Title: Blindr dot com, or, The Importance of Coconut-Milk Lattes to Long-Term Success
Author: antennapedia
Fanfiction: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (alt universe)
Link: Archive of Our Own
Review:
A short humorous story. Set .. . well, not in the Buffy universe, since it's an 'alternate universe' version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but something like that.
So, see, this is an alternate universe that uses characters from the Buffy tv show - Giles owns and runs a coffee shop, Tara, Oz, Anya, and Xander work for him. They believe, they being his employees at least, that Giles needs to date again. So, with reluctance, Giles uses a dating app called 'Blindr' (every date is a blind date). Well, they had already signed him up for it and marked three of them as 'interesting', and given him the mission to try to set up dates with all three. That week.
Don't want to spoiler-ify things, but will say the story was good, humorous, and the characters resembled the characters they were supposed to resemble.
Rating: 4.50
September 30 2017
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
The Brightest Fell (October Daye #11) by Seanan McGuire
The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuireMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I did not like this one. There's only so many stories I can read filled with . . . I can't think of the right words at the moment. All that I can think of seem wrong - bitter characters, whiny characters forced to do what they have the power to do but don't want to do, etc. Characters that react instead of act.
Has Toby ever acted of her own accord? She seems to always be reacting. Like here - 1) sister-fetch May wants to hold a party for Toby's upcoming - currently unscheduled wedding. So she does. Toby kept saying no, etc. May holds it in a karaoke bar. Toby does not like being forced to sing. She sings. She reacts to the world around her and doesn't act on her own desires; 2) momma turns up, asks Toby to go find the long lost sister, Toby kinda wants to do so, but not for momma. So she says no. Momma freezes everyone, forces the cat to turn into a cat - shoves cat into tiny pain filled cage; turns May's girlfriend into raven (which she is, being a kind of wereraven), shoves raven into cage. Tells Toby to get August and the 'toys' would be returned. Toby reacts to this demand and hunts for sister.
Whiny, bitter, reacting Toby. *shrugs* I've been off and on with this series - If you looked at the ratings I gave, you'd see an odd mix of ratings. 3 stars, 4, 5, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 2. Well, until I looked, I didn't recall that none had dipped to 2 before now, nor that I had that long stretch of 4 star books. *shrugs again* I'll probably read the next in this series. Might, maybe, might read that Velveteen book I hadn't read yet, and/or that Newsflesh one I haven't read yet (though it's a parallel book that doesn't push the series forward, since the series is already complete, but instead shows a story that had already occurred and doesn't star the main characters from the series). Probably won't try the mermaid book, any more of the index books, or the . . . um . . orphans books?
I'm tired of sadness. Everyone's always so sad in this author's books (whether under this name or her other name).
Rating: 1.64
September 26 2017
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Tuesday, September 26, 2017
The Missing Spark by Island_Hopper
Title: The Missing Spark
Author: Island_Hopper
Fanfiction: Calvin & Hobbes
Link: Archive Of Our Own
Review:
Any book that is a fanfiction based on Calvin and Hobbes would be, somewhat by definition, odd. This specific book finds Calvin an adult (not exactly sure of his age, I had thought he was in his thirties, but a later comment might have indicated him being closer to late 20s). Calvin has spent his adulthood traveling around - wandering, as a freelance writer. He returns home for the first time in five years when he is informed that his father has died.
He finds his childhood home has changed (as in the community - there's a subdivision built where he used to wander in the woods! and other such observations), that his next door neighbor is still there (Susie - though more that she had moved back home 2 years earlier to take care of an ill parent), that he needs to come to terms with his feelings about his father (and about his life), and that - Hobbes is still there.
Calvin, apparently, turned out to be a lonely, angry, weird man. Happens, eh?
Oh, and while it is barely there - less there than it probably should have been - there is 'something' of a romance that occurs in this book. Tiny little bit.
September 26 2017
Author: Island_Hopper
Fanfiction: Calvin & Hobbes
Link: Archive Of Our Own
Review:
Any book that is a fanfiction based on Calvin and Hobbes would be, somewhat by definition, odd. This specific book finds Calvin an adult (not exactly sure of his age, I had thought he was in his thirties, but a later comment might have indicated him being closer to late 20s). Calvin has spent his adulthood traveling around - wandering, as a freelance writer. He returns home for the first time in five years when he is informed that his father has died.
He finds his childhood home has changed (as in the community - there's a subdivision built where he used to wander in the woods! and other such observations), that his next door neighbor is still there (Susie - though more that she had moved back home 2 years earlier to take care of an ill parent), that he needs to come to terms with his feelings about his father (and about his life), and that - Hobbes is still there.
Calvin, apparently, turned out to be a lonely, angry, weird man. Happens, eh?
Oh, and while it is barely there - less there than it probably should have been - there is 'something' of a romance that occurs in this book. Tiny little bit.
September 26 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
Bylines and Bracelets (Or How Lois Lane Fell In Love With Diana of Themyscira) by dreiser
Title: Bylines and Bracelets (Or How Lois Lane Fell In Love With Diana of Themyscira)
Author: dreiser
Fanfiction: DC Comics Universe, Wonder Woman
Link: Archive of Our Own
Review:
An okay short story about the superhero of city Lois lives in being someone other than Superman (who exists but in a different city; Wonder Woman is the hero of Lois Lane's city). Oh, and Lois is openly a lesbian.
So - Lois Lane, reporter, and Diana, superheroine, meet, date, romance each other. The end.
I'm tired of reading stories where one or another (or both) of the main characters struggle with a) being . . . whatever it would be to 'love' the other in the story (leaving open the door for a lesbian to fall in love with a man, or . . . whatever, though it tends to be a fight over same sex desires) - though this aspect is not in this story here; b) struggling with the concept that they might, maybe, perhaps, kinda like the other character and might desire to be in a relationship with them. *shrugs* Common theme. Just tired of reading it.
Rating: 3.15
September 25 2017
Author: dreiser
Fanfiction: DC Comics Universe, Wonder Woman
Link: Archive of Our Own
Review:
An okay short story about the superhero of city Lois lives in being someone other than Superman (who exists but in a different city; Wonder Woman is the hero of Lois Lane's city). Oh, and Lois is openly a lesbian.
So - Lois Lane, reporter, and Diana, superheroine, meet, date, romance each other. The end.
I'm tired of reading stories where one or another (or both) of the main characters struggle with a) being . . . whatever it would be to 'love' the other in the story (leaving open the door for a lesbian to fall in love with a man, or . . . whatever, though it tends to be a fight over same sex desires) - though this aspect is not in this story here; b) struggling with the concept that they might, maybe, perhaps, kinda like the other character and might desire to be in a relationship with them. *shrugs* Common theme. Just tired of reading it.
Rating: 3.15
September 25 2017
Psalm of the Lark by JessicaX
Title: Psalm of the Lark
Author: JessicaX
Fanfiction: Batman: The Animated Series
Link: Archive of Our Own
Review:
This is another good solid story - a fanfiction of Batman: The Animated series, focused on Harley Quinn & Batgirl (as in, those, but for a chapter here or there, are the main point of views) - though Batman, and Robin have largish roles (though Tim, the most recent Robin, spends the majority of the story banished from the role of Robin), plus some cameos from others - like Nightwing, The Joker, Penguin, Two Face and Scarecrow (mentioned, not scene).
Right, so - the book opens with Harley falling to her death, while Joker, in a different room, is being shot to death. Except . . . Batgirl had grabbed at Harley as she was beginning to fall, which adjusted the angle and . . . well, to cut this shorter - she lived, but was very badly damaged. Joker, though, died. This is one of those 'holy spoilers Batman!', except that this is how the story opens. Mid-action. With people falling and dying and stuff.
And so - Harley's battered and bruised body was found. She was taken to a hospital then to an insane asylum, whereupon she started down a process that almost no villain ever seems to go down - actually work to became sane again, and 'do the right thing' from there on out. Most, if they get out, likely broke out - and return to a life of crime. Right, so, that's what this story is about - the redemption of Harley - plus, a bit of 'coming out'. For Harley that occurred super fast (at least compared to the other party involved). For the other person? Gah, took forever.
Right, good story.
Sex was implied, but, other than some kissing, hugging, mention of hard nipples, and wet panties, everything more advanced than that was kept 'off screen'. Though either implied or bluntly stated to have occurred (this was some kind of story wherein both of the mains, Harley and Barbara Gordon (I almost called her Batgirl, but then remembered that there have been several different Batgirls) occasionally talk directly to the reader (more in a 'I'm writing a diary type thing and someone might find and read it').
Rating: 4.38
September 24 2017
Author: JessicaX
Fanfiction: Batman: The Animated Series
Link: Archive of Our Own
Review:
This is another good solid story - a fanfiction of Batman: The Animated series, focused on Harley Quinn & Batgirl (as in, those, but for a chapter here or there, are the main point of views) - though Batman, and Robin have largish roles (though Tim, the most recent Robin, spends the majority of the story banished from the role of Robin), plus some cameos from others - like Nightwing, The Joker, Penguin, Two Face and Scarecrow (mentioned, not scene).
Right, so - the book opens with Harley falling to her death, while Joker, in a different room, is being shot to death. Except . . . Batgirl had grabbed at Harley as she was beginning to fall, which adjusted the angle and . . . well, to cut this shorter - she lived, but was very badly damaged. Joker, though, died. This is one of those 'holy spoilers Batman!', except that this is how the story opens. Mid-action. With people falling and dying and stuff.
And so - Harley's battered and bruised body was found. She was taken to a hospital then to an insane asylum, whereupon she started down a process that almost no villain ever seems to go down - actually work to became sane again, and 'do the right thing' from there on out. Most, if they get out, likely broke out - and return to a life of crime. Right, so, that's what this story is about - the redemption of Harley - plus, a bit of 'coming out'. For Harley that occurred super fast (at least compared to the other party involved). For the other person? Gah, took forever.
Right, good story.
Sex was implied, but, other than some kissing, hugging, mention of hard nipples, and wet panties, everything more advanced than that was kept 'off screen'. Though either implied or bluntly stated to have occurred (this was some kind of story wherein both of the mains, Harley and Barbara Gordon (I almost called her Batgirl, but then remembered that there have been several different Batgirls) occasionally talk directly to the reader (more in a 'I'm writing a diary type thing and someone might find and read it').
Rating: 4.38
September 24 2017
Sunday, September 24, 2017
The Boston Marriage by Jae
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
1) I'm 99.99% certain this is a different author using the same one name name as the Jae I've read something like 40 books by (since that Jae is from Germany, and this Jae - the one that wrote this story, is from New Jersey);
2) I've never seen Gilmore Girls (I know, bad me);
You know how good a fanfiction this work is? I've no clue what Gilmore Girls is or what it is about, but after reading this hilarious short story, I want to immediately find and watch . . . well, let's not go overboard - an episode of this show. This story is that good. I couldn't stop laughing.
This is a story wherein two characters apparently aren't two who would normally have chemistry together, but the author was very good in laying the foundation - of showing how and why they are good together, and how and why they actually do, in fact, have chemistry. Hell, I'm not sure if the tears are form laughing hard (which I know some are) or from some other emotion. This was one damn good short story.
I loved this short story, I did.
