to love you, truly.

• prolly crying in the club •

[viciousvales]

this site definitely doesn't allow you to paste the link to any article blocked by a paywall (say, a NYT article) so that you can read it free of charge! that would be illegal and would benefit broke college students too much. it definitely does not do that. promise.

[sophielovesbooks]

Sophie’s Dark Academia Rec List

In honour of my favourite genre, have a very personal, very subjective recommendations list!

-        The Secret History (Donna Tartt)

The obvious choice, a classic. In my personal opinion, it’s not perfect and there are better dark academia books out there, but it has massively shaped the genre and therefore deserves recognition. Also, the aesthetic is on point! Read if you want to get a feel for the genre or if you’re simply curious.

-        If We Were Villains (M. L. Rio)

Basically a newer, better The Secret History?? Plenty of similarities, minus certain problematic bits that were present in TSH. Amazing prose, incredible characters, absolutely worth the read. A prime example of dark academia! Read if you love Shakespeare and college settings and compelling characters and drama and just beautiful writing!

-        Black Chalk (Christopher J. Yates)

Also a fairly good example of the genre, but tragically underhyped. Darker than, for example, If We Were Villains. Set at Oxford! Will mess with your head. The characters are not necessarily likeable, but interesting. The writing is fairly complex. Read for a dark academia thriller which takes the unreliable narrator to an impressive new extreme (in a good way!)

-        Truly Devious (Maureen Johnson)

A rare YA dark academia book! Read for murder and mystery and a beautiful boarding school setting as well as a really likeable main character! Due to its nature less dark and somewhat less mature than most of the other books on this list, but if you’re looking for more of a quick and fun dark academia read, this is the one for you!

In a similar vain: The Vanishing Stair (Maureen Johnson)

Cannot actually vouch for this as I haven’t read it yet, but it’s the sequel to Truly Devious and I have heard good things.

-        The Secret Place (Tana French)

MASSIVELY underappreciated dark academia with (gasp) supernatural elements?! The most beautiful prose and funniest dialogue you will ever see. Incredible characters. Again, amazing boarding school setting and close group of female friends! (They will break your heart). Also murder. Also half of the story being told from a detective’s PoV. Read if you value good literature. Just. Read it.

-        The Likeness (Tana French)

Actually, maybe I was kidding before, maybe this book is the most underappreciated dark academia book out there? Either way, it’s my favourite. Within dark academia and within ALL OF THE BOOKS. This is it. The perfect novel. Characters that own my hearts to this day. Writing so beautiful that it had me sobbing uncontrollably on several occasions. The university it is set in is Trinity College Dublin. (Cue me being bitter that I don’t go there every single day for the rest of my life.) Very intriguing mystery, too. Hilarious dialogue. All the emotions. All the heartbreak. Just… I love it so much, okay? <3

-        The Lying Game (Ruth Ware)

Good, very good. Set in a boarding school near the ocean, but unfortunately, only the past tense story line is and we don’t get to see too much of it. Very interesting characters. Much heavier on the dark than the academia. Read if you’re looking for more of a classic murder mystery/thriller and are not too focussed on the academia. Also read for an interesting group of female friends.

-        The Basic Eight (Daniel Handler)

Very promising, but wasn’t my cup of tea at all. The setting is an American High School on the West Coast. The murder isn’t that much of a mystery. I’m mentioning it here because I know that other people love this book, even though I really didn’t. I would say don’t read, but see for yourself, I suppose.

-        The Lessons (Naomi Alderman)

Yes, okay, an interesting one. Set at Oxford, which was amazing. Interesting characters with interesting dynamics. I read it quickly and was quite entertained. But there were certain problematic bits (regarding LGBTQ+ representation and mental illness), so you’ve been warned. Not my fave, but I mostly enjoyed it while reading it.

There are a few more dark academia books on my shelves, which I unfortunately cannot include on this list, as I haven’t read them yet. One of them is “The Lake of Dead Languages” by Carol Goodman. Another is “Brideshead Revisited” by Evelyn Waugh. Might edit this post later to add these and more. xx

UPDATE!! (With slightly longer descriptions this time, because people are actually reading this? Reblogging even? Wow!) 

-        The Lake of Dead Languages (Carol Goodman)

THE ALL-FEMALE DARK ACADEMIA NOVEL WE ALL NEED AND DESERVE…?? The setting is A++. An all-female boarding school in the Adirondack Mountains in New York! There is a lake that features so heavily in the story, it basically counts as a main character. Told from the PoV of a teacher who used to go to the school. There are two close groups of female friends, one in the present timeline, one in the past. Both have dark, dark secrets and both fit the dark academia genre so well! Also, heavy focus on Latin rather than Ancient Greek, which I have all the love for. This one is a gem, so give it a chance!

