Everything you can imagine is real

Hi, I'm Maggie! This blog is dedicated to reading, writing and other bookish things ♥

[headspace-hotel]

what people think is hard about writing: describing the joy, love, beauty, grief, loss and hope that form the richness of human experience

what is actually hard about writing: describing basic actions such as turning, leaning over, reclining, gesturing, saying something in a quiet voice, breathing, getting up from chairs, and walking across rooms

[headspace-hotel]

I’ll spill out a brilliant, wrenching portrayal of a character’s struggle with grief over a loss and his complex regrets and guilt and then a page later I’ll have to write that a character who’s lying prone raises his head and shoulders up to look at something without fully getting up and I’ll get so angry I want to strangle an eagle with my bare hands

[skribblegurl]

some people think writers are so eloquent and good with words, but the reality is that we can sit there with our fingers on the keyboard going, “what’s the word for non-sunlight lighting? Like, fake lighting?” and for ten minutes, all our brain will supply is “unofficial”, and we know that’s not the right word, but it’s the only word we can come up with…until finally it’s like our face got smashed into a brick wall and we remember the word we want is “artificial”.

[heywriters]

I couldn't remember the word "doorknob" ten minutes ago.

[bumblewyn]

ok but the onelook thesaurus will save your life, i literally could not live without this website

[breelandwalker]

REBLOG TO SAVE A WRITER'S LIFE

[furiouslywriting]

Trope subversions prompts:

Resurrection but they brought back the wrong person. Or the wrong body

The Chosen One is a 68 year old woman with grandkids

The Dragon guarding the Princess is the size of a toy poodle

The Fae are giant

The Knight in shining armour is a dragon shifter (and incidentally, the dragon guarding the castle)

Elves aren't really immortal. Family similarities are just uncanny

Enemies to lovers but one thinks they're living the friends to lovers trope

The Chosen One dies before the prophecy is even told to them

Villain is evil simply because they're good at it. They tried doing other things but never succeeded

The Mentor staged their own death

[glorianas]

lots of legit criticism about twilight but the way sparkling vampires made adult men absolutely incoherent with rage is a net positive

[fidellius]

MOST HEART-BREAKING SCENE for @ray-green-wicked4good

“I — DON’T!” Harry screamed, so loudly that he felt his throat might tear, and for a second he wanted to rush at Dumbledore and break him too; shatter that calm old face, shake him, hurt him, make him feel some tiny part of the horror inside Harry. “Oh yes, you do,” said Dumbledore, still more calmly. “You have now lost your mother, your father, and the closest thing to a parent you have ever known. Of course you care.”

[inthetags]

reblog and put in the tags the last book you read, the book you’re currently reading and the next book on your list

[my-complicated-pairs]

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in book series

While the title of this list is “List of canon villain/heroine ships with happy endings”, it doesn’t contain only ships with male villains and female heroes:

-some of these ships consist of female villains and male heroes;

-there are some lgbt+ ships and polyamorous relationships here as well;

-in some of these ships both characters are villainous (or antiheroic);

-some of these characters may be seen not as villains, but as antivillains, antiheroes, antagonists or “just” criminals - in the end these definitions are fluid and some characters may be really difficult to categorise, especially if they go through a major character development or if they appear in the slice of life media;

-I included ships involving ex-villains;

-some of these ships are the examples of the enemies to lovers trope, but they don’t involve any characters, who can be categorised as villains or antiheroes.

Other notes:

-in some examples the villain doesn’t get a redemption arc and it’s the heroic character, who changes their alignment;

-in few examples the couple has a bittersweet ending, but I include it due to the fact that both characters are not dead and their relationship itself is happy;

-I included some pre-existing couples;

-this list was created mostly for statistical purposes (it may be used for recommendations as well, but not always) - due to it, this list includes ships that are humorous, don’t play significant role in the canon material, come from the media that are often considered to be bad or come from really obscure media;

-some ships on this list - especially if they come from media created long time ago - may be considered to be controversial due to various reasons, so if you don’t want to read anything potentially disturbing, don’t forget about doing research first;

-I included some ships from non closed canons that have a chance to have a happy ending (they’re described as ‘hopefully’) - if they won’t get a romantic happy ending, I’ll remove them.

I’ll be updating this list from time to time, so feel free to suggest other examples :) - and correct me if I got something wrong (f.e. if the specific ship doesn’t have a happy ending, some characters are not villains and/or antiheroes etc.)

If the types of characters are not specified, the ship consists of a male villain/antihero and a heroine.