Rating: 5+
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1) I'm 99.99% certain this is a different author using the same one name name as the Jae I've read something like 40 books by (since that Jae is from Germany, and this Jae - the one that wrote this story, is from New Jersey);
2) I've never seen Gilmore Girls (I know, bad me);
You know how good a fanfiction this work is? I've no clue what Gilmore Girls is or what it is about, but after reading this hilarious short story, I want to immediately find and watch . . . well, let's not go overboard - an episode of this show. This story is that good. I couldn't stop laughing.
This is a story wherein two characters apparently aren't two who would normally have chemistry together, but the author was very good in laying the foundation - of showing how and why they are good together, and how and why they actually do, in fact, have chemistry. Hell, I'm not sure if the tears are form laughing hard (which I know some are) or from some other emotion. This was one damn good short story.
I loved this short story, I did.
Rating: 5+
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Saturday, September 23, 2017
A Blonde Time Ago by JessicaX
My rating: 4.67 of 5 stars
I'm not sure what I expected with this story - truthfully, I expected to dislike it. No, really, I did. I mean, when the author's notes at the beginning is basically repeatedly saying sorry about how poor this story is . . . well . . . you don't expect to actually like the story. Not really sure how I got myself to read this one. I liked Veronica Mars, saw the film as well, and read the first of the books that got put out, but I always felt vaguely detached from it all - mostly because I thought it was interesting, while at the same time thinking that I wasn't catching enough of the stuff going on to truly understand what was going on.
But still, liked the television series and since I seem to have been sucked down into the rabbit hole of fanfiction, I'll read one that involves Veronica, eh?
Enough of that. Well, no, to continue for one specific reason - one of the reasons why I thought I might not want to read this and might actually dislike this here story, beyond the author's own note, is the simple premise part - the frenemies part.
So, right - the story is set up as Veronica telling what's been going on lately with her life in some kind of journal like way (so it's a mix of telling and showing). Telling about how Madison Sinclair caught her illegally searching the principals office. Madison hates Veronica and immediately taunts Veronica about how she's going to call the cops and stuff. Veronica, being Veronica, knows some stuff that'll keep Madison from doing so.
Somewhere along the way, Madison's lips ended up on Veronica's. No, not then, later, at school (wait, we are already in school, bah) - in the bathroom. See, Veronica had blurted something out to Madison when Madison caught her (beyond the stuff that'd keep Madison from calling the cops), that completely changed Madison's presumptions. So, Madison wanted to confront Veronica in the bathroom - to force . . . something on her. It's hard to tell, exactly, since things are from Veronica's point of view, and she certainly thinks, for the longest time, that Madison is just a stuck up bitch - the numero uno mean girl. Right, so, somewhere during this confrontation, here in the bathroom, is when Madison thrust her lips against Veronica's. Kind of a pity kiss type thing (there are reasons, I won't go into them). Something Veronica certainly didn't want, and something that wasn't supposed to necessarily lead to Madison wishing to have more kissing time.
Whatever she had wished for, and whatever Veronica felt, the kissing went long, about a minute or more long. Eventually Veronica pried Madison off of her and pushed her away. Whereupon Madison realized what she'd done and . . . well, let's not spill every detail, eh?
Point being: Madison is one of the super rich young women who life in this rich town in California; Veronica is one of the poor young women in a rich town. Madison is, to a certain extent due to natural personality issues, a massive bitch and mean girl - to many, but especially to Veronica. So - this isn't some kind of Romeo & Juliet situation. No, not talking about warring families. It'd be more like some alt universe where Darth Vader wasn't Luke's father, and somewhere after Darth cut off Luke's hand, he realized he wanted to kiss Luke. Something along those lines (and yes, Madison is evil; not slaughtering many children evil, more mean girls evil). I went with Darth and Luke instead of, say, Joker and Batman, because of the hand cutting off thing - since Madison did do something to Veronica that turned out quit horrible (accidentally or otherwise).
Right, so, Madison and Veronica hated each other, until they kissed, and realized they still hated each other, but liked kissing each other. Story unfolded from there. And I liked it a lot more than I expected to like it.
re: lesbian/bisexual. Both young women have a history of dating men (well, teenage boys of roughly their own age). Neither has any kind of history of dating women. Neither has particularly liked, always, the things they did with men, but do enjoy the things they do with each other. Story never got to the point of putting labels on people (well, Veronica did have a thought, while gazing upon 'another' lesbian couple, about Veronica and Madison doubling the number of lesbian couples at the school).
Oh right, since it's fanfiction, and therefore based on real people (or real images . . . unless it was fanfiction of ficiton but . . right, sorry), I have been inserting pictures of the characters as the characters (um, weirdly worded).
- Madison Sinclair
Veronica Mars
Rating: 4.67
September 23 2017
I'm not sure what I expected with this story - truthfully, I expected to dislike it. No, really, I did. I mean, when the author's notes at the beginning is basically repeatedly saying sorry about how poor this story is . . . well . . . you don't expect to actually like the story. Not really sure how I got myself to read this one. I liked Veronica Mars, saw the film as well, and read the first of the books that got put out, but I always felt vaguely detached from it all - mostly because I thought it was interesting, while at the same time thinking that I wasn't catching enough of the stuff going on to truly understand what was going on.
But still, liked the television series and since I seem to have been sucked down into the rabbit hole of fanfiction, I'll read one that involves Veronica, eh?
Enough of that. Well, no, to continue for one specific reason - one of the reasons why I thought I might not want to read this and might actually dislike this here story, beyond the author's own note, is the simple premise part - the frenemies part.
So, right - the story is set up as Veronica telling what's been going on lately with her life in some kind of journal like way (so it's a mix of telling and showing). Telling about how Madison Sinclair caught her illegally searching the principals office. Madison hates Veronica and immediately taunts Veronica about how she's going to call the cops and stuff. Veronica, being Veronica, knows some stuff that'll keep Madison from doing so.
Somewhere along the way, Madison's lips ended up on Veronica's. No, not then, later, at school (wait, we are already in school, bah) - in the bathroom. See, Veronica had blurted something out to Madison when Madison caught her (beyond the stuff that'd keep Madison from calling the cops), that completely changed Madison's presumptions. So, Madison wanted to confront Veronica in the bathroom - to force . . . something on her. It's hard to tell, exactly, since things are from Veronica's point of view, and she certainly thinks, for the longest time, that Madison is just a stuck up bitch - the numero uno mean girl. Right, so, somewhere during this confrontation, here in the bathroom, is when Madison thrust her lips against Veronica's. Kind of a pity kiss type thing (there are reasons, I won't go into them). Something Veronica certainly didn't want, and something that wasn't supposed to necessarily lead to Madison wishing to have more kissing time.
Whatever she had wished for, and whatever Veronica felt, the kissing went long, about a minute or more long. Eventually Veronica pried Madison off of her and pushed her away. Whereupon Madison realized what she'd done and . . . well, let's not spill every detail, eh?
Point being: Madison is one of the super rich young women who life in this rich town in California; Veronica is one of the poor young women in a rich town. Madison is, to a certain extent due to natural personality issues, a massive bitch and mean girl - to many, but especially to Veronica. So - this isn't some kind of Romeo & Juliet situation. No, not talking about warring families. It'd be more like some alt universe where Darth Vader wasn't Luke's father, and somewhere after Darth cut off Luke's hand, he realized he wanted to kiss Luke. Something along those lines (and yes, Madison is evil; not slaughtering many children evil, more mean girls evil). I went with Darth and Luke instead of, say, Joker and Batman, because of the hand cutting off thing - since Madison did do something to Veronica that turned out quit horrible (accidentally or otherwise).
Right, so, Madison and Veronica hated each other, until they kissed, and realized they still hated each other, but liked kissing each other. Story unfolded from there. And I liked it a lot more than I expected to like it.
re: lesbian/bisexual. Both young women have a history of dating men (well, teenage boys of roughly their own age). Neither has any kind of history of dating women. Neither has particularly liked, always, the things they did with men, but do enjoy the things they do with each other. Story never got to the point of putting labels on people (well, Veronica did have a thought, while gazing upon 'another' lesbian couple, about Veronica and Madison doubling the number of lesbian couples at the school).
Oh right, since it's fanfiction, and therefore based on real people (or real images . . . unless it was fanfiction of ficiton but . . right, sorry), I have been inserting pictures of the characters as the characters (um, weirdly worded).
- Madison SinclairVeronica Mars
Rating: 4.67
September 23 2017
Jurisdictional Boundaries by Geonn Cannon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Stargate SG-1 is one of my favorite television series, and the original film is also one of my favorites. This fanfiction is not based on either, though the first part does include some of the SG-1 squad. Mostly just Sam, but cameos from some of the others. No, this fanfiction is a mix of Stargate Atlantis and Law & Order SVU - during the time that Col. Sam Carter was the commander of Atlantis.
For the most part, the fanfiction flirted around between good enough and meh. And, to a certain extent, the story only made it up as high as it did, rating wise, because of action scenes that occurred on a non-earth world (and not Atlantis world) - that section was . . oh, around 4 something stars. The rest hovered around 3. Problem being that this is a romance/sex-themed story and the two main characters showed no real chemistry towards each other. They initially just kind of boredly fell against each other for some inappropriate uninspired sex and then . . . didn't see each other again for years. Until they did again - see each other again.
Right, so, story - on earth, in New York, Olivia and her team of detectives track down a kidnapped woman who had been taken from a club and raped for about 24 hours straight. Oddly, though, the woman seems quite happy, at least, that is, until she realizes that she's being kept from her 'master'. She's quite sad and angry about that. Eventually Olivia is informed that some Air Force Colonel had turned up. She has a 'cure' for the drugged woman - the government had come across the drug before and . . . well, let's not tell everything. The point is that Col. Sam and Olivia came into contact here. During the course of the investigation two things occurred - 1) Olivia learned about some, only a little, of the advanced stuff Sam and company have been doing; 2) Olivia and Sam have sex.
Years later Sam, now commander of Atlantis, is informed that one of her people has been raped. For reasons, including the part where Olivia has already been partially informed of secrets, not revealed anything, and investigates rapes, Olivia is called in to investigate. Through a series of stargates. To a different galaxy. Sam and Olivia have more sex. Olivia investigates.
Later, after Olivia had returned to earth, an illness breaks out on Atlantis. Research shows that the infection event occurred while Olivia had been there. Olivia is informed . . . etc. etc. . . sex. . . .etc. etc.
Year later . . . Olivia and Sam .....right, let's not tell the entire story here.
Sex.
So, just in case I forgot to mention it - Olivia and Sam have sex. Time passes, though it isn't always easy to tell 1) how much time, and 2) if Olivia and Sam are together/separate; and or if they are cheating on each other or on others. Somewhere along the line it seemed as if both were cheating on others with each other; and or cheating on each other with others. That part was confusing. Neither Olivia nor Sam cared, though their 'others' seemed to care. Deeply. Though, to be fair, one was ill at the time they showed they cared.
Action occurred.
Rodney MacKay acted like himself.
Stuff happened.
Rating: 2.88
September 23 2017
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Friday, September 22, 2017
What If...? by KineticKid
This is an interesting twist that I'd never thought about - never even considered possibly thinking about. The story is called 'What If' for a reason. What if Willow was off at an out of state college - when Tara came into the picture, became 'known' to the group? (ETA: I mention it, somewhat, later, but on the television show, Willow and Tara were a couple).
