Fall for the Game

DeyVarah's sideblog for excited fangirling!

[mydoctor]

a ship where i see what people see but it is simply not very interesting to me personally it’s like

[erlie]

M/M Books part 4

This might be the last. Or not!

River of Teeth -series by Sarah Gailey Taste of Marrow

Alternative universe American wild west where hippos were introduced as a alternative cattle. Very fun two novellas with some great queer romance on the side. Not smutty.

Death and Devil -series by L.J. Hayward Where Death Meets the Devil

A secret agent meets a contract killer and by god are there trust issues and double crosses. Very steamy, high action romp with lots of cool characters. And sugar babies. But not like that. I haven't read the entire series but the once I have read have been good to solid. Very spicy.

The Tarot Sequence -series by K.D. Edwards The Last Sun Atlantis was destroyed and it was moved to Nantucket (if I rightly recall) and it is ruled by the Major Arcana. This is such a great read, the setting is fun and the magic the characters use is so interesting! Comes with some warnings of sexual assault, but nothing is on page. Lightly spicy.

Middle of Somewhere -series by Roan Parrish Out of Nowhere I only read the first and the second book. The first one is okay, it is steamy, romantic, everything you need from this type of book. But the second one will tear your heart out, stomp on it and throw it into a river. In the best possible way. With happy ending. Very spicy!

The Other Guy by Cary Attwell Its been eons since I read this but I adored it. It tells a rarely told story of a man who gets left on the altar when the movie heroine gets together with her childhood sweetheart. And then the groom goes to the honeymoon trip alone and finds new things about himself. Little spicy, if I remember right.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

[erlie]

M/M Books part 3

More books with happy endings!

Galaxies and Oceans by N.R. Walker

Heartbreaking book about loneliness, learning to trust and accepting help. I don't remember much about this, it's been a couple of years since I last read this but I remember adoring this. I did give it 5 stars! Spicy.

Dear (Future) Husband by P.M. Laine

If you like isekai, wuxia, danmei and awkward bumbling while trying to woo your favorite character, this is perfect book for you! Support an independent author who is also my friend! Little spicy!

Better Than People by Roan Parrish

Roan Parrish is one of those authors who rarely disappoints. This is a read about overcoming anxiety, loneliness and getting dogs. Absolutely heart warming. Spicy.

Haven Heart -series by Davidson King Hug It Out / A Dangerous Dance

Okay. Hear me out. I know these are cheesy AS HELL and take that protective bad boy with a heart of gold and runs with it. Maybe too far. BUT. Over all, it is a solid series if you want crime bosses and mob vibes (I have read books 1-7). The second and third book are best in the series BY FAR.

Hug It Out is grumpy/sunshine romance where other one doesn't want to be hugged while other does that literally for living. A Dangerous Dance on the other hand is rivals/enemies to lovers scenario with two hard headed bad boys. Smutty smutty!

London Calling -series by Alexis Hall Boyfriend Material

I love a good fake relationship, especially when we are flipping off some tropes! Unexpected, funny, adorable and the second book is just as strong. Alexis Hall also rarely disappoints. A bit spicy.

The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish

It's been years since I read this but I do remember loving it. Corbin is autism coded, in a good way (as someone who is non-autistic) and the challenges of dating are done so well.

The Murderbot Diaries -series by Martha Wells

Okay this is not M/M romance by any means. But there are queer characters in the background. I just can not NOT recommend this. Murderbot is so relatable and funny and I love them and A.R.T.!

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

[erlie]

M/M Books, part 2

As promised, more M/M books with happy endings

EWB: Enemies with Benefits by N.R. Walker

As the title says but of course they end up as lovers. The start is little rough but that might be because these two actually hate each other at first, unlike in so many enemies to lovers. Smutty, lightly kinky.

A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit by R.K. Ashwick

Cozy low stakes fantasy. Like coffee shop AU but with potions. Absolutely adorable, makes you giggle and kick your feet. If you liked Legends & Lattes, this is for you. Might be little spicy? Can't remember.

All for the Game -series by Nora Sakavic (on going) The Foxhole Court / The Raven King / The King's Men / The Sunshine Court

These are not happy books. While the first trilogy does end well, the ride there is ROUGH. But it is a heart wrenching story of found family, trust, trauma and overcoming your past and upbringing.

Mind the content warnings, THERE ARE MANY. These can and will veer slightly into misery porn but if you can handle that, go forth!

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall

This on the other hand is very happy and so stupid, in the best way. Fake amnesia and forced proximity with obvious hijinks. This does require reader some suspension of disbelief (because one can NOT throw a company wide christmas party WITH CATERING in LONDON, two days before christmas.) but you are so fuzzy and warm that its okay.