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in all types of media

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in live action movies

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in live action series

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in anime and manga

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in animation and comics (excluding anime and manga)

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in standalone pieces of literature

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in visual novels and video games

List of canon villain x heroine ships with happy endings in music 

[note: the links usually lead to the respective Goodreads pages]

Book series - fantasy, sci-fi & horror

hopefully Jean-Claude x Anita - Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter, an ongoing urban fantasy series by Laurell K. Hamilton, an American author (suggested by @a-cynical-dreamer-world)

Tristan x Isla - The Black Prince Trilogy, a 2014-2015 fantasy romance series by P.J. Fox, an American author (suggested by @vilheroinefairytale)

Stefanos x Erin - Books of the Sundered, a 1991-1994 fantasy romance series by Michelle Sagara West, a Japanese-Canadian author (suggested by vilheroinefairytale) 

Laurent x Damen (male villain x male hero) - The Captive Prince, a 2013-2018 fantasy romance series by C.S. Pacat, an Australian author (suggested by @mademoisellemurders and @basilt0npitch)

Legend x Donatella - Caraval, a 2017-2019 fantasy romance series by Stephanie Garber, an American author (suggested by @addiesluc)

Beltain x Percy - Cobweb Bride, a 2013 fantasy romance series by Vera Nazarian, an Armenian-Russian American author (suggested by @monsters-and-villains)

Vlau Fiomarre x Claere Liguon - Cobweb Bride by Vera Nazarian (suggested by monsters-and-villains)

Persephone x Hades (female villain x male hero) - Cobweb Bride by Vera Nazarian (suggested by monsters-and-villains) 

hopefully Rhysand x Feyre (male antagonist x female hero) - A Court of Thorns and Roses, an ongoing fantasy romance series by Sarah J. Maas, an American author (suggested by @pacificwanderer)

Bane x Mirra - Demon Lord, a 2010-2012 fantasy series by T C. Southwell, a South African (?) author (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world) 

Edgar x Lydia - The Earl and the Fairy, a 2004-2013 fantasy romance light novel series by Mizue Tani, a Japanese author (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world) 

Magnus x Cleo - Falling Kingdoms, a 2012-2018 fantasy series by Morgan Rhodes, a Canadian author (suggested by an anon and addiesluc)

Cardan x Jude (male villain x female antihero) - The Folk of the Air, a 2018-2019 fantasy series by Holly Black, an American author (suggested by monsters-and-villains and pacificwanderer) 

Madoc x Oriana - The Folk of the Air by Holly Black [warning: a bittersweet ending - Madoc goes to exile and Oriana follows him as his wife]

Lucius x Narcissa (the pre-existing couple; male antagonist x female antagonist)  - Harry Potter, a 1997-2007 fantasy series by J.K. Rowling, a British author

Draco x Astoria (male antagonist x female hero) - Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling [warning: Astoria dies in The Cursed Child]

Marak x Kate - The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, a 2003-2005 fantasy romance series by Clare B. Dunkle, an American author (suggested by monsters-and-villains and vilheroinefairytale)

Trent x Rachel - the Hollows/Rachel Morgan series, a 2004-2016 fantasy series by Kim Harrison, an American author (suggested by @meadow-mellow)

Howl x Sophie - Howl’s Moving Castle, a 1986-2008 fantasy romance series by Diana Wynne Jones, a British author (suggested by monsters-and-villains) 

various couples - the Immortals After Dark series, an ongoing paranormal romance series by Kresley Col, an American author (suggested by pacificwanderer)

Zane x Danica - Hawksong (the 1st book in The Kiesha’ra series), a 2003 fantasy romance novel by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, an American author (suggested by roguesareth)

Hai x Nicias - Wyvernhail (the 5th book in The Kiesha’ra series), a 2007 fantasy romance novel by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, an American author (suggested by roguesareth)

the Lord of the Feasts x Hiresha  - Lady of Gems, a 2011-2013 fantasy series by A.E. Marling, an American author (suggested by vilheroinefairytale) 

Day x June - Legend, a 2012-2019 sci-fi series by Marie Lue, an American author (suggested by @augustintodarkness)

Ulvhedin x Elisa - Footprints of Satan (as the main characters) and The Last Knight (Ulvhedin is one of the main characters), 1983 fantasy romance novels, the 13th and the 14th volume of The Legend of the Ice People by Margit Sandemo, a Norwegian-Swedish author (suggested by @neoma2) 

Mar x Shira - The Garden of Death (the 17th volume of The Legend of the Ice People), a 1984 fantasy romance novel by Margit Sandemo (suggested by neoma2)

Marcel/Lucifer x Saga - Lucifer’s Love (the 29th volume of The Legend of the Ice People), a 1987 fantasy romance novel by Margit Sandemo (suggested by neoma2)