The book opens with Buffy out on patrol. Wandering, killing, wandering - coming across a woman that has four vampires closing in on her. Buffy starts taking the vamps out when one suddenly explodes in flames, Buffy takes out the last vamp and looks over at the woman. Who stammers, thanks her, and runs away. Buffy finds a little celtic cross charm on the ground and assumes that the woman had dropped it - wishes to return it, but has no clue who the woman might be.
The next day finds Buffy and Joyce, Buffy's mother, chatting before Buffy wanders to class - at college. See, this is the period/part of the series, when everyone is an adult now (Buffy being 18, Tara being 19 (Tara's exact age is mentioned in the book, and Buffy is a year younger); Joyce, I assume, is somewhere between 36 and 46) and doing college like stuff (except Xander - I've yet to run across a story that has Xander go to college). And I mentioned the Joyce/Buffy talking thing so I'd remind myself to note that that's one of the things they do - talk a lot and stuff - Buffy lives at home while going to college, and Joyce knows Buffy is the slayer. In that other universe, the one that was shown on television, this specific aspect didn't happen because the mother got an aneurysm rupture and died. So -- that parts different. (Also, Dawn doesn't exist. I forget now if this story actually takes place before or after Dawn had appeared; or, I should say, if the split point that pivots on one line towards the tv show story, and the line that pivots towards this book's story line, is before or after Dawn had appeared).
I mention class up above because, while in class, Buffy spots a blond woman who looks vaguely familiar. Then finally realizes that it is the woman from before who had stuttered nervously and fled. I don't want to go down a road of noting everything that happened in the book just the part where Buffy and Tara kept bumping into each other, Buffy wants to be friends with Tara, Tara seems receptive, especially since Tara finds Buffy attractive, and somewhere along the way Buffy comes to the realization that she finds Tara attractive. And is quite confused by that, since she has tended to fancy men so far in her life. After the questioning occurs, and the romancing, and the like, the rest of the book unfolds. Which, oddly enough, is the last . . . oh . . . 50% of the book.
This is the part of the series when Faith was in that coma she'd fallen into. Part of the rest of the book involves Tara (and the others) trying to help Faith. While also showcasing lots and lots of sex between Tara and Buffy. And I mean - a lot. Everywhere. Non-stop. So much sex that it's a good thing both are, in their separate ways, super-powered by supernatural forces or they probably would have died from all that sex. Oh, didn't mention that, did I? Well, kinda, but didn't expand on it. Well, first, if you read this story you probably already know that Buffy is 'The Slayer' - the one who has this superpowered ability to fight and protect humans against demons; well, Tara is a witch - from a longish line of witches, and each generation grows stronger the further away you get from the first one who dabbled in witchcraft.
Tara is not a character that I had spent a whole hell of a lot of attention on. Even though she's 'the lesbian' and in 'the lesbian relationship on a mainstream network show' (even if it was WB/UPN), I still didn't spend a whole hell of a lot of time watching her. For . . . reasons. Partially because she didn't seem a whole hell of a lot different from Willow. Both stuttered more than you'd think a person could stutter. Both were super shy. Both were kind of mousy. Both were basically the same character except for hair color. Remove her from getting absorbed into Willow, as occurred on the tv show, and you can see the character on her own. Watch her, learn her, feel her grow into her own creature.
Even though I'd never considered the idea, Tara and Buffy actually did/do make an interesting couple. Different than, despite my comments in the prior paragraph, than a Willow & Buffy match up. Because they aren't really the same character with different hair color (Willow and Tara), it's just how they got lumped into my brain as the floated around in the expanded 'Scooby' friends zone.
- Buffy and Tara
The other characters were great as well - well, good at least. The Faith scenes were quite good. The mother/daughter/Giles scenes were good. Willow and her revelations were good.
All around a good solid story. With lots of . . . fantasy elements, and action, and tons of graphic erotic sex stuff.
Rating: ... something between a 4.25 and a 4.5. I'll call it 4.5 as I don't have a rating shelf this would fall on specifically. Maybe 4.33? Something like that.
September 22 2017
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Wednesday, September 20, 2017
The Love Song of Sawyer Bell by Avon Gale
The Love Song of Sawyer Bell by Avon GaleMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Received this ARC from Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for an honest review
I've wanted to read this book since I first saw it - June 13 2017 - listed as 'upcoming' (or whatever it is Riptide calls their books that'll appear sometime in the future). The book looked super interesting. Course, I think I saw the second book first, which was something of a letdown - more because I noticed it looked interesting, then noticed that the lead character in that one was a man; then noticed this one had two women as main characters (and yes, both have their point of views on display). Riptide seems to like series that include multiple layers of the LGBT spectrum, but that's neither here nor there, let's get back to this specific book.
Right, were was I? Oh, yeah. I've wanted to read this book for four months now. But, there's a certain worry that develops, of course, when you are in that situation. Both in wanting to read a book, and in noticing that the book is in one of those mixed gender series (heh, that sounds weird, I meant FF books with MM books, with occasional MF mixed in with one or the other or both being transgender; plus, to ruin that use of 'both' that started this sentence, I kind of have a hate/love relationship with books related to music).
So - to recap this brilliant part of the review: 1) wanted to read this book long time; 2) some worry based on that and other things.
The book: Victoria “Vix” Vincent is about . . . oh, 25 or 26 years of age (she was a high school senior when the other main character, Sawyer Bell, was a freshman in high school, which, in most USA high schools, would make them 3 to 4 years apart in age (some high schools merge junior high and high school into one school, so there'd be a 5 to 6 year gap between the lowest level and top, but I don't think that's the case here). Gah. Let's try this again.
Vix Vincent is a 25/26 year old professional musician with a band named after herself. She's had this band for years now, about 8 at least (maybe ten, there was a comment that she's been performing since she was 16, though I don't think that literally meant the band is that old). The band has gotten a certain reputation, but it is nowhere near the top. Or even, really, the middle. But they are slowly inching up. Playing larger venues. Headlining . . . sometimes - sometimes performing as the opening band. All of this is important because the band is just about to go on the road again, in about 2 weeks. Basically for the summer. But their fiddle player went and got himself married and then got himself a baby to look after and is, therefore, taking time away from the band (maybe/probably permanently). So - they need a new fiddle player. Which is where the book opens, with Vix and her bandmates watching poor performer after poor performer play one after the other. And getting super depressed. Then another one appears, wearing a sundress and looking, maybe, 16 (actually, not sure how young she looked, but they did ask if she was old enough to be there).
That next up auditioning for the band is/was Sawyer Bell. Fiddler/Violinist. She looks real young (I'm probably overdoing that part), and when she talks - it's in a light barely heard whisper. The band kind of groans, but wave her on to perform. Which she does. She plays something classical. With authority. Blows away the band members with how good she plays. They try to trip her up by throwing out some band names and asking her to play something less classical, more rock; and she does. Masterfully. She, Sawyer, then mentions that she's a student at Juilliard, in between Junior and Senior years at college. One thing leads to another, and the 21 year old is a member of the band for the summer. Oh, and for those reading along, she also has her point of view presented.
There's one flashback in this book, occurs roughly about where we are information wise (near the beginning of the book; actually, that '7 years earlier' might have occurred twice in rapid succession - seeming as if one flashback). The flashback takes us back 7 years when both Sawyer and Vix were in high school. And show us readers that Vix and Sawyer had actually meet before, once, back in high school.
There's much humor, travel adventures, and 'getting to know you' explorations of a romantic nature. Oh, and sex, graphic in nature. And quite fun for me personally to read - since there was so much humor mixed in to those scenes. I like humor; I like the mix of humor and sex. Fun times.
Right, so - book is outstanding from beginning until the ever present need for conflict rears its ugly head and erupts in conflict. Um, poorly worded. Well, no matter. Conflict point was reached. Things got rough, this is a romance book though, not a tragedy, so . . ..
Great, super readable, enjoyable book. 99.9% of the time I really liked the two main characters, Vix and Sawyer (not 100% sure I particularly liked the others who popped up - like there's just something dislikable about Jeff (bandmate), and about Sawyer's parents (mostly the father and the jokes he was cracking during an emotional moment).
Rating: 4.88
September 20 2017
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Policies and Procedures for Being Emily Locke by Nerissa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I rather liked the show, despite it's very short appearance on television, and rather liked Emily Locke. Sad to see both disappear from my life. (Referring to Powerless, not Supergirl - since Supergirl is still on the air)
The story is cute and funny. And rather good at capturing Emily's character. To a certain extent, goodish at capturing Kara. I suppose I'm used to Supergirl stories wherein there's a big deal about Supergirl actually going out with another woman, while this one . . ., well, before we got anywhere in the story, Kara had asked Emily out for a 'non interview' . . . um, thing. Evening? I forget now how it was worded. Mind, it could be Emily misreading things . . . but then Kara asked about the tabloids saying that Emily was dating Green Fury, and then being happy it was fiction. Because.
Okay, when I said that the story was 'cute and funny' - I really meant it. There were times I laughed openly and loudly.
Said while eating a meal at a restaurant after Kara appeared to have said something more than she had meant to say:
So Emily, determined to make it, if not less awkward for Kara, at least equally awkward for both of them, blurted out “I think you are unfairly beautiful and I’d really like to kiss you on the mouth.”
Oh, and the erotic parts were . . . funny and . . . erotic. *Noted with wide bright eyes* And, um, I now understand the attraction of love making with someone who can read your body through various super-powers. Is . . . good.
Hmm, action good too. *nods*
I love this short story more than life itself. Wait, no, that's stupid. Um, I really really like this story? Hmms. Well, something like that.
Rating: 5+
September 19 2017
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Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Modifications by Bearblue
My rating: 3.45 of 5 stars
Fanfiction - Star Trek Voyager
This was an interesting book with an interesting twist to the Star Trek Voyager story. Then it just got downright weird. 'Old Admiral Janeway' suddenly blinking and waking up in her 'Captain Janeway' body 7 years after Voyager had been transported to the Delta Quandrant? Interesting enough. Done before, but here 'older Janeway' and 'younger Janeway' were in the same body, not two separate people. Putting rational 'things' in place? Some of which I actually thought should have been done anyway? Good good.
Allowing herself to explore her 'feelings' towards certain people on her ship? Hmms . . . okay, understandable, good. Exploring these feelings with more than one woman at the same time with them also exploring similar feelings with each other to the point that everyone ends up in some kind of poly relationship? Well . . . different, but not the weird thing I was talking about, at least not specifically.
It was around the point when the 'new family' decided that 4 people was not the right number, so they'd add a fifth . . . for . . . reasons. So . . . a five person family, 4 of which are female, and one of which is more symbolic (until not). The four people getting together was . . . a stretch but . . . . still within the realm of readable. Adding the fifth . . . moved things towards weirder and weirder realms. Deciding to have one third of your crew start poly relationships, even if 'fake' for appearance sake . . . and we move into 'WTF' territory. But wait, there's more! (view spoiler).