-        Brideshead Revisited (Evelyn Waugh)

An actual classic, as in… first published in 1945. And it reads like it. The beginning came with beautiful vibes! Our young boy Charles starting his time at Oxford, meeting a lot of pretentious people, including one Lord Sebastian Flyte, who Charles is suspiciously fascinated by. Sebastian is the biggest dork to ever dork, carries around with him an actual teddy bear named Aloysius, the absolute madmen?? But it’s all downhill from there, with alcoholism and war and depressing times… And Oxford only really features in the first half or less.

-        People Like Us (Dana Mele)

Another rare YA dark academia!! Features a group of Mean Girls who one day, when out at night to go swimming, find one of their classmates floating dead in the lake. Which is an excellent dark academia set-up, let’s be honest. Also, sapphic girls, incredible sapphic girls with really complex relationships! Bi main character! A fun and quick read, much like “Truly Devious”. More descriptions of the beautiful boarding school buildings would have been welcome, but at least we got a few! Anyway, go forth and enjoy this little beauty.

-        Party Girls Die in Pearls (Plum Sykes)

Umm… I barely even comprehend this book’s existence? Has a prime dark academia set-up with a murdered girl in Oxford, but I still somehow DNF’d it after about 20 pages?! The main character’s name is Ursula Flowerbutton, and if you think that’s quirky and funny… good for you, you might actually enjoy this book. But you’ll also have to endure descriptions of clothes, oh, so many descriptions of clothes! And for anything unique to Oxford that might make the book fun because only those who know will know… you’ll get a footnote. So actually, everyone will know, with zero effort. Definitely not for me, but if you want to read a glossy magazine style dark academia, knock yourself out, friend!

-        The Night Climbers (Ivo Stourton)

Breath-taking! A piece of beauty! Set at Cambridge (and the campus features heavily!), a main character reminiscent of Richard Papen, an intriguing group of new friends that he would do anything to belong with. Including… climbing the buildings of Cambridge at night? Without proper equipment, just with his hands and feet?? Honestly, out of the books on this list, this one is the closest in style and maturity and characterisation to The Secret History! The writing is absolutely gorgeous, the plot fascinating. And it’s dark academia that features a non-violent crime, which works surprisingly well. All in all: A STUNNER THAT FANS OF THE SECRET HISTORY SHOULD CHECK OUT!!

-        As I Descended (Robyn Talley)

A queer, sapphic Macbeth retelling?? Also a rare YA dark academia with strong supernatural elements?! The representation is on point, with two hispanic main characters, wlw, mlm and one of the girls in the main couple being disabled! The boarding school setting is also on point (and uniquely different as the school building is actually a former plantation in Virginia). This book is so different and so spooky! It wasn’t perfect and some say the retelling didn’t work 100% (I, personally, felt that the plot slowed down a bit), but the atmosphere is amazing and the characters are pretty cool, too!

Not to worry, my quest to find and read as many DA books as possible isn’t over. So this list might be updates again some time in the future! :)

[osappho]

alignment chart of my favorite disney channel original movies

[dailyboldtype]

1x01 // 1x10

[mashamorevna]

im in such a bad reading slump and i trust ur taste. do u have any book recs? any recs really. i usually read fantasy but idc

That always makes me nervous because I don’t trust my own taste but… hopefully you’ll be able to pick some out of these-

fantasy (mostly YA):uprooted by naomi novika darker shade of magic by v.e. schwabthe knife of never letting go by patrick nesssix of crows by leigh bardugodeathless by catherynne m. valentean enchantment of ravens by margaret rogersonbitten by kelley armstrongcruel beauty by rosamund hodgethe hazel wood by melissa albertthe bear and the nightingale by katherine ardenwintersong by s. jae-jonesto kill a kingdom by alexandra christothe last werewolf by glen duncana court of thorns and roses by sarah j. maasvampire academy by richelle mead (i go hard for these kids) & bloodlines

non-fantasy:if we were villains by m. l. rionever let me go by kazuo ishiguroa brief history of montmaray by michelle coopertell the wolves i’m home by carol rifka bruntcode name verity by elizabeth weinthe secret history by donna tartt

mythology related:circe by madeline millerthe closed doors by pauline albanese (*short play)gameboard of the gods by richelle meadthe song of achilles by madeline millernefertiti by michelle morandaughter of smoke and bone by laini tayloramerican gods by neil gaimanthe heretic queen by michelle moran