Tamlin x Vanja (male antivillain x female hero) - The Demon of the Night (the 33th volume of The Legend of the Ice People), a 1987 fantasy romance novel by Margit Sandemo (suggested by neoma2)

Halkatla x Rune (female villain x male hero) - A Glimpse of Tenderness and Is There Anybody Out There? (the 43th and the 47th volume of The Legend of the Ice People), 1988 and 1989 fantasy romance novels by Margit Sandemo (suggested by neoma2)

Ulvar x Tilli (male ex-villain x female hero) - mentioned in Móri and the Ice People (the 2nd volume of The Legend of the Realm of Light, the continuation of The Legend of the Ice People and The Warlock saga), a 1995 fantasy romance novel by Margit Sandemo (suggested by neoma2)

Eli x Oskar (male antivillain x male hero) - Let the Right One In and Let the Old Dreams Die, a 2004 vampire novel and its 2013 sequel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, a Swedish author 

Zakath x Cyradis  - The Malloreon series (sequel series of The Belgariad series), a 1987-1991 fantasy series by David Eddings, an American author (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world) 

Noah x Mara - the Mara Dyer series, a 2011-2014 fantasy romance series by Michelle Hodkin, an American author (suggested by mademoisellemurders)

Ileskar/Illukar x Medair - Medair, a 2010-2011 fantasy series by Andrea K. Höst, an Australian author (suggested by monsters-and-villains)

Vin x Elend - Mistborn, a 2006-2008 fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, an American author (suggested by @thefirewithallthestrengthithath)

Spook x Beldre - The Hero of Ages, a 2008 fantasy novel from the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, an American author (suggested by @thefirewithallthestrengthithath)

Valen x Nova - Neron Rising, a 2018-2019 science fantasy romance series by Keary Taylor, an American author (suggested by an anon)

Simon x Meg - the Others series, a 2013-2019 urban fantasy series by Anne Bishop, an American author (suggested by meadow-mellow)

hopefully Caspian x Lace - Pandemonium, an ongoing fantasy series by Willow Anderson, an American author (suggested by addiesluc)

Mr. Gray x Maura - The Raven Cycle, a 2012-2016 fantasy series by Maggie Stiefvater, an American author (suggested by vilheroinefairytale)

Nasir x Zafira - Sands of Arawiya, a 2019-2021 fantasy series by Hafsah Faizal, an American author (suggested by @filigranka)

hopefully Lou x Reid (enemies to lovers) - Serpent & Dove, an ongoing fantasy romance series by Shelby Mahurin, an American author

Warner x Juliette - Shatter Me, a 2011-2020 dystopia series by Tahereh Mafi, an Iranian-American author (suggested by @abydragonfly)

Christoper x Sarah - Shattered Mirror and All Just Glass (the 3rd and the 7th book in the Den of Shadow series), 2001 and 2010 paranormal fantasy novels by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, an American author (suggested by @roguesareth) 

Malachiasz x Nadya - Something Dark and Holy, a 2019-2021 fantasy series by Emily A. Duncan, an American author (suggested by pacificwanderer)

implied as the future for Ciena x Thane (friends to lovers to enemies to lovers) - Lost Stars (a Star Wars novel), a 2015 American science fantasy romance novel by Claudia Gray, an American author (suggested by pacificwanderer)

Sinjir x Conder (male antihero x male hero) - Life Debt and Empire’s End, the 2nd and the 3rd part of the Star Wars Afermath trilogy, a 2015-2017 science fantasy series by Chuck Wendig, an American author 

Mara Jade x Luke (female villain x male hero) - Star Wars Legends, an American science fantasy series [warning: Mara Jade tragically dies, but it happens many years later after they got romantically involved]

Caelena x Rowan - Throne of Glass, a 2012-2018 fantasy romance series by Sarah J. Maas, an American author (suggested by vilheroinefairytale and pacificwanderer)

Seth x Josie - Titan, a 2015-2018 paranormal romance series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, an American author (suggested by mademoisellemurders)

Regin x Sonea (male ex-villain x female hero) - the Traitor Spy trilogy (a sequel to The Black Magician trilogy), a 2010-2012 fantasy series by Trudi Canavan, an Australian author (suggested by neoma2)

probably Lestat x Louis (male villain x male antihero) - The Vampire Chronicles, a 1976-2018 vampire series by Anne Rice, an American author (suggested by mademoisellemurders)

probably Damon x Bonnie - The Vampire Diaries: Evensong, an ongoing (?) American vampire romance series (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world)