Truth be told, the story had some rather interesting and neat elements to it. Quite readable. And, hell, I was pushing for a poly situation in that other Star Trek Voyager fanfiction series I'd read, so getting it here isn't 'bad' or weird or anything. I'm happy with that, really. It's just . . . somewhere along the way it seemed as if the author of this fanfiction put down lines and thought - 'cross here'? YES! *cross* New line. Cross here? OF COURSE!!! mmphs. Basically, I mean, some of the stuff seemed to be done more just to cross a line rather than be natural to the story. But . . . meh, entertaining story anyway.
Rating: 3.45
September 19 2017
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Fanfiction - Star Trek Voyager
This was an interesting book with an interesting twist to the Star Trek Voyager story. Then it just got downright weird. 'Old Admiral Janeway' suddenly blinking and waking up in her 'Captain Janeway' body 7 years after Voyager had been transported to the Delta Quandrant? Interesting enough. Done before, but here 'older Janeway' and 'younger Janeway' were in the same body, not two separate people. Putting rational 'things' in place? Some of which I actually thought should have been done anyway? Good good.
Allowing herself to explore her 'feelings' towards certain people on her ship? Hmms . . . okay, understandable, good. Exploring these feelings with more than one woman at the same time with them also exploring similar feelings with each other to the point that everyone ends up in some kind of poly relationship? Well . . . different, but not the weird thing I was talking about, at least not specifically.
It was around the point when the 'new family' decided that 4 people was not the right number, so they'd add a fifth . . . for . . . reasons. So . . . a five person family, 4 of which are female, and one of which is more symbolic (until not). The four people getting together was . . . a stretch but . . . . still within the realm of readable. Adding the fifth . . . moved things towards weirder and weirder realms. Deciding to have one third of your crew start poly relationships, even if 'fake' for appearance sake . . . and we move into 'WTF' territory. But wait, there's more! (view spoiler).
Truth be told, the story had some rather interesting and neat elements to it. Quite readable. And, hell, I was pushing for a poly situation in that other Star Trek Voyager fanfiction series I'd read, so getting it here isn't 'bad' or weird or anything. I'm happy with that, really. It's just . . . somewhere along the way it seemed as if the author of this fanfiction put down lines and thought - 'cross here'? YES! *cross* New line. Cross here? OF COURSE!!! mmphs. Basically, I mean, some of the stuff seemed to be done more just to cross a line rather than be natural to the story. But . . . meh, entertaining story anyway.
Rating: 3.45
September 19 2017
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Mated to the Meerkat by Lia Silver
My rating: 3.33 of 5 stars
This is a quick short story involving a man that likes to hump meerkats. heh, no, but that's what the cover looks like, right? A topless man standing next to a meerkat with the title 'mated to the meerkat'. Shesh - that cover is wrong on almost every level - it implies that the man humps animals, and that's not even what he looks like - he has blond hair in the story, and both chest hair and a 'treasure trail' or however that was worded. The meerkat is supposed to have redish-blonde fur with some black stripes mixed in - though I'm not sure if the meerkat on the cover doesn't actually have that so I can't say the meerkat is wrong. Not what I pictured, but can't say it's wrong.
No, this is actually about a paparazzi and a freelance reporter who keep popping up at the same locations. And the reporter is pissed off at the paparazzi constantly stalking her - and yes, the other main character is in fact female. A relatively large black woman (what, it's important to the story). Both always found the other attractive, but the woman found something about the man, Chance, to be off-putting, so it is only somewhat by accident that they get a freelance job together and are forced to spend time together. And no, the woman is not the meerkat - that's another thing wrong with the cover, it's the man who is a meerkat, or, I should say, a weremeerkat.
After I got over my disgust with paparazzi's, I found the story to be interesting enough to pass the time. There are weresnakes, weremeerkats, and werecats rolling over each other, political intrigue, and some sex mixed in there as well.
This is the second story I've read by this author, the other is a fanfiction under a different name. The author writes under at least three for pay author names, and at least one fanfiction name. I don't remember the third author name, though, unless I'm mistaken, the fanfiction name is Edonohana and I read a short story by them involving two lesbians rolling around humping each other that I gave a rating of something like 4.75 stars. Oh, what, there it is, the other author name is Rebecca Tregaron - the one she writes lesbian stories under. She uses Lia Silver for heterosexual romance fantasy stories, and Rachel Manija Brown for young adult fantasy stories.
Rating: 3.33
September 19 2017
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Invictus by Aska J. Naiman
My rating: 4.65 of 5 stars
For a book that I randomly picked up through Instafreebie, this was one very satisfying short story. While I admit that there's a bunch of stuff that others might find 'wrong' with it (writing style, 'errors', etc.), I found the book very entertaining.
Told entirely through the point of view of one young woman, the story tells about this woman's recovery from some event that took her lower leg from her (it is never explained what occurred). She had been either Olympic caliber or on the way to being Olympic caliber in swimming, but now . . . now she's missing one leg. She'd put her entire life, ambition, purpose for being, everything into swimming. And now? Now she has to attempt to learn to walk again. Learn to . . . live again. Learn to find something more than just swimming to occupy her time (the passion for swimming is still there).
As part of that 'more', her parents encourage the young woman to expand her brain. She'd basically been 'average' in school. Somewhat because she spent hours swimming instead of studying, partly, possibly, because she is average. But, still, even 'average' people can 'improve' their mind. Train it. Expand it. Fill it. So a tutor comes over.
After many many weeks, the young woman admits to herself that she has a massive crush on her young female tutor. She's in a somewhat difficult position, though, because she doesn't want to scare the woman away by making advances or anything like that. So . . .
I should probably mention that both young women have dark skin. As Seda (the tutor) notes, when she first glimpses Shla (the POV character), 'I . . . I thought you were white.' (there are reasons for the comment, quickly seen after the comment is made). Oh, and one's British, while the other has a non-British accent.
Right, so.
If there was one thing I'd point out, not exactly a negative, but . . . , it's the part where the book ended and . . then there was a 'cut scene' just there. There should have been some greater indication that the book was over now before that scene, beyond titling the chapter "Cut Scenes" and assuming people would understand that this was a bonus scene. Since I wasn't sure, myself, if the story was over at that point or not. And if that 'extra scene' added anything. *shrugs* It probably should have remained cut.
Rating: 4.65
September 19 2017
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Monday, September 18, 2017
Delle Seyah's Slave by Edonohana
My rating: 4.93 of 5 stars
I have no idea what 'Killjoys' is, beyond it being a television show (which I didn't even know until the little 'tv' after 'Killjoys' on Archive of Our Own). Based on what occurred in this story, I assume that there's some science fiction element to this television world. Though, until I Googled the show, I had developed this idea that it might be one of those animated shows (the 'she's my enemy!' comments that popped up over and over again, plus some similar comments, seemed like things I'd see on animated shows *shrugs*).
Right, so I have no clue what the show was, nor who the people were. But, apparently, I didn't need to know to find this story downright entertaining and fun and . . . stuff.
This is probably the part where knowing the show would help - the part where I mention what the story was about. No matter - a woman has been instrumental in the capture of someone another person cares about in some way. To get information needed to secure 'Johnny's' release, Dutch would have to agree to be Delle Seyah's slave for the night.
So . . . she reluctantly agrees. Partially because she wants the information, partially because she's very aroused by the whole thing. Though she's damned determined to not allow that part, the aroused part, show up on her face, in her reactions, etc.
Right, so, I don't want to convey the whole story here, but there are a few more tidbits that are needed to be dropped: part of the 'slave for the night' involves stripping, putting on barely there skirt, and having nipples painted with edible rouge. Okay, I could have just gotten away with - part of the slave for the night is the part where Dutch was dragged (by leash connected to a collar) to a 'lesbian kink party'; I think the wording was actually 'lesbian sex party', but . . . ).
Everyone has fun. Dutch is confused and angry about it, but has fun.
This picture here oddly seems to correspond to the story - woman in lingerie, being helped with her clothing. (I'd originally had that as Belle in lingerie with Dutch helping her get clothed, but I still don't actually know what either look like - I know that at least one of the women in that picture is either Dutch or Belle, and that both might in the picture but am not sure).
ETA:
Rating: 4.93
September 18 2017
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Pink Ladies, or Bioavailable Bisexuality by IShipItAllAndThenSome
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I think this is the third Supergirl fanfiction I've read. Yes, third. Three different authors, two different relationships (as in, Kara being matched up with people, two involve Kara+Lena, one involves Kara+Cat). This specific story involves Kara and Lena in a relationship.
Lena really likes both Kara and Supergirl - and hasn't exactly spent a life with friends. And wants to help her friends. So creates a vaccine for kryptonite for Supergirl; and hugs, and cuddles, and spends time watching television with Kara, even though she knows Kara's straight, and she herself wished Kara would tilt her head a little more when they cuddled to press their lips together.
For, reasons, she tested the vaccine on herself. It seemed to work. She got it ready to send off. Then Supergirl/Kara popped up. Both seemed super . . . touchier than normal. (view spoiler)).
This was a super neat, nice, fluffy, great story. I loved this story. It as super good.
Rating: 5.00
September 18 2017
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Garlands of Violets by sapphberrie
Garlands of Violets by sapphberries
My rating: 4.55 of 5 stars
Fanfiction: Harley Quinn, Pamela Isley, & the Joker too. Set in Ancient Greece.
Harley is married to Doloes (the Joker). Pamela is Ivy, the forest nymph. Doloes savagely beats Harley, and Harley suffers greatly. Ivy, who has not had much use for humans, spots Harley and is oddly drawn to her. Harley and Ivy become friends - but have to fight Doloes/Joker. Much suffering has to occur.
This is a rather enjoyable story - both in terms of being a historical fiction story, and in terms of being a Harley Quinn story. If there was one thing that holds me back from marking this five stars - it is the somewhat unfortunate issue that the story is told from both Harley & Ivy's POV - but each POV change reverses the story. As in, we see things from Ivy's point of view, then we see things from Harley's. Occasionally one or the other advances the story, occasionally one or the other just restates the story from the other point of view, and occasionally - more rare this - the POV switches within the same chapter. *shrugs* It's not a horrible situation but it does keep this from reaching 5 star status.
I like including pictures for fanfiction . . . can't seem to find one with Quinn in an Ancient Greek outfit. hmms. Something like this here I guess -
Ivy is slightly easier to find - since she doesn't wear anything but plants in the story. -
Rating: 4.55
September 17 2017
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Suburban Sex Kitten Adventure by Amanda Clover
Suburban Sex Kitten Adventure by Amanda CloverMy rating: 4.65 of 5 stars
I go into this choose your own adventure story knowing two things (then spotting a third before I begin): 1) I've read these types of books by this author before and I either find them to be meh, or interesting, so this one might fall somewhere in between; 2) I 'play' a woman in this one - unlike many of these types of 'you' books; 3) 'features paths for straight, lesbian, and bisexual readers.' - so that sounds interesting. *nods*
Right, so, let's actually open the book, eh? Or click on it or whatever.
Okay, so, book opens with me stirring awake after at least one erotic dream (about a werewolf with some interesting moves - no, it wasn't shown, I was told I woke up with this still impacting my nipples).
Okay, so I'm bouncy and I have no problem bouncing around without a bra on and with my rather engorged nipples poking at my tank top. Bouncy's good. I don't want to be depressed. *nods*
Right, sorry, so book opens with you getting the paper and while out there you 'take in' who your neighbors are. I assume this is setting up for a 'go for person x' type chooses to be made. Oh, and yes, she, sorry I did make a comment, in my character's head, about how need actual physical newspaper in this day an age to find summer job.
hehehe, after 'reminding myself' about all the hot looking people around me (well, and a few less hot people), my first choice is to allow myself to get into the car of a real pervy guy who basically just offered money for sex. Right there in the street. mmphs. eww.
