I’m not making any money off of it, nor do I want to.  I just want to share it, but it’s tricky when you’re pretty much using other artists’ stuff to showcase your own.  What’s weird is I’ve seen people selling books of their fanfictions, but I believe they’re only charging for cost, though I think that can still get dicey.  I’ll try to figure it out.  Speaking of which I have thought about printing out more copies of Northern Lights and doing some for The Broken Rose (I did NL and gave it to a friend), but I’d have to see how much it would cost.  It would be a fun project especially since my illustrator friend wants to do a picture for each chapter ♥

In Progress

  • Game Reviews: Final Fantasy VI – I’m finally on the World of Ruin, which is taking less time to summarize as I knew it would.  I’m hoping to be done with the summary soon so I can move on to the story analysis, but that’s going to take some organizing lol.
  • Blogger Tags: A Sunshine Blogger Award from A Geeky Gal – More catching up on blogger tags with yet another Sunshine Blogger Award lol.  You’d think I actually liked the sun with how many of these I get, but I appreciate everyone ♥

I’ve been thinking a lot about self-publishing my short story.  I think that’s going to be my next project after I get The Broken Rose finished up and posted.  I want to start work on my original novel after that, and I’m hoping I’ll be done TBR in time for that to be my NaNoWriMo project.  I feel a bit disorganized right now, and I hate it lol.  I have this fallacious idea that if I could just put everything in order/plan it out, my life will fall into place, but I can never quite manage to do that because life is messy.  I think I could outline a game plan, buuuut it’s not like I haven’t done that before lol.  Oh well, you have to keep your plans up to date with the times, so maybe another “WTF Am I Planning to Do Now” post wouldn’t be a bad idea.

<–The State of the Writer: 6/14/20         The State of the Writer: 7/12/20–>

Monstress by Marjorie Liu (DNF)

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Title: Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening & Vol. 2, The Blood
Series: Monstress
Author: Marjorie Liu
Artist: Sana Takeda
Date Added: August 9, 2018
Date Started: August 13, 2017
Date DNF: August 16, 2018
Genre: Graphic Novel/Comic, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Dystopian, Steampunk

Pages: 72 & 152
Publication Dates: November 4, 2015 & July 11, 2017
Publisher: Image Comics
Media: Paperback

Set in an alternate world of art deco beauty and steampunk horror, Montress tells the epic story of Maika Halfwolf, a teenage survivor of a cataclysmic war between humans and their hated enemies, the Arcanics. In the face of oppression and terrible danger, Maika is both hunter and hunted, searching for answers about her mysterious past as those who seek to use her remain just one step behind…and all the while, the monster within begins to awaken.

This series is as beautifully brutal as it is convoluted.  It combines Lovecraft mythos with Egyptian mythology and Irish folklore (The Fair Folk) among other things to weave a world of magic and savagery.  Where “there’s more hunger in this world than love” is exemplified by starving slaves eating the contents of a dead boy’s stomach.

Maika Halfwolf has a monster living inside her, and her quest for the truth leads to her enigmatic mother and beyond, while she hides from those who would use her in a land full of political intrigue and betrayal.

Sana Takeda’s artwork is absolutely gorgeous,

Image panel from the first volume Continue reading →

Another Sunshine Blogger Award from Extra Life

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I finally have time to catch up on my blogger tags.

This Sunshine Blogger Award is from Extra Life all the way back in August 2019, so almost a year ago.  Ah 2019.  We thought you were the worst we were going to see.  Lol, how wrong we were.  Extra Life does comprehensive and in depth reviews on games and sometimes movies with a handy-dandy pro & con list at the bottom.

Let’s get to the questions.

1. Have you ever been involved in an emergency situation (e.g. a burning building/an earthquake)?

Shit, have I?  I guess if I can’t remember then the answer must be “No,” or it was too traumatic for me and my mind blanked it out.  I’ve seen a burning building before, actually only a few weeks ago when one of the apartment buildings in my complex caught fire.

It was terrifying and intense from my bathroom window, but thankfully no one died, and after just a week we couldn’t even find traces that the fire had happened.  They replaced the roof really quickly.

We had an earthquake here about a decade ago, but it was really light by the time it got to us.

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The State of the Gamer: 6/18/20

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<–The State of the Gamer: 6/4/20           The State of the Gamer: 7/2/20–>

A weekly post updated every other Thursday detailing my current gaming projects.  I have an account at Grouvee, which is a site you can use to keep track of your backlog, so please feel free to friend me there!

What I Purchased

  • Golf Story  – $7.49 @ Nintendo eShop
  • Firewatch – $5.99 @ Nintendo eShop
  • Bear With Me: The Lost Robots – $4.99 @ Nintendo eShop

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The State of the Reader: 6/17/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 6/3/20         The State of the Reader: 7/1/20–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Purchased: 4

Currently Reading

Title: Keturah and Lord Death
Author: Martine Leavitt
Date Added: August 16, 2016
Date Added: June 6, 2020

Cover of Keturah and Lord Death by Martine LeavittMedia: Hardback
Progress: 26%

I love Death and the Maiden stories.  Shocking, I know considering everything I’ve written has been one.  This is no different.   Keturah literally meets Death after chasing a hart into the forest and wandering for days.  She manages to strike a bargain with him: if she can find someone to love her in the next 24 hours then she can keep her life, otherwise Death will marry her instead.  I already know how it’s going to end, but I can’t wait to see how it gets there.

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