Hideo x Emika - Warcross, a 2017-2018 sci-fi series by Marie Lue, an American author (suggested by @dystopianinterstellar)

R x Julie - Warm Bodies, a 2010-2018 romance/zombie series by Isaac Marion, an American author 

Keenan x Donia - Wicked Lovely, a 2007-2011 paranormal romance series by Melissa Marr, an American author (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world)

Irial x Leslie x Niall (male villain x male antihero x female hero) - the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world)

Devlin x Ani - the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world)

Morozko x Vasya - the Winternight Trilogy, a 2017-2019 historical fantasy seeries by Katherine Arden, an American author (suggested by pacificwanderer)

Khalid x Shahrzad - The Wrath and the Dawn, a 2015-2016 fantasy romance series by Renée Ahdieh, an American author (suggested by monsters-and-villains and pacificwanderer)

Ships that used to be featured here as ‘hopefully getting a HEA’:

-Eve x Ezekiel (female villain x male hero) from the LIFEL1K3 trilogy, a 2018-2019 sci-fi series by Jay Kristoff, an Australian author (suggested by monsters-and-villains): Eve gets a redemption arc and survives, but Ezekiel gets a romantic happy ending with a different female character;

-Thorn x Ophelia from The Mirror Pass, a 2013-2019 fantasy series by Christelle Dabos, a French author (suggested by vilheroinefairytale): they are happily married for some time, but at the end of the series they are forcefully separated and it’s implied that despite her efforts, Ophelia will never find her husband;

-Archex aka Cardinal x Vi from the new Star Wars extended canon books - Phasma and Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson, an American author: Archex  gets a redemption arc and it’s revealed that he has romantic feelings for Vi, but she doesn’t return them; at the end Archex dies by sacrificing himself.

Book series - crime & thriller

Anthony x Claire - Consequences, a 2011-2015 thriller/erotica series by Aleatha Romig, an American author (suggested by @ainomica)

Hannibal x Clarice (male villain x female hero turned villain) - The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, 1988 and 1999 horror novels, the 2nd 3rd part of the Hannibal Lecter series by Thomas Harris, an American author (suggested by @heroaine, and vilheroinefairytale and an anon)

Villanelle x Eve (female villain x female hero) - Killing Eve, a 2018-2020 thriller series by Luke Jennings, a British author

Ignazio x Karissa - Monster in His Eyes, a 2014-2016 crime/romance series by J.M. Darhower, an American (?) author (suggested by ainomica)

Fred x Aniela - Niewolnice z Long Island (en. The Slaves of Long Island), a ca. 1930 thriller/crime series by Antoni Marczyński, a Polish author (suggested by neoma2)

John x Vicky - Vicky Bliss, a 1973-2008 mystery series by Elizabeth Peters, an American author (suggested by vilheroinefairytale)

various couples - many books by Edgar Wallace, a British author (suggested by vilheroinefairytale)

Book series - historical 

Juan x Mónica - Corazón Salvaje, a 1957 series by Caridad Bravo Adams, a Mexican author (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world)

Chu Beijie x Bai Pingting - Gu Fang Bu Zi Shang (en. A Lonesome Fragance Waiting to be Appreciated), a 2005-2015 historical romance series by Feng Nong, a Chinese author (suggested by a-cynical-dreamer-world)

Lazaro x Leonora - books by Frédéric Lenormand, a French author (suggested by vilheroinefairytale)

Mickey x Silence - Wicked Intentions (2010), Notorious Pleasures and Scandalous Desires (2011) from the Maiden Lane, a historical romance series by Elizabeth Hoyt, an American author (suggested by neoma2)

Book series - slice of life & drama

Andrew x Neil (male villain x male hero) - All for the Game, a 2013-2014 sports series by Nora Sakavic, an American author (suggested by an anon)

[ashstfu]

“are you okay?” no bitch i’ll never experience a passionate romance like the ones you read in books

[theorangepdf]

book dedications are so tender here is this piece of art i made for an audience of thousands. but really every word is for you

[vafiction]

Um...guys!?! Is it to early too get excited?

‘Vampire Academy’ Series Adaptation From Julie Plec, Marguerite MacIntyre Ordered at Peacock

A series adaptation of the “Vampire Academy” novels by Richelle Mead has been ordered to series at Peacock, with Julie Plec and Marguerite M

[badandbrilliantbooks]

So how is everyone feeling about the “shadow and bone” adaptation?

Is it worth watching or am I going to be disapointed? 🧐

[badandbrilliantbooks]

Thank you all so much for your replies! Everyone has said positive things, so I’m definitely going to check it out!!

[badandbrilliantbooks]

So how is everyone feeling about the “shadow and bone” adaptation?