Okay okay, I was going to try the lesbian path first, but I was curious. hehe. So I get in the car for some 'easy money' (what, it's a long tradition in lesbian circles for, at least, the femme to get money as a prostitute *nods* - creepy man in mercedes felt up my breasts, then sucked on them, then crashed into a cop car - so . . . that was interesting. hehe. And I didn't even have to touch him! Though I didn't get any money and I'm now an hours walk from home and/or a strip mall (odd - car ride didn't seem to be an hour long).
Gah. I really shouldn't have gone that direction, though. Because I'm out in my PJ's (which consists of a tank top and shorts, but whatever - they be PJ's because book say they PJ's) and haven't showered yet. I think I'm going to restart. I want to shower first before I do anything. mmphs. Gross. Wandering around without showering first. mmphs. hehe.
*Restarts - tells creepy dude in Mercedes to go to hell path*
Dang it - I want to go see what the hot Mrs. Davenport has in the way of 'chores' but . . I still haven't showered yet! mmphs. So . . . I go inside. I'll probably accidentally trip and break my neck or something by deciding to go inside. mmphs. Why I not showered yet? WHYYYYY?
Heh - now the author is talking to me through my own brain . . . um, I mean, whatever. 'Sure, you made the most boring choice. That doesn't mean the rest of your day has to be boring.' I just want to be showered and in clothing Author! Please let me clean myself up, please.
I shall now do the dance of joy - 'Your early morning has left you with the urge for a nice, hot bath'. Clean clean clean, I'm going to be cleaned up soon! Oh for .. . sake, stop teasing me with getting clean! Yes, nude dancing in an empty house sounds interesting, but for fuck sake, will you please let me clean up? For fuck sake. I promise I'll nude dance afterwards if you'd just fucking let me fucking clean up already! FUCK!
YYYYYYESSS! Bath choice! *pounds on the 'soak in the tube' option.
oh for fuck sake. So I just want to be clean, does that really make me 'a bigger wuss than you thought'. I"ll be naked, wet, probably with windows gapping for anyone to see me naked and wet, and I'll probably play the water massager thingie over my clit - so I'm a big wuss? pfft.
And now I'm referring to my 'kitty' as a separate 'thing' and that we are a team. pfft.
Hmms, things were getting interesting there - starting to have erotic feelings toward your female best friend but . . . doorbell interruption. hmms. Maybe it's the friend? Have fun with friend now? I clean now. *nods*
Oh neat - the 'me' had started 'playing with myself' with images to a man, but quickly morphed into thinking about Lucy, then when I ignored the doorbell, and couldn't get back into the fantasy with LUcy I went to . . . another woman to fantasize over. hmms . . neeeat.
Well now, then Lucy reappeared, while you are fantaizing about the librarian, and much fun was had by everyone. EVERYONE! WHY AM I SHOUTING! RIght, sorry. Was shouting in joy, anyway, just to reassure.
Old friend who you stopped being friends with after they came out and said you aroused them texts. Asks to hang out. After pleasuring myself to thoughts of mom's librarian friend and Lucy, fuck yes I'm going to hang out with Keisha.
Darn - the way this section is opening - I don't think it actually flows immediately after what I read. I mean, it could, just . . . it seems to imply things that haven't happened. *shrugs*
'You wear a tight gray top that hangs off one shoulder and reveals that you aren’t wearing a bra.' - okay, now I know this doesn't connect with previous section. I, or you, were sitting around in my sheer panties and bra when I decided whether to text Keisha back or not. Now I'm suddenly not wearing a bra? mmphs. (not that I actually want to wear a bra)
(Want to make sure I went back to look, yes I did put on a bra and panties. mmphs 'You finish drying off and put on a sheer black bra with embroidered lace cups and a matching pair of black lace thong panties.')
That's annoying me enough that I'm going to go back and try that Lovr app option instead. First I mean. At least as long as females are still available to flirt and stuff with. - And yep, this is the path I was supposed to go down, I don't mean I like it best, I mean - I just took a full body shot of myself in my bra and panties. Therefore letting me know this flows from last section. But, posting a full body shot of me in sheer underwear? mmphs.
Oh good, women avaiable (though only two of the four choices, and one of those two includes a man in there as well). So I go with the solo older woman option.
Ah, heh. So a little BDSM action is going to occur, eh? heh. The 41 year old says she's dominant and tender, and wants someone who isn't a brain dead bimbo but more of a naughty daughter (eww, incest).
----
Oops, well it's probably for the best that I forgot I was writing stuff while I read.
I didn't go down every path - I mostly tried to keep to the lesbian paths (except that first choice, but then the guy just felt up my boobs before getting arrested so - alls good) - and when I found myself with 'run away or pleasure a man' options, I always ran away. Some of them seemed downright bordering on rape-y - not there yet, but it might have gone there if I'd continued down the 'allow self to be blackmailed and used' paths. And I'm not just saying that - one of the paths I started down had me flashing a biker. Who broke into the house. I dodged him, but I imagine there's a way I might have gotten caught by him.
The lesbian paths were, for the most part, downright exciting, arousing, fun, and borderline satisfying on a romance level. The largest problem I had, and I tried to avoid it as much as possible, is that most paths seemed to want to go down a 'lick butthole' path that I had no desire whatsoever to go down. But, meh, I got around that as best as I could.
Sex: Of course. Lots and lots of arousing lesbian sex (and possibly bisexual/straight sex, but, as noted, I ran the other direction every time that popped up (again, except for that first choice, and I got away with just groping).
Rating: 4.65
September 17 2017
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001. bodies and body parts by spiralstreet (bertee)
001. bodies and body parts by spiralstreet (bertee)
My rating: 4.63 of 5 stars
Second story I'd read by this author - and first time I realized the numbers actually meant something (based on the other words in the title, I assumed that the number corresponded to some prompt somewhere, not to series story order).
Right, so, liked the first story I'd read by this author, so tried another - starting from 1. And by 'tried another', I mean that I had intended to create a bookmark and read it later. But got sucked into the story.
It's another straight forward story of bondage play. Again involving three women, same three as in the other story I'd read by this author. This time only one of the three is in bondage. Bound tightly in work clothing, gagged, and blindfolded. On a sofa or the like (at least at first), while her two girlfriends eat popcorn and watch a movie. And played with their 'captive' during the viewing of film.
Another fun diverting piece of erotica. Interesting at how well characterized the three women are from the little that is seen of them in this short snippet of a scene.
Rating: 4.63
September 17 2017
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Sunday, September 17, 2017
015. humiliation by spiralstreet (bertee)
015. humiliation by spiralstreet (bertee)
My rating: 4,61 of 5 stars
Fanfiction: Supernatural
I'd watched a couple episodes (or more) of Supernatural's first season. Nowhere enough to have a clue who any of the people are in this short story. If they are actually a part of the show or not. I didn't even know there were enough women to have a story like this one here.
Three women play an erotic BDSM game together. One takes the dominant role, while the other two take the submissive roles. It's a straight forward well written scene that involves bondage, spanking, flogging, electric shocks, crawling, etc.
Story is titled 'verbal humiliation', and was apparently written based on a prompt for that, but I did not specifically see anything in the story that I'd label that particular kink. The 'verbal humiliation' appeared to consist of the domme having the other two ask to have the things done to them that are done to them. And . . . hmm, that's basically it (in terms of what might have been verbal humiliation, I mean). *shrugs*
So, the three woman are: Genevieve Cortese (Ruby), Danneel Harris (not actually on show), Adrianne Palicki (Jessica Moore)
I've been including pics in the fanfiction I read as identifiable characters are being written about and so what they look like is known and stuff - and so -
Rating: .... how do I rate something that's a short erotic piece that I can't tell how it actually relates to a show I've only seen a few episodes of? mmphs. um, 4.61
September 17
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Hit the Road, (Uncle) Jack, and Don't You Come Back No More! by Emachinescat
Hit the Road, (Uncle) Jack, and Don't You Come Back No More! by Emachinescat
My rating: 3.3 of 5 stars
Fanfiction: Psych
Place in series: During (or right after?) the episode 'The Greatest Adventure in the History of Basic Cable'
I'm not exactly sure what the point of this story here might be. Uncle Jack, Shawn's actual uncle, tricked Shawn and Gus to go on a pirate treasure hunt. Some bad guys chased them. Shawn, in turn, tricked Jack. Etc. etc. - that's what was on the episode.
This short story here involves the bad guys capturing Gus and Shawn at gunpoint. Leaving Gus behind as a mobile ransom note, and taking Shawn with them. They wanted the gold for Shawn.
And . . . so, that happened. Story unfolded. I don't actually remember how the episode ended, so I don't know if it actually ended with Jack starring into the bag that was supposed to hold gold, of if it ended later. I've a vague recollection that the police arrived while the bad guys and Gus/Shawn were in the woods. Doesn't matter.
I don't really know what all to note here. Story occurred. Wasn't an original, just an extension of an episode.
Rating: 3.30
September 17 2017
View all my reviews
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Unlimited by Lilyyuri
Unlimited by Lilyyuri
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Fiction: Frozen + Brave
Shipping: Elsa + Merida [Elsida or Merelsa]
My inability to keep myself away from fanfiction works continues. This time I found myself reading a story about Merida (from the film Brave), and Elsa (from Frozon). Oh, and the others from both films, I just meant that those two are the two being 'shipped' here.
Right, so, Merida continues to not find suitors acceptable to her, her parents keep attempting to find suitors (more the mother), and, meanwhile, Merida is being forced to spend more time in meetings, and the like acting princess-like. While doing so, Merida and the King and Queen meet the Queen and Princess from . . . the place Elsa is from (bah, it's Arrriondale or something like that, but I can't spell). Merida is intrigued by the fact that the place has a Queen and Princess, but no King or Prince. She then, promptly, falls over because her father is her father and had elbowed her.
Merida develops lust upon first sight upon the alluring ice queen. Elsa, for her part, is both quite taken by the young Princess, and horrified - figuring that Merida is needed for her kingdom, and she, Elsa, is needed for her own, so there is no possible future - so she's going to avoid Merida no matter what ((view spoiler)).
So, while Elsa is doing everything she can to avoid Merida, Merida spends a great deal of time wandering her kingdom with her new friend - Anna. Merida had actually seen Anna first - and had immediately liked how she looked - and no, I mean as a potential friend, not as a potential love interest. So that's going on. Anna and Merida bouncing around as friends. Elsa acting all stand-off-ish and ice queen like.
Until Elsa and Merida encounter each other in a specific way, go horsie riding, then physically encounter each other with their mouths. Then break apart when the ice queen regains her control and flees. Both are quite torn up about the separation, but Elsa . . . HAS REASONS!!! ((view spoiler)).
Right, so. Interesting story - as I think I noted, I liked both Merida and Anna from their specific movies; the story unfolded here was interesting way to pass the time. And, well, not much else to say.
Sex: story contains graphic sex.
