The State of the Reader: 12/15/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 10 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 12/1/21         The State of the Reader: 12/29/21–>

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: 2

Total: $2.98

Books Finished: 1

Title: The Girl on the Train
Author: Paula Hawkins
Date Added: November 27, 2021
Date Started: December 2, 2021
Date Finished: December 14, 2021

Cover of The Girl on the Train by Paula HawkinsMedia: eBook

This is one of those novels were everyone is a fucking mess, but it does an excellent job of proving you don’t need likable characters to make a good story.  None of the POV characters are that admirable, but I found myself needing to sit with why I was so angry at the titular character Rachel.  She’s a depressed alcholic whose life has fallen apart, and I just found myself getting so annoyed with her when she relapsed, but…alcholism isn’t something that you can just overcome.   This is a similar thing that happened when I read Charle de Lint’s Memory and Dream.  The main character there was an abuse victim, and I got angry at her for not standing up to the abuse not realizing how terrible that kind of thinking is aka victim blaming.  You always think you’ll do differently in a situation, but you’re not in that situation.

Continue reading →

The State of the Writer: 12/12/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 6 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 10/31/21         The State of the Writer: 12/26/21–>

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

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story
Working Title: The High Archon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Original
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 10,530
Prior Word Count: 771
Word Difference: 9759
Status: Drafting & Organization
Progress: Chapter 2

I’m happy to report I made my NaNoWriMo goal of 10k words and then some.  Setting lower goals or maybe more bite sized really works out for me.  There were some days where I wrote more, a few days where I wrote less, and some where I wrote nothing, but all in all I was able to make my set goal, and I’m really happy about that.  I thought I’d only be working on the first chapter, but 10k is a lot of words for just one, and there was a natural place to end it and start Chapter 2.  I’m absolutely loving the relationship dynamic between Maya and her BFF.  It’s…different but still familiar.  There’s some subversion of the familiar “best friend with a crush” trope that I hope works out.

Continue reading →

The State of the Gamer: 12/2/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 9 Comments

<–The State of the Gamer: 10/21/21           The State of the Gamer: 12/16/21–>

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

  • When the Past Was Around – $8.49 @ Nintendo eShop

What I Demoed

  • Songbird Symphony – A combination platformer and rhythm game.  Totally up my alley.
  • Blue Reflection: Second Light – I don’t know how I feel about the battle system in the game.  I only had one fight, so I didn’t have a lot of time to get used to it.  I’m intrigued by the story, but the demo didn’t have a save and I didn’t get to finish it.  If anyone has played this game, let me know what you think of it.
  • Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain – Will definitely pick this up at some point.  I love little games like this.  It’s cute; it’s challenging, and I’m always a sucker for quiz/puzzle games.  I remember Brain Age for the regular DS, which this kind of reminds me of.  I wish I could find those for my DS, or maybe Nintendo will port them to the 3DS or Switch.
  • When the Past Was Around – Well I bought it so obviously the demo was a success.  I love point-and-click games, especially one with such whimsical artwork and calm music.  The puzzles are also logical and not ultra obscure.  I just swear to fuck if this game has the same theme as GRIS I will not be happy lol.

What I Finished

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 12/1/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 8 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 10/20/21         The State of the Reader: 12/15/21–>

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: 5

Total: $20.95

Books Finished: 4

Title: Under the Whispering Door
Author: T. J. Klune
Date Added: June 27, 2021
Date Started: September 25, 2021
Date Finished: November 5, 2021

Cover of Under the Whispering Door by T. J. KluneMedia: eBook/Kindle

This was one of those stories where I knew what was (eventually) going to happen, but I didn’t know how they were going to pull it off, which is one of my favorite situations.  I also just noticed the silhouette of the stag on the cover, which absolutely makes sense.  There were also still some surprises, which Klune brilliantly foreshadowed.  Psychpomp stories are always fun in general, but queer psychopomp stories are even better.

Continue reading →

The State of the Writer: 10/31/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 3 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 10/17/21         The State of the Writer: 12/12/21–>

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

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story
Working Title: The High Archon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Original
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 771
Prior Word Count: 771
Word Difference: 0
Status: Drafting
Progress: Chapter 1

I think I’m ready for NaNoWrimo and have figured out the tie stuff and what I want to happen in this first scene.  There’s one more thing I need to clarify *takes quick note* and then I should be good to go for tomorrow.

Continue reading →

The State of the Gamer: 10/21/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 3 Comments

<–The State of the Gamer: 10/7/21           The State of the Gamer: 12/2/21–>

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

Nothing this time.  I kept my wallet in my pants like a good girl 😋

What I Demoed

Nothing this time.  I kept my hands in my pants…uhhhhhhhhh okay that line isn’t going to work as, er, wholesomely here 😅

What I Finished

Title: The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
Series: Ace Attorney
System: Nintendo Switch

Cover of The Great Ace Attorney ChroniclesDate Started: September 12, 2021
Date Finished: October 10, 2021

This is clearly just the first half of the entire story.  I made a list of questions that needed answered and maybe one of them was.  I can already see what the second game is shaping up to be, and I cannot wait.  I literally have no complaints with any of the Ace Attorney games.  They are some of the best written video games ever made and definitely make it into my top 20 list of such.

