Month: February 2020

The State of the Gamer: 2/27/20

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<–The State of the Gamer: 2/13/20           The State of the Gamer: 3/12/20–>

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 Obtained

  • Monopoly for Nintendo Switch  – $9.99 @ Nintendo eShop
  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies DLC – $5.99 @ Nintendo eShop
  • Finding Paradise – $3.99 @ Steam
  • Memoria – $1.99 @ Steam
  • The Whispered World – $1.98 @ Steam

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The State of the Reader: 2/26/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 2/12/20         The State of the Reader: 3/11/20–>

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.

Books Purchased

Books Finished: 3

Title: The First Girl Child
Author: Amy Harmon
Date Added: September 17, 2019
Date Started: January 17, 2020

Cover of The First Girl Child by Amy HarmonMedia: eBook/Kindle

The ending was a little bit confusing/cluttered, but the overall experience was excellent.

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The State of the Writer: 2/23/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 2/9/20         The State of the Writer: 3/8/20–>

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: 252,492
Prior Word Count: 252,713
Word Difference: -221
Status: Editing
Progress: First edit of Chapter 22

This chapter has some interesting challenges, and I may end up with two versions of it.  I saw someone do that once on Fanfic.net.  I was talking with The Ink Garden about my wacky timelines/AU scenarios, but it was only scratching the surface.  There are more branches than a tree, which is…kinda fitting when I think about it.  I’m trying to add any additional text in my first edit instead of after, because it just doesn’t make sense to do any kind of editing prior to including additions.

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A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes #3)

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An Ember in the Ashes

<–A Torch Against the Night

Title: A Reaper at the Gates
Series: An Ember in the Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Date Added: August 23, 2017
Date Started: July 2, 2018
Date Finished: August 4, 2018
Reading Duration: 33 days
Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian, Young Adult (YA), Romance

A Reaper at the Gates coverPages: 464
Publication Date: June 12, 2018
Publisher: Razorbill
Media: Paperback

Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister’s life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she’d have to fight.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias’s devotion–even at the cost of his humanity.

***Spoilers for all previous books in the series***

Tahir has the gift of making characters on both sides of the conflict sympathetic, even casting some compassion on Keris Veturia.  Though a tortured past doesn’t excuse the horrible things one does, it often provides an explanation.  It is no easy feat to do something like this, and it is one of the better attributes of ASOIAF, as well.  Like Martin, Tahir not only titles her chapters by the character whose viewpoint we follow, but she adds additional ones with each volume.  This is merely logistical, though; what’s more interesting is how Tahir, like GRRM, seems to subscribe (whether consciously or no) to William Faulkner’s philosophy:

The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself.

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The Broken Rose: Chapter 21 – Confession

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The Broken Rose Page

<–Chapter 20                                                                                                                                 Chapter 22–>

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 by NVALKYRJA. THE PICTURE HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY ALTERED IN APPEARANCE AND TO INCLUDE THE CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE.  ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE ARTIST.

*******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.

The general makes a desperate confession, yet finds even more “sins” to mourn.

He opened no door for fear that she slept, and the sound would drive her to pure terror.  She’d been awakened too many times with horror invading her flesh.  That sweet chestnut head with a rightful crown made the fallen delight in his choice.  His great wing shadowed the peak of the sun, as the light broke against feathers black.  He glanced to corruption with slits chilled in sorrow, but she needed to see him for true.  The sword in his grasp bore only scant blood, and Sephiroth clenched his jaw tight.  I cannot approach her with what bears her death.  I cannot…but I must.  She deserves to see me, as I truly am, and the sword and I are kin.  It can’t be dissolved, our deadly connection, my blood fills its steely veins.  Yet he could not bear to near innocence, bringing that which had taken her life.  He wanted to sweep her into his arms, and bask in her pure summer scent…before he so told her all his misdeeds.  All of them.  My time is done.  My reprieve must finally end.  She has to know my truth.  What has protected her all of this time is nothing but her foul destroyer, playing at penitence, asking atonement.  There’s no absolution for me.  The greatest of generals bowed his head, and the waves of his guilt stirred sweet sleeper.

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The State of the Gamer: 2/13/20

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<–The State of the Gamer: 1/30/20           The State of the Gamer: 2/27/20–>

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 Obtained

  • The Room – $3.99 @ Nintendo eShop

What I Finished

Title: The Room
Series Title: The Room
System: Nintendo Switch

Cover of The RoomDate Started: February 7, 2020 (?)
Date Finished: February 12. 2020 (?)

I don’t really remember when I started/finished this again, but I know I picked it up from the Nintendo eShop on the 7th and I’ve already played through it, so that’s good enough.  This was an easy purchase and replay because the game is just so good.  It has replay value because the puzzles are complicated and compelling enough that you still have to either remember what you did or figure them out again.  I’m really hoping they release the rest of the series on the Switch.

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The State of the Reader: 2/12/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 1/29/20         The State of the Reader: 2/26/20–>

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.

Books Purchased

Books Finished: 1

Title: Metzengerstein
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Date Added: April 27, 2019
Date Started: January 26, 2020
Date Finished: February 6, 2020

Cover of Mezengerstein by Edgar Allan PoeMedia: eBook/Kindle

I’m not sure if I’m going to review this.  Oh, it was fine.  Definitely gives you a taste of Poe, and I think I know what he’s trying to say.  I may need to marinate on it more and look it up.

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My Top 5 Games of 2019

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I didn’t play a ton of games in 2019, but I did finish 14.  I don’t consider that a lot comparatively, but it’s better than zero.  Because not every game has an “ending” per se (think puzzle games and other non-narrative ones), that helped up my count.

Here are my Top 5.

5.  Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl

Cover of Etrian Odyssey: The Millennium GirlI played one other EO game before, Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth, and I really liked it, but I was worried Millennium Girl would have the same level cap…and it did.  You can only get to Level 70 until you defeat one of the elemental dragon emperors, which opens up the next ten levels.  Defeating another dragon will release another ten levels, and beating the last will open them all.  I understand it, but it still kind of annoys me lol.  It could just be a YMMV situation, though, as many people love these games, and I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.

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The State of the Writer: 2/9/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 1/26/20         The State of the Writer: 2/23/20–>

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

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 252,713
Prior Word Count: 252,930
Word Difference: -217
Status: Editing
Progress: Third edit of Chapter 21

I think this third edit might be my last.  I’ve been getting more comments/kudos on AO3, probably because more stuff has come out about the Remake.  I notice an uptick in interactions whenever that occurs, which is pretty cool.  What I find interesting is I think Northern Lights is the more superior story, but this one gets more interaction.  Maybe because it’s still ongoing.  I hope with the audio of NL I’ll get more interactions with that, but I’ll discuss that below.  Speaking of audio, this came out this week, and I can’t stop listening to it.

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