Rating: 3.50
September 16 2017
View all my reviews
Friday, September 15, 2017
Eyes Like Those by Melissa Brayden
Eyes Like Those by Melissa BraydenMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
A young woman, relatively speaking, of roughly 28-29 years of age dejectedly returns home from work. Ex-work. She’s been fired, yet again. Over fennel. She’s, obviously enough, quite sad. She explains her sadness to Fat Tony, who is her uncle and a gangster. He whacks everyone at the restaurant. The end.
Wait, sorry, Fat Tony is Isabel’s grumpy cat. Not a mobster. So, instead of ‘killing’ everyone who wronged her, the cat attacks her feet. Moments later Isabel’s life turns a completely different direction – her former college friend, wait, no, still friend, her friend from college sets Isabel up with an interview with a television series to be a writer on it. She hurriedly sets things up, gets hired, and promptly dumps coffee onto her new boss. And thus is Isabel meet, and thus is the book started.
As noted, Isabel is rapidly approaching her thirties and has spent her life winning awards at film festivals and . . . struggling mightily to have that actually mean anything (like in her bank account). Basically, what I’m saying is that she has received critical success on short films, but no financial success. Oh, and she has no lover in her life.
Enter . . . Gia, Hadley, Autumn and . . . um, well there’s also Stephanie . . and . . well, a bunch of people who live in Isabel’s cozy apartment building on the beach. Wait, you thought I was going to mention a love interest? Are you sure I haven’t? Right, so, my point is/was: Isabel, unlike her normal nature, instantly finds some friends to hang out with. Plus, she has that great gig on a high rated television show.
Meanwhile, a woman of about 32 has been running a highly rated television show for the past 5 or so years (well, this is season 5, so, past 4 years?). She has no one currently in her life, romantically, but then – she has no time for something like that. She’s run ragged from script meetings, to meetings with producers, to meetings with the budget people, to meetings with the network, to . . . well, you get the idea.
Well, she does occasionally have naked (or at least topless) women in her office (and in her life). Except . . . that’s the ex who won’t stop attempting to prolong the relationship. Taylor Andrews, who I now realize I forgot to name, has learned at least one lesson from her life, well many lessons but one specific one matters for this story, - she’ll never again have a relationship with someone she works with.
Isabel finds Taylor to be gorgeous. Taylor can’t stop examining Isabel’s traits, habits, clothing, and body. Things proceed from there.
This is/was a rather good book here. Good solid plot, great side characters (both those seen as friends off the set, and those on the set), great romance, and, and this one surprised me, great bits of humor. I don’t actually remember if that’s normal or not for a Brayden book. I’d have to go back and look over my reviews, but when I think of a Brayden book I think of well written books with great characters, good romances, and a certain formulistic foreshadowing of key plot points (specifically the key plot point that’ll cause mischief and problems with the budding relationship). Humor? Not an immediate thought that comes to mind.
But this book kept making me laugh, and all the other great points of a Brayden book were also there (unless you think that foreshadowing thing is a great advantage – because that seemed to be missing – which I liked). The ‘point of contention’ seemed logical to the story, and yet wasn’t foreshadowed with large glowing neon arrows.
My mind has suddenly become blank. Why’d that happen? Mmphs.
Right, so – there is a dog in this story, plus a cat. Both have important roles to play, though the dog more so than the cat. Family pops up, but more as an aside – as in, Isabel thinks of her father once or twice. I am not sure Taylor ever had family (okay, yes, her parents were mentioned, but I don’t think they played any role in this book). No kids were harmed in the telling of this story (also, no kids appeared, not even stray ones unrelated to the story).
Sex occurred. Graphically. Sometimes publically.
Right . . . so . . . great book.
Oh! Remembered something: POV? Both main characters have their point of view seen by the reader. Plus, unrelated, this is the first in a series and the second book has already been revealed - and stars Autumn of Cat's PJ's.
Rating: 4.84
September 15 2017
View all my reviews
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Cleaved in Two by Hypnobyl
Fandom: Supergirl (TV)
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/10404105?view_full_work=true
Both my second story by this author and my second fanfiction story based on Supergirl (though first was by a different author; the other story by this author that I've read involved the female version of Ghostbusters).
There are two main differences between this story and the previous Supergirl story I'd read (probably more, but let's start with these): 1) the first story was a longish book length work, while this one is a short story; 2) first story involved Kara Danvers and Lena Luther; this story involves Kara Danvers and Cat Grant.
There's an interesting twist added to this story: apparently 'soulmates' begin picking up some of the traits/abilities of their 'soulmate'. And Cat has been having some . . . strength (as in, a lot more than normal) and . . . remaining on the ground problems lately (as in, occasional bouts of hovering).
Items of interest: This is a fanfiction, so: Characters? Both Kara and Cat seem to correspond to what I recall of their characters from the show. Placement (in the timeline of the show): not sure - at some point before Cat left, at least, and while Kara is still her assistant, but after Maggie and Alex began dating (I'm not actually sure both factoids ever occurred at the same time on the show - Maggie+Alex dating and Kara still assistant to Cat).
The whole 'soulmate' thing completely baffles me. At least it does after I read 'Alex had found her first soulmate in tenth grade'. Apparently people can have many soulmates over their lives. I . . . confused. The soulmate thing makes me feel uneasy. No, not the 'Cat and Kara are soulmates!', but the 'people have more than one soulmate throughout life, and they exchange abilities through that link! And, other than the ability exchange, being a soulmate doesn't really mean anything!' I mean . . what the fuck? My entire ability to enjoy this story has been drastically reduced when I learned that Cat and Kara being soulmates is basically like saying both are female. Why the fuck was 'soulmates' word even used? I'm very annoyed. I mean, the bloody title implies that soulmates means something, while the bloody story itself . . . keeps tossing the word aroudn super casually. mmphs.
'At forty-two years old' - wait, Cat Grant is only 42? I assumed she was Calista Flockhart's age (52). And Supergirl is somewhere around 27 or 29 or something like that (Melissa Benoist herself is 28).
Part of the story involves a 'Carter' who is Cat's teenage son. I knew of the adult son, but I do not recall the teenage son. Though that might just be because I haven't seen many episodes.
Okay, seriously, did 'soul mates' come up on the show? Yes, no? Why is it overwhelming this story? I don't mean in the somewhat sappy natural 'we're soul mates' way, I mean everyone's talking about it as if it was this 'thing' that everyone goes through. Like the teenager is all 'just because your soulmates doesn't mean anything'. gah. It's super annoying me.
Wait, what the fuck? - “My soul mate invited me to the convention today. This is like the first time they’ve been interested in hanging out with me, and Mom wouldn’t let me.” The kid has a soulmate? WTF IS THIS FUCKING SOULMATE FUCKING CRAP!?!? arrgarah
Cat - '“When I was eighteen, I encountered my first soul mate.' - okay, seriously, I'm just numb now. Just fucking stop talking about fucking soul mates since it obviously means jackshit in this universe. Just fuck off with your soulmate talk.
You why I keep getting pissed off? Because it keeps pulling me out of the story. I'm bouncing along, happily reading and interesting story and . . . something like 'All these years, I’ve had soul mates, and I’ve never stopped to think about how alienating that might be for you. ' pops up and I'm out of the story. Poof. Out. It's like fingers on chalkboard.
mmphs. Story over now. There were flashes of good here and there - heck, the whole story might have been 'good-ish' but I'm not really able to tell because of that fingers on chalkbard 'soulmates' stuff. *shrugs*
Rating: tenatively rate this 3.24
September 14 2017
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/10404105?view_full_work=true
Both my second story by this author and my second fanfiction story based on Supergirl (though first was by a different author; the other story by this author that I've read involved the female version of Ghostbusters).
There are two main differences between this story and the previous Supergirl story I'd read (probably more, but let's start with these): 1) the first story was a longish book length work, while this one is a short story; 2) first story involved Kara Danvers and Lena Luther; this story involves Kara Danvers and Cat Grant.
There's an interesting twist added to this story: apparently 'soulmates' begin picking up some of the traits/abilities of their 'soulmate'. And Cat has been having some . . . strength (as in, a lot more than normal) and . . . remaining on the ground problems lately (as in, occasional bouts of hovering).
Items of interest: This is a fanfiction, so: Characters? Both Kara and Cat seem to correspond to what I recall of their characters from the show. Placement (in the timeline of the show): not sure - at some point before Cat left, at least, and while Kara is still her assistant, but after Maggie and Alex began dating (I'm not actually sure both factoids ever occurred at the same time on the show - Maggie+Alex dating and Kara still assistant to Cat).
The whole 'soulmate' thing completely baffles me. At least it does after I read 'Alex had found her first soulmate in tenth grade'. Apparently people can have many soulmates over their lives. I . . . confused. The soulmate thing makes me feel uneasy. No, not the 'Cat and Kara are soulmates!', but the 'people have more than one soulmate throughout life, and they exchange abilities through that link! And, other than the ability exchange, being a soulmate doesn't really mean anything!' I mean . . what the fuck? My entire ability to enjoy this story has been drastically reduced when I learned that Cat and Kara being soulmates is basically like saying both are female. Why the fuck was 'soulmates' word even used? I'm very annoyed. I mean, the bloody title implies that soulmates means something, while the bloody story itself . . . keeps tossing the word aroudn super casually. mmphs.
'At forty-two years old' - wait, Cat Grant is only 42? I assumed she was Calista Flockhart's age (52). And Supergirl is somewhere around 27 or 29 or something like that (Melissa Benoist herself is 28).
Part of the story involves a 'Carter' who is Cat's teenage son. I knew of the adult son, but I do not recall the teenage son. Though that might just be because I haven't seen many episodes.
Okay, seriously, did 'soul mates' come up on the show? Yes, no? Why is it overwhelming this story? I don't mean in the somewhat sappy natural 'we're soul mates' way, I mean everyone's talking about it as if it was this 'thing' that everyone goes through. Like the teenager is all 'just because your soulmates doesn't mean anything'. gah. It's super annoying me.
Wait, what the fuck? - “My soul mate invited me to the convention today. This is like the first time they’ve been interested in hanging out with me, and Mom wouldn’t let me.” The kid has a soulmate? WTF IS THIS FUCKING SOULMATE FUCKING CRAP!?!? arrgarah
Cat - '“When I was eighteen, I encountered my first soul mate.' - okay, seriously, I'm just numb now. Just fucking stop talking about fucking soul mates since it obviously means jackshit in this universe. Just fuck off with your soulmate talk.
You why I keep getting pissed off? Because it keeps pulling me out of the story. I'm bouncing along, happily reading and interesting story and . . . something like 'All these years, I’ve had soul mates, and I’ve never stopped to think about how alienating that might be for you. ' pops up and I'm out of the story. Poof. Out. It's like fingers on chalkboard.
mmphs. Story over now. There were flashes of good here and there - heck, the whole story might have been 'good-ish' but I'm not really able to tell because of that fingers on chalkbard 'soulmates' stuff. *shrugs*
Rating: tenatively rate this 3.24
September 14 2017
Crashing Down by Asher Monroe
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/727159?view_full_work=true
This is a fanfiction book set in the Buffy the Vampire series universe shortly after the last episode, 'The Gift', in season 5.
During a battle with one of those demons/gods/powerful beings people, Buffy ended up going through a portal. She, and others, expected/suspected that she'd die if she went through it, but she did it for the greater good, and stuff. That's the television episode - and I'm being super vague on purpose.