What I’m Playing

Title: The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
Series: Ace Attorney
System: Nintendo Switch

Cover of The Great Ace Attorney 2: ResolveDate Started: October 11, 2021

It took me longer than I’d like to admit to figure how how to get to the second game, but I did it and am currently in the midst of the third case.  Obviously, I have to hold off on looking up anything about the lovely Lord van Zieks until I finish the entire thing, but that’s okay; I still get to look at him.

If you need someone to punish, I volunteer as tribute ❤

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 10/20/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 4 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 10/6/21         The State of the Reader: 12/1/21–>

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: 2

Total: $2.98

Books Finished: 2

Title: The Wind’s Twelve Quarters
Series: Hainish Cycle
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
Date Added: August 30, 2014
Date Started: July 26, 2021
Date Finished: October 7, 2021

Cover of The Wind's Twelve Quarters by Ursula K. Le GuinMedia: eBook/Kindle

I almost forgot to add that I finished this.  I moved it to my “Book Review” tab in OneNote, which I usually don’t do until I post about it.  I’ll review it like I review other short story collections by focusing on the stories I actually liked.

Title: Big Little Lies
Author: Liane Moriarity
Date Added: September 25, 2021
Date Started: October 1, 2021
Date Finished: October 16, 2021

Cover of Big Little Lies by Liane MoriarityMedia: eBook/Kindle (Library)

My BFF informed there’s a TV series about this book, and my brother has HBO Max, so I will be checking this out.  It’s apparently very true to the book, and the book was fantastic.  It had me guessing the entire time who the Trivia Night victim was.

Continue reading →

The State of the Writer: 10/17/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 12 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 10/3/21         The State of the Writer: 10/31/21–>

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

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Working Title: The High Archon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Original
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 771
Prior Word Count: 774
Word Difference: -3
Status: Drafting
Progress: Chapter 1

Slow going is better than no going.  I’ve spent the past few weeks figuring out ascot/tie knots as it pertains to status/standing because that was a thing in my first novel that this one is the sort of sequel to.  I remembered I had a site saved with a bunch of different ways to do it.

Continue reading →

The Broken Rose: Chapter 8 – Maiden Kisses

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 13 Comments

Update: We’re treated to another comic from my illustrator for this chapter (in the same vein as Chapter 6!) and I couldn’t be more delighted ♥  You’ll find it in the appropriate spot i.e. the text the inspired it.  Is this a ploy to make you reread?  Mmmm, it’s a possibility 😉

The Broken Rose Page

<–Chapter 7                                                                                                    Chapter 9–>

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.

*******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 grows more comfortable with the sight of her skin and finds enjoyment in something surprising.

A pair of flat white shoes with large, white bows on the front. The heel of one shoe rests on top of the other, and they are sitting on what appears to be a hardwood floor and in front of a rough, stony wall. “Chapter 8 Maiden Kisses” in white is in the upper right hand corner. The picture is framed in a fading black edge.

Aeris awoke always with the thought of how long since she’d been saved.  It’s been forty-three days since I was last used.  Only praying that this was no dream, the maid wiped soft tears away.  She stepped in her shower, though small hands still shook running over her tableau of scars.  The water was warm with no trace of sea, which helped wash her grief’s salt away.  She remembered he’d told her of materia that made the waves’ bitterness sweet.  Purify.  Aeris squeezed her lids tight, wondering if it was white as seafoam… Afterwards robed, amidst drying chestnut, she entered her bright, walk-in closet.  Ever and always the maid bled awe that this luxury was now her life.  She swallowed spare tears before they could sting then climbed the ladder to reach a high shelf.

Continue reading →

The State of the Gamer: 10/7/21

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 4 Comments

<–The State of the Gamer: 9/23/21           The State of the Gamer: 10/7/21–>

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

  • Deemo – $14.99 ($12.99) @ Nintendo eShop

Total: $12.99

What I Demoed

  • Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars – I kept running into the word “Advent” left and right a few weeks ago.  I was watching The Sinking City, a Lovecraft inspired horror game where one of the main throughfares was Advent Avenue.  Then YouTube kept recommending I rent/watch Advent Children, Tales of Berseria had an event called the Advent, and then this game has a Castle Advent.  Granted this is a Squeenix game, which of course means the music is fucking lit.  The voice acting is excellent, too.  The narrator sounds like a crusty, old storyteller.  I’m 100% buying this when it comes out on the 28th.  It’s like Final Fantasy meets Magic: The Gathering (not that I know anything about Magic: The Gathering.  It’s just Final Fantasy with cards).  I spent around three hours playing through the entirety of the demo, and I’ve been playing the in-game card game almost every day.  I like it almost as much as I like Triple Triad, which has long been my favorite FF card game.

Continue reading →