Is it worth watching or am I going to be disapointed? 🧐

[currentlycryingaboutlancelot]

“yes, I’ve been wanting to read that!” I say with complete earnestness, as I proceed to ignore every opportunity I have to read it

[didyouputyournameinthegobi]

Elizabeth whenever Darcy is insulting her family:

[badandbrilliantbooks]

Hi booklr!

I need your help. I haven’t been that active here over the past few years, but I’m looking to get back into reading more regularly. Unfortunately, my TBR list is full of books that I no longer have interest in reading, so I really need new recommendations.

I’m 23, and I’m looking to move beyond YA (though I’m okay with well-written YA with mature characters). I’m open to any genre, but I typically read fantasy, contemporary, sci-fi, historical fiction and romance.

Please reach out if you have anything to recommend! :)

[ninja-muse]

That’s a really wide range of books and I can rec for all of them! What are some of your favourite books or authors? Tropes? Are you into epic or contemporary fantasy? What era of history for your historical fiction?

[badandbrilliantbooks]

Thank you so much for your reply!

I purposely wanted to keep it quite open, since I’m really willing to try anything! I like both epic and contemporary fantasy and I don’t have a specific era preference for historical fiction.

Some books that I have really liked include; A Monster Calls, the Winner’s trilogy, The Song of Achilles, Six of Crows duology, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, The Hating Game, Animal Farm, Pride and Prejudice…. etc.

I’m happy to take any recommendations that you may have :)

[ninja-muse]

Sorry for the delay! I needed the right headspace to write this up and enough time to go to town. I hope you enjoy some of these!

Epic Fantasy

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (a priestess, a pirate, a prophet, and a city tearing itself apart)

the Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty (a conwoman is brought to the city of the djinn, kicking off a civil war)

The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick (a lost heiress con goes off the rails slowly and yes, another fractured city*)

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (a reluctant emperor tries to make things better for his people)

* yes, there is a theme here, I just seem to like that trope, okay?

Contemporary Fantasy

the Rivers of London novels by Ben Aaronovitch (London’s wizard-police)

the October Daye novels by Seanan McGuire (half-fae PI)

The Changeling by Victor LaValle (a father searching for his lost family, in a New York that’s nearly a fairy tale, gets dark)

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (New York City creates champions to fight white people eldritch parasites)

An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard (magicians do battle to gain social status, also magic is broken)

Sci-Fi

The Expanse by James S.A. Corey (a ragtag crew vs. politics, corruption, and alien goo)

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (a traverser of realities uncovers a murder)

Barbary Station by R.E. Stearns (space pirate hackers vs. evil AI)

The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (time-travelling historian accidentally lands in the Black Death)

The Martian by Andy Weir (astronaut must survive Mars long enough for rescue)

Historical Fiction

Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell (the rise and fall of a fictional rock band)

Daughter of Black Lake by Catherine Buchanan (Celtic village life in the time of the Romans)

The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish (a female Jewish philosopher in the 1600s, and the academics who uncover her writing)

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters (Victorian lesbian bildungsroman)

City of Shadows by Ariana Franklin (slow-burn thriller surrounding a possible Anastasia)

Romance

Beach Read by Emily Henry (enemies to lovers with writers)

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Huang (an autistic woman hires an escort to practice relationships)

Well Met by Jen DeLuca (enemies to lovers at a Ren Faire)

Alyssa Cole has two connected series of contemporary royal romances that are just fun—the Reluctant Royals and the Runaway Royals.

Not-Your-Typical YA

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix (teen searching for missing dad encounters magician-booksellers, everyone makes practical choices, I had approx. 0 “god this is so YA” moments)

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (sapphic Chinese-American girl in the 1950s, includes adult POVs, is more about navigating race and queerness than any sort of romance/teen issue stuff)

Anything by Alice Oseman, who writes teens on the cusp of adulthood, deals with topics not usually covered in YA like dropping out of university and parasocial relationships, and has way more focus on friendships than romance

[badandbrilliantbooks]

Thank you so much for the recs @anassarhenisch!!! I will be adding them to my list :)

[bleekay]

doesnt matter how many times i read two characters pining for each other forced to share one bed, leaving space between them, only to wake up in each other’s arms after having slept better than they have in ages, i will never ever tire of it

[almost-always-eventually-right]

“WRITE IT BADLY. Write it badly, write it badly, write it badly, write it badly. Stop what you’re doing, open a Word document, put a pencil on some paper, just get the idea out of your head. Let it be good later. Write it down now. Otherwise it will die in there.”

— Brandon Sanderson on overcoming writer’s block to create a first draft as a professional author