The book opens with Buffy resting on the ground outside. She blinks and looked around, confused as to how things didn't look heavenly and/or adjacent to heavenly (like, say, near some pearl gates). She then spots a woman beating up a vampire and is super confused. For the woman is one she knows, and one that should be in jail . . . but isn't.
Faith and Buffy interact, but Faith hasn't a clue who Buffy is, and might have left her there to her own devices, but for Buffy mentioning the name 'Giles'. So, Faith takes Buffy to Giles. Whereupon - Giles exclaims in shock - for it's Buffy! Who had died a good while back under the hands of 'The Master' (Buffy: 'but Xander gave me CPR!'; Giles: 'he didn't get to you in time').
Relatively quickly it comes out that Buffy is on a different version of earth. There are some significant differences, and some significant similarities. Most of the people are roughly the same, maybe different jobs, or the like, though mostly the same. Except for Buffy, of course, because she's dead. And Faith - who, well, I don't want to reveal everything, but let's just say that everyone apparently ended up 'better' with Buffy dead. For reasons. Faith is the resident Slayer in Sunnydale (well, the Slayer on that earth, but...), and has a girlfriend. As was the case on the other world - Giles is there; as is Willow (still dating Tara), and Xander (still engaged to Anya) . . . and the like.
Buffy is quite taken with that world. It's a nice world. And being that she's not the slayer of that world, she's in kind of vacation mode. She's not constantly worrying, training, fighting - she's just . . . allowed to be herself.
She's still kinda freaking out about Faith, though, because the Faith she knows was always fighting her and kinda went evil. While this Faith never knew Buffy (Buffy died, Kendra became Slayer, Kendra died, Faith became Slayer), and had some support she didn't have on the other world. Buffy adjusts, though, and, well, realizes certain truths she had not allowed herself to see before. Truths about why Faith acted the way she did, sometimes, why Buffy herself acted certain ways. Why that one time when Faith had her locked up in chains with a knife near her, Buffy was kinda aroused. And stuff.
But, as already noted, Faith has a girlfriend. And this isn't really her Faith, though there are strong similarities. She's still not the same, though.
Then Buffy has one of those 'Slayer dreams' the kind where more than one person can be present. Well, Faith's in there. They talk and stuff. Shortly before the dream ended, Buffy suddenly realized that it hadn't been altra Faith she had been talking to, but her Faith.
A deep soul searching was conducted. A spirit quest. Into feelings and stuff. Buffy had been kind of blasé about getting back to her own world, but now - she has to get back! Seconds later, Giles informs Buffy that there's just no way to get Buffy back. They'd, basically, have to get that God that Buffy had been fighting to power the portal. And that's not going to happen. Seconds later Buffy is feeling lots of pain.
Somewhere along the way I'd have said something like 'and that's spoiler-y, so I won't say . . . ' but . . .. We aren't even at the halfway point, and the book promised a Faith/Buffy relationship. And one isn't happening, and can't happen because of that other girlfriend, and . . . stuff. Sooo - after the waves of pain release Buffy, she blinks and looks around, and finds herself on her own world again. Super eager to visit Faith. Who, recall, is in prison.
Buffy and Faith begin a tentative relationship. Stuff happens. Some people react badly, some well. More stuff happens.
Book came to a satisfying conclusion. Except, then, a few more paragraphs appeared. That appeared to be setting up a sequel - which the end notes proclaimed - would never happen now, because the author got busy with other fandoms. And so - the book both ends satisfactory, and ends abruptly (since we have like the first chapter in the next book tacked on to the end of the other book (well, not really but . . .).
There was sex. Occasionally graphic, occasionally non-graphic.
The characters seemed to correspond to how I recalled them (and I had seen an episode somewhere during the reading process, so I had some fresh remembrances to check with). Plot kind of meandered, but was readable and enjoyable.
Overall - a good solid read.
Rating: 4.00
September 14 2017
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/727159?view_full_work=true
This is a fanfiction book set in the Buffy the Vampire series universe shortly after the last episode, 'The Gift', in season 5.
During a battle with one of those demons/gods/powerful beings people, Buffy ended up going through a portal. She, and others, expected/suspected that she'd die if she went through it, but she did it for the greater good, and stuff. That's the television episode - and I'm being super vague on purpose.
The book opens with Buffy resting on the ground outside. She blinks and looked around, confused as to how things didn't look heavenly and/or adjacent to heavenly (like, say, near some pearl gates). She then spots a woman beating up a vampire and is super confused. For the woman is one she knows, and one that should be in jail . . . but isn't.
Faith and Buffy interact, but Faith hasn't a clue who Buffy is, and might have left her there to her own devices, but for Buffy mentioning the name 'Giles'. So, Faith takes Buffy to Giles. Whereupon - Giles exclaims in shock - for it's Buffy! Who had died a good while back under the hands of 'The Master' (Buffy: 'but Xander gave me CPR!'; Giles: 'he didn't get to you in time').
Relatively quickly it comes out that Buffy is on a different version of earth. There are some significant differences, and some significant similarities. Most of the people are roughly the same, maybe different jobs, or the like, though mostly the same. Except for Buffy, of course, because she's dead. And Faith - who, well, I don't want to reveal everything, but let's just say that everyone apparently ended up 'better' with Buffy dead. For reasons. Faith is the resident Slayer in Sunnydale (well, the Slayer on that earth, but...), and has a girlfriend. As was the case on the other world - Giles is there; as is Willow (still dating Tara), and Xander (still engaged to Anya) . . . and the like.
Buffy is quite taken with that world. It's a nice world. And being that she's not the slayer of that world, she's in kind of vacation mode. She's not constantly worrying, training, fighting - she's just . . . allowed to be herself.
She's still kinda freaking out about Faith, though, because the Faith she knows was always fighting her and kinda went evil. While this Faith never knew Buffy (Buffy died, Kendra became Slayer, Kendra died, Faith became Slayer), and had some support she didn't have on the other world. Buffy adjusts, though, and, well, realizes certain truths she had not allowed herself to see before. Truths about why Faith acted the way she did, sometimes, why Buffy herself acted certain ways. Why that one time when Faith had her locked up in chains with a knife near her, Buffy was kinda aroused. And stuff.
But, as already noted, Faith has a girlfriend. And this isn't really her Faith, though there are strong similarities. She's still not the same, though.
Then Buffy has one of those 'Slayer dreams' the kind where more than one person can be present. Well, Faith's in there. They talk and stuff. Shortly before the dream ended, Buffy suddenly realized that it hadn't been altra Faith she had been talking to, but her Faith.
A deep soul searching was conducted. A spirit quest. Into feelings and stuff. Buffy had been kind of blasé about getting back to her own world, but now - she has to get back! Seconds later, Giles informs Buffy that there's just no way to get Buffy back. They'd, basically, have to get that God that Buffy had been fighting to power the portal. And that's not going to happen. Seconds later Buffy is feeling lots of pain.
Somewhere along the way I'd have said something like 'and that's spoiler-y, so I won't say . . . ' but . . .. We aren't even at the halfway point, and the book promised a Faith/Buffy relationship. And one isn't happening, and can't happen because of that other girlfriend, and . . . stuff. Sooo - after the waves of pain release Buffy, she blinks and looks around, and finds herself on her own world again. Super eager to visit Faith. Who, recall, is in prison.
Buffy and Faith begin a tentative relationship. Stuff happens. Some people react badly, some well. More stuff happens.
Book came to a satisfying conclusion. Except, then, a few more paragraphs appeared. That appeared to be setting up a sequel - which the end notes proclaimed - would never happen now, because the author got busy with other fandoms. And so - the book both ends satisfactory, and ends abruptly (since we have like the first chapter in the next book tacked on to the end of the other book (well, not really but . . .).
There was sex. Occasionally graphic, occasionally non-graphic.
The characters seemed to correspond to how I recalled them (and I had seen an episode somewhere during the reading process, so I had some fresh remembrances to check with). Plot kind of meandered, but was readable and enjoyable.
Overall - a good solid read.
Rating: 4.00
September 14 2017
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Benevolent Haunting by Hypnobyl
Fanfiction: Ghostbusters (2016)
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/7517804?view_full_work=true
This is a solid book set in the same universe as the 2016 film Ghostbusters. Just as the film starred four women, the book stars those same four women: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Jillian Holtzmann, and Patty Tolan.
The book does have some differences though: I believe that the idea is that this book takes place after the events of the movie, but that the events played out slightly differently - there's still Rowan and his antics that caused massive issues in New York, but the Ghostbusters handled him with just three of the Ghostbusting women involved - Erin, Abby, and Patty (and, just to round things out, Kevin, the very dumb hunky man from the film is also still present in this book).
I'm not sure how long after the events of the film the book is set, but probably not long after. The story opens with Erin noticing a few things 'odd' going on in her apartment, though it takes her a really long time to realize that she actually had a ghost in there. Turns out that Holtzmann, who was always causing things to explode and stuff in the film, killed herself in an explosion ten years before the start of this book. And has been a ghost for the last ten years.
Holtz and Erin connect - develop a relationship - build stuff (Holtzmann died building a 'lifebelt' that would allow a ghost to 'materalize' on the physical plane. Erin completed work on the belt (or, more accurately, since there's no belt now to complete, used the blueprints Holtz drew to make a belt)).
The story focuses on the relationship of Holtz and Erin, Erin's family, Holtz's family; the ghostbusting stuff (which was actually quite well done); and bits and pieces of both Patty and Abby's lives. While the book focused more on Hotlz and Erin, both Patty and Abby got some time to shine, Abby somewhat more than Patty.
I had originally put this book on my lesbian fiction shelf, but no one is actually a lesbian here (with the possible exception of Holtz). All, including Kevin, are apparently some form of bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, something) - except, as noted, Holtz's exact nature wasn't fixed in stone (she's in a relationship with a woman, the rest is wording). So I have this book on my bisexual/biromantic shelf.
I also have it on my aromantic shelf. I didn't expect this going in, but this story has one of the best, probably the best, aromantic representation I've seen (which isn't really saying anything, I think I've three works on that shelf?). For, you see, Abby is aromantic. But unlike the every other aromantic person I've come across, Abby isn't asexual. But, instead, as noted, some form of bisexual.
Everyone in the book, including the aromantic Abby, has someone in their lives (in Abby's case it's someone who they have a no-strings type relationship with).
Right, so - there's humor, excitement, romance, ghosts, etc. etc. And graphic depictions of a sexual nature.
Rating: 4.44
September 13 2017
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/7517804?view_full_work=true
This is a solid book set in the same universe as the 2016 film Ghostbusters. Just as the film starred four women, the book stars those same four women: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Jillian Holtzmann, and Patty Tolan.
The book does have some differences though: I believe that the idea is that this book takes place after the events of the movie, but that the events played out slightly differently - there's still Rowan and his antics that caused massive issues in New York, but the Ghostbusters handled him with just three of the Ghostbusting women involved - Erin, Abby, and Patty (and, just to round things out, Kevin, the very dumb hunky man from the film is also still present in this book).
I'm not sure how long after the events of the film the book is set, but probably not long after. The story opens with Erin noticing a few things 'odd' going on in her apartment, though it takes her a really long time to realize that she actually had a ghost in there. Turns out that Holtzmann, who was always causing things to explode and stuff in the film, killed herself in an explosion ten years before the start of this book. And has been a ghost for the last ten years.