mind-f*ckery:i’m thinking of ending things by iain reiddark matter by blake crouch

murder mysteries/thrillers:the broken girls by simone st. jamesinto the woods by tana frenchthe girl with the dragon tattoo by stieg larssonsharp objects by gillian flynnthe likeness by tana frenchgone girl by gillian flynn

books that are on my immediate tbr shelf based on good reviews:the poppy war by r. f. kuangspinning silver by naomi novikthe hating game by sally thornechildren of blood and bone by tomi adeyemithe wicked deep by shea ernshawthe shadow of the wind by carlos ruiz zafoni’ll be gone in the dark by michelle mcnamarathe woman in the window by a.j. finna little life by hanya yanagihara

good luck, wishing you slump-free weeks to come!

[minyardy]

Can you post some bomb ass spotify playlists

Will it be a crime if I put my own playlists here? I mainly listen to what I have on my profile so…yes or no?: something that I made for characters from The Foxhole Court but honestly, I listen to it every time I need to feel like a badass (probalby my fave at this moment)beauty is terror: inspired by The Secret History, it always makes me feel 100 times more dramatic than usualivory and gold: aka, as I call it, “what if Dorian Gray was a vampire?” / this music guarantees transfer to another dimensiondive bar: you want to feel like you’re in a bar with modern Ares making a fuss a few steps away? you got itpretty damn good babysitter: you’re a fan of 80′ music and you’re curious what Steve Harrington is singing every morning while getting ready to kick some demogorgons asses? enjoyun rêve de paris: something you could listen to while sitting in a Parisian cafe with your favourite book in your hands

[writing-prompt-s]

20 Dialogue Prompts Part 2

Here is a list of twenty dialogue prompts! Thank you everyone for contributing!

“You know, until you pointed it out, I never really noticed that horn on your head.”

“Honey, this relationship isn’t going to work out if you keep getting charged for murder”

“I don’t know what your teacher told you, but milk isn’t real.”

“Uh, Mr Reaper sir? Do you still do the game for your life thing?” “That depends on the game. I am tired of chess.” “What about golf?”

“You have angered our feline overlords! Now you must endure the litter tray of doo-doom!”

Keep reading

[minelskede-deactivated20190606]

The last three and the one about Bob are absolute gold! 

[thewinterclown]

So many people have warned me about getting into this with you. You know what I tell them? I tell them that they don’t know you like I do. I tell them that you’re a good guy. You are, right? You’re a good guy.

[ssammys]

[prongsno]

you’re smiling in love (and we’ll sigh so relieved)

(based off a prompt from an anon) James gives Lily a class on kissing, but feelings always get in the way.

(read on ao3, word count: 7038)

James Potter stands with his back leaning against the wall. Muddy feet in a tangle, leaving dirty footprints over the floor. He draws out a shaky breath.

“Are you sure?” he asks, his voice unsteady. He gives Lily Evans a worried glance and scratches his head. “I mean, don’t you girls have fantasies about first kisses and all?”

He looks like a dream with his windswept hair, rosy cheeks and soaked Quidditch robes clinging to his mud splattered skin. Her heart stops, but only for the briefest of moments.

She wants to say that he is her fantasy. That he is all she ever thinks about… but the words slip by and evaporate when their eyes meet. His gleaming hazel eyes shine, making her body shiver.

She should be screaming in hysterics, going crazy. Her crush, James Freaking Potter, is right here in front of her. And he’s about to kiss her.

Yes, there’s the thunderous beat of her heart slapping against her chest when those damned eyes of his look at her; but she’s far too realistic to think that crushes ever end in ‘Happily Ever After’.

“I’m sure,” she says, the slick and smooth tone of her voice surprising her. She clears her throat, giving him what she hopes is a reassuring smile.

She’s doing this to get over him, once and for all.

“It’s just kissing, right?”

“Right,” he mirrors her smile, shadows her laughter. And then he leans in, she does too, and he plops the softest of kisses on her lips.

He pulls back in an instant, it’s a second long if that.

“There,” he says, suddenly interested in the cobbled stonework of the floor, “congratulations. You’ve had your first kiss.”

There are butterflies everywhere and she knows she’s playing with fire when their eyes meet again.

She feels the pull of a smirk. “That’s it?”

He only shakes his head, a small smile tangled between his sweet lips. Then he steps forward once more, brushes a hand against her cheek and pulls her softly towards him.

Her eyes flutter shut and when their lips meet for the second time it’s like she’s been consumed.

This time it’s louder than fireworks, more addictive than butterbeer, hotter than fire.