Holtz and Erin connect - develop a relationship - build stuff (Holtzmann died building a 'lifebelt' that would allow a ghost to 'materalize' on the physical plane. Erin completed work on the belt (or, more accurately, since there's no belt now to complete, used the blueprints Holtz drew to make a belt)).
The story focuses on the relationship of Holtz and Erin, Erin's family, Holtz's family; the ghostbusting stuff (which was actually quite well done); and bits and pieces of both Patty and Abby's lives. While the book focused more on Hotlz and Erin, both Patty and Abby got some time to shine, Abby somewhat more than Patty.
I had originally put this book on my lesbian fiction shelf, but no one is actually a lesbian here (with the possible exception of Holtz). All, including Kevin, are apparently some form of bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, something) - except, as noted, Holtz's exact nature wasn't fixed in stone (she's in a relationship with a woman, the rest is wording). So I have this book on my bisexual/biromantic shelf.
I also have it on my aromantic shelf. I didn't expect this going in, but this story has one of the best, probably the best, aromantic representation I've seen (which isn't really saying anything, I think I've three works on that shelf?). For, you see, Abby is aromantic. But unlike the every other aromantic person I've come across, Abby isn't asexual. But, instead, as noted, some form of bisexual.
Everyone in the book, including the aromantic Abby, has someone in their lives (in Abby's case it's someone who they have a no-strings type relationship with).
Right, so - there's humor, excitement, romance, ghosts, etc. etc. And graphic depictions of a sexual nature.
Rating: 4.44
September 13 2017
The Outsider by Valyssia
Fanfiction: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/231502
This is a short story about a version of Buffy . . . I should mention that first.
This short story is fanfiction based on the television show (and comics) called 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (technically there's a movie that came out first, but the tv series and comics diverged enough from the movie to need that 'movie' tag to be listed on AO3 for it to be mentioned here). The series starred a young woman in high school who, it turned out, was the next 'Slayer' - one woman each generation is 'the Slayer' who battles monsters. They tend to be young, die young, and have no life but for training and fighting. Buffy had been a popular kid and a cheerleader before the change occurred and she didn't want to be come some lone fighting machine. So she fought against her 'destiny', while, at the same time, fighting monsters. Most of the show had Buffy in High School in California.One or more tv show seasons had her in college, and I forget if the Scotland thing occurred before or after the series moved to the comics (oh, season 8 was in the comics, okay, so the move to Scotland occurred in the comics) . But, regardless, this specific short story is set in Scotland. With Buffy leading a team of slayer women (yeah, Buffy had an overwhelming number of bad dudes to fight at some point on the show and 'released' something or other, turning all potential slayers into slayers ).
Well, the pressure of being 'General Buffy' has overwhelmed Buffy, in this short story, and she goes a little insane.
And shesh - to actually read fanfiction about a show I actually cared about and watched (I'm not 100% sure I actually saw all of the last season(s)), versus reading fanfiction for a show I might have seen 1 or maybe even 1/2 of one episode for (SwanQueen), or a lot but not anywhere close to significant percentage of the episodes (Supergirl) - is a rather fun experience.
I'm 100% certain, and acknowledge, that my rating for this short story is directly related to the fact that this was actually one of 'my shows'. So much so that I'd actually followed the show to a 'new to me' medium (for the most part, except for some adult comics I'd read in the 1990s), comics. Yeah, I hadn't actually tried comics until I was an adult.
Was 'neat' to see Buffy riding on a motorcycle - pushing it to the limits. Being snarky even while being super depressed and overwhelmed.
For those who do/did care about the series - the short story includes: Buffy, Xander, Willow, and mentions of: Faith, Giles, Dawn, and Spike.
Fanfiction found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/231502?
Rating: 4.8
September 11 2017
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/231502
This is a short story about a version of Buffy . . . I should mention that first.
This short story is fanfiction based on the television show (and comics) called 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (technically there's a movie that came out first, but the tv series and comics diverged enough from the movie to need that 'movie' tag to be listed on AO3 for it to be mentioned here). The series starred a young woman in high school who, it turned out, was the next 'Slayer' - one woman each generation is 'the Slayer' who battles monsters. They tend to be young, die young, and have no life but for training and fighting. Buffy had been a popular kid and a cheerleader before the change occurred and she didn't want to be come some lone fighting machine. So she fought against her 'destiny', while, at the same time, fighting monsters. Most of the show had Buffy in High School in California.
Well, the pressure of being 'General Buffy' has overwhelmed Buffy, in this short story, and she goes a little insane.
And shesh - to actually read fanfiction about a show I actually cared about and watched (I'm not 100% sure I actually saw all of the last season(s)), versus reading fanfiction for a show I might have seen 1 or maybe even 1/2 of one episode for (SwanQueen), or a lot but not anywhere close to significant percentage of the episodes (Supergirl) - is a rather fun experience.
I'm 100% certain, and acknowledge, that my rating for this short story is directly related to the fact that this was actually one of 'my shows'. So much so that I'd actually followed the show to a 'new to me' medium (for the most part, except for some adult comics I'd read in the 1990s), comics. Yeah, I hadn't actually tried comics until I was an adult.
Was 'neat' to see Buffy riding on a motorcycle - pushing it to the limits. Being snarky even while being super depressed and overwhelmed.
For those who do/did care about the series - the short story includes: Buffy, Xander, Willow, and mentions of: Faith, Giles, Dawn, and Spike.
Fanfiction found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/231502?
Rating: 4.8
September 11 2017
The Noose by Valyssia
Fanfiction: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/231514
This story includes Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Amy. It is entirely from Willow's point of view, though she has the ability to read minds (since when?).
First story I read in this series was great. This one? Well . . .. Willow has been captured by Amy and 'the General'. Is being tortured. She's floating around acting goofy and reading their minds. And by floating around, I mean - imagine if she was super drunk or drugged up and was floating in a haze - that's what I mean by floating. Though she did also literally turn into bees or something and start floating around like that.
I've a vague recollection that might match up to whatever it was going on in this story. But . . . it was a bloody annoying story. It was all angst 24/7 - mixed with a weird numbing agent. In a 'I'm a crappy person - they are cutting into my eye but I don't care - really, I'm a crappy person - oops now I'm screaming in pain from the cutting - crappy crappy person - wonder who that slayer is that is cutting me? I can read her mind and thoughts and she really hates me but I don't know her - Amy was better as a rat - float float float - now I'm bees' - story was about as coherent - less so - than that.
Shrugs. Apparently point of view form Willow's part isn't fun. And neither Willow nor Buffy were acting 'like themselves.
Rating: 2
September 11 2017
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/231514
This story includes Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Amy. It is entirely from Willow's point of view, though she has the ability to read minds (since when?).
First story I read in this series was great. This one? Well . . .. Willow has been captured by Amy and 'the General'. Is being tortured. She's floating around acting goofy and reading their minds. And by floating around, I mean - imagine if she was super drunk or drugged up and was floating in a haze - that's what I mean by floating. Though she did also literally turn into bees or something and start floating around like that.
I've a vague recollection that might match up to whatever it was going on in this story. But . . . it was a bloody annoying story. It was all angst 24/7 - mixed with a weird numbing agent. In a 'I'm a crappy person - they are cutting into my eye but I don't care - really, I'm a crappy person - oops now I'm screaming in pain from the cutting - crappy crappy person - wonder who that slayer is that is cutting me? I can read her mind and thoughts and she really hates me but I don't know her - Amy was better as a rat - float float float - now I'm bees' - story was about as coherent - less so - than that.
Shrugs. Apparently point of view form Willow's part isn't fun. And neither Willow nor Buffy were acting 'like themselves.
Rating: 2
September 11 2017
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Art Model Stand In by Maria X.
Art Model Stand In by Maria X.My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Second short story I've tried by this author. And another one involving a college student. This time at school - a student, Patricia, is not doing well in an art class. The teacher lets her know she can get extra credit by being a nude model. She does the extra credit work.
Adding a level of humiliation to the story (because, apparently, need to add humiliation to these type of stories needs to be multiple layered apparently) - Patricia is haing trouble because of the sexual nature of the class and Patricia's deeply religious upbringing (um, why she take the class, is elective). And if she didn't really know what the class would be about - she'd have learned within the first week, way within the zone of being able to drop the class. It annoys me when 'heaps of humiliation' are added for stupid reasons - it's not a bloody class she needed to take, she could have easily have dropped it so . . . - she'd rather fail the class than have her parents 'so ashamed of her' for dropping class (WTF is that about)? They wouldn't be ashamed of her failing but would be if she dorpped the class? mmphs.
"Patricia had had a crush on him since the first day of class." - oh, now I understand why she hadn't dropped the class.
This author seems to have something of a shaved fetish. This is the second story in which a character's being 'completely bare down there' has been a major issue/deal. First story the young woman was seen to have shaved everything and was called a slut. Here the young woman is asked to shave for the photo shoot. And she's acting very shocked and horrified. Shaving fetish. Did not know that existed. 'That seemed so lewd!'
'The only pubic hair she had was a small triangle just at the top of her slit.' - um, wha? This . . . she'd almost fainted from shock when she heard she had to shave everything off. And she barely has any hair down there to begin with? shesh.
Is waste an alternate spelling for waist? This is the second story with waste instead of waist.
Oh for fuck sake . . ..
I like nude model stories, but this was just crude. And included power imbalance/blackmail type of stuff. All that touching of that nude model - rough pulling on nipples, etc. Plus the woman didn't want to people to know who she was, and her 'friend' says her name revealing who she is, lying to her about the class knowing it is her despite the mask. Bah. pfft.
'It doesn't usually get that out of hand.' - even the teacher, who did nothing, knew it got out of hand.
Rating: 2.90
September 10 2017
View all my reviews
Jen's Humiliating Airport Adventure by Maria X.
Jen's Humiliating Airport Adventure by Maria X.My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A woman in between the third and fourth year of college is heading home after the semester ended. She's apparently not traveled much and isn't too capable of handling security check-points. When something causes the scanning amchine to beep, the 'fat loser' (her words) came over asking if she had in metal. She, oddly, flips out and starts throwing around words like fuck ('I'm not wearing any fucking metal!').
Her attitude continues to not help things, the TSA agent(s) (later another one turns up), continues to try to handle the situation, until he decides to take advantage. After one of them places a hand on her shoulder, the young woman physically assaults them and ends up handcuffed. Lead away for more interrogation.
Apparently she forgot she had something metal stuck into her nipple. Easily forgotten, right? I say that because she mentioned her great body toned from swimming like 5 times, mentioned her hard nipples poking into her tight dress (after being forced to remove her bra) several times, but not once did she mention the metal piercing. Until, oops, there it is.
Right so - several words wrong, etc. etc. (like agin for again; waste for waist). Odd actions in this story. Like the male agents strip searching the female. The female constantly kicking the agents (in the stomach, in the groin) that kept making things worse. People acting shocked and calling her a slut for being shaved. In this day and age? Seriously? mmphs.
And then she spit on him. Bah. A TSTL character is supposed to be in an urban fantasy, or the like, not here (to stupid to live).
Story disturbed me.
Rating: 2.89
September 10 2017
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