He wraps an arm around her waist and her hands are in his hair, grasping at the curls that she’s desperately been wanting to play with since she got this stupid crush.

He’s gentle and an earthquake all at once.

Keep reading

[kilowave]

When Anne has a will, Anne hathaway.

[ddrvbiblgigb]

[garfield-baybee]

Reblog to have something good happen at 1:42 tomorrow

[ms-mazarin]

Words to replace said, except this actually helps

I got pretty fed up with looking for words to replace said because they weren’t sorted in a way I could easily use/find them for the right time. So I did some myself.

IN RESPONSE TO Acknowledged Answered Protested

INPUT/JOIN CONVERSATION/ASK Added Implored Inquired Insisted Proposed Queried Questioned Recommended Testified

GUILTY/RELUCTANCE/SORRY Admitted Apologized Conceded Confessed Professed

FOR SOMEONE ELSE Advised Criticized Suggested

JUST CHECKING Affirmed Agreed Alleged Confirmed

LOUD Announced Chanted Crowed

LEWD/CUTE/SECRET SPY FEEL Appealed Disclosed Moaned

ANGRY FUCK OFF MATE WANNA FIGHT Argued Barked Challenged Cursed Fumed Growled Hissed Roared Swore

SMARTASS Articulated Asserted Assured Avowed Claimed Commanded Cross-examined Demanded Digressed Directed Foretold Instructed Interrupted Predicted Proclaimed Quoted Theorized

ASSHOLE Bellowed Boasted Bragged

NERVOUS TRAINWRECK Babbled Bawled Mumbled Sputtered Stammered Stuttered

SUAVE MOTHERFUCKER Bargained Divulged Disclosed Exhorted

FIRST OFF Began

LASTLY Concluded Concurred

WEAK PUSY Begged Blurted Complained Cried Faltered Fretted

HAPPY/LOL Cajoled Exclaimed Gushed Jested Joked Laughed

WEIRDLY HAPPY/EXCITED Extolled Jabbered Raved

BRUH, CHILL Cautioned Warned

ACTUALLY, YOU’RE WRONG Chided Contended Corrected Countered Debated Elaborated Objected Ranted Retorted

CHILL SAVAGE Commented Continued Observed Surmised

LISTEN BUDDY Enunciated Explained Elaborated Hinted Implied Lectured Reiterated Recited Reminded Stressed

BRUH I NEED U AND U NEED ME Confided Offered Urged

FINE Consented Decided

TOO EMO FULL OF EMOTIONS Croaked Lamented Pledged Sobbed Sympathized Wailed Whimpered

JUST SAYING Declared Decreed Mentioned Noted Pointed out Postulated Speculated Stated Told Vouched

WASN’T ME Denied Lied

EVIL SMARTASS Dictated Equivocated Ordered Reprimanded Threatened

BORED Droned Sighed

SHHHH IT’S QUIET TIME Echoed Mumbled Murmured Muttered Uttered Whispered

DRAMA QUEEN Exaggerated Panted Pleaded Prayed Preached

OH SHIT Gasped Marveled Screamed Screeched Shouted Shrieked Yelped Yelled

ANNOYED Grumbled Grunted Jeered Quipped Scolded Snapped Snarled Sneered

ANNOYING Nagged

I DON’T REALLY CARE BUT WHATEVER Guessed Ventured

I’M DRUNK OR JUST BEING WEIRDLY EXPRESSIVE FOR A POINT/SARCASM Hooted Howled Yowled

I WONDER Pondered Voiced Wondered

OH, YEAH, WHOOPS Recalled Recited Remembered

SURPRISE BITCH Revealed

IT SEEMS FAKE BUT OKAY/HA ACTUALLY FUNNY BUT I DON’T WANT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD Scoffed Snickered Snorted

BITCHY Tattled Taunted Teased

[writing-reigns-deactivated20200]

reblog to save a writer 

[nichelle-my-belle-deactivated20]

excellent resource

[julietteferaears]

We never go out of style.

[fortheartofliving]

[shadesofsky]

always reblog

[vodkacupcakes]

so cute i might die

[busiest]

I LOVE ELLEN SO MUCH OMFG 

[rollercoaster-jpg]

I see how gays ruin the sanctity of marriage now, it’s all clear

[thedearlydepart]

Awww…cute Ellen is cute

[spideyjlaw]

THIS HOLY TRINITY OF BADASS WOMEN NEEDS MORE APPRECIATION 

[fetchingreads]

instead of, you know, actually reading, I’ve been searching for even more books to read. ya feel?