The Green Creek -series by TJ Klune Wolfsong / Ravensong / Heartsong / Brothersong

Do you love werewolves but do not really enjoy ABO dynamics? Can you stomach some pseudo science regarding wolf packs and alphas? Good news, this series is incredible! It will make you cry and curse 'stupid sexy werewolves'. Klune is my favorite author and this is my favorite book series, I can not recommend it enough.

Big Bad Wolf -series by Charlie Adhara The Wolf at the Door

More werewolves without ABO? Here you go! Adhara's werewolf books are solidly very good, hot and also have pretty good crime solving. Two grumps try to solve a crime and one of them might or might not be a suspect!

I can also recommend the Monster Hunt spin-off series.

The Turners series by Cat Sebastian The Ruin of a Rake / The Lawrence Browne Affairs

Historical romance all the way! Cat Sebastian is always reliable on this front so pretty much all of her books are good. I did not add the first book of the series here, because I liked it less than these two, but it still a solid read! Warning for period typical homophobia but is very minor and all of these obviously have happy endings. Spicy.

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

This book took me by a surprise. I had very different expectations for this and it just threw them in the trash. If you want that Hogwarts-ish feeling without transphobia, this scratches that itch! Also some brilliant trope reversals and you have to on occasion face some uncomfortable feelings yourself. And the romance is very adorable. Not spicy.

Cemetary Boys by Aiden Thomas

Sometimes you accidentally summon a ghost and it won't go away and then you fall in love with him. Happens to everyone. Very good read about family, gender and acceptance. Transman as a main character. Not spicy.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

[erlie]

M/M Book Recs

Need distractions?

Want men kissing each other with happy endings?

I got you. Here are some of my favourites:

Adventures in Aguillon -series by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey Red Heir / Elf Defense / Socially Orcward

Are these the height of literature? No. Are they crude, smutty, funny and surprisingly sweet? Yes. Definitely. Don't go to these books with any other expectations than having fun. Lowbrow fantasy with some pop culture references, if you liked Tales in Verania series, you'll like this.

Socially Orcward is not smutty at all, since both of the main characters are asexual and it is very very sweet!

Sugar & Vice -series by Allie Therin (on going) Liar City / Twisted Shadows

Is slow burn your jam? How about grumpy/sunshine pairing? Well get on these! The first book will leave you WANTING, because the two can't touch each other without pain and consequences. Very very very good alternative universe paranormal romance. Second book is little spicy!

Sword Crossed by Freya Marske

Historical fantasy romance, with arranged marriages (not between the two men though) and hiring a swordsman to defend your honor in battle to save your house from ruin. Buttoned up business man meets a dashing rogue. What else do you need? Not much. Little spicy.

Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell

When you are crowned Holly King and your duty is to die within a yearn in a ritual, you obviously fetch a nice human man from London to help you. If romance happens, what could be nicer! This was a lot different I expected it to be but in a good way. Tastefully spicy.

The Darkness Outside Us / The Brightness Between Us by Eliot Schefer

These are not romance book! Is there romance, yes, but these are scifi suspense books first. They also deal with a lot of heavy topics such as existential dread, humanity and end of the world. But they are so fucking good I beg you to read them. Not spicy.

Cerulean Chronicles by TJ Klune The House on the Cerulean Sea / Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Want to read anti-JKR author's books? Do you want the books to be a middle finger to her? Jump in. Trans allegory with boat loads of queer love, joy and existence.

Game Changers -series by Rachel Reid Heated Rivalry / The Long Game These are books 2 and 6 of the series and they are easily read as stand-alones. And you probably should. Because these two are so fucking good and steamy and lovely that I went little insane in the head when I read these the first time.

Rest of the series is bit ...meh. First book is boring, third is alright with some interesting themes around sex, fourth is an age gap romance and the fifth is pretty okay. But these two just... my god. Very very spicy!

Icarus by K. Ancrum

Retelling of the Icarus myth with a criminal son and father. Also touches on topics of being touch starved, Sins of Our Fathers and generational trauma. Very beautifully written, will leave you thinking for a while. Queer romance, not spicy.

I'll leave this here for now, there will be part 2 soon!

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

[ninyard]

All For The Game (A Netflix Original Series)

seasons 1-4 streaming now | template

[fall-for-the-game]

Okay I know these edits, I've seen them before, they're really well made and awesome...

BUT

you do NOT want Netflix to adapt your favorite book series. Not anymore.

Trust me :|

[fall-for-the-game]

Today’s mood: Do I watch watch Shadow & Bone season 2 even if, retrospectively, I really didn’t like what they did with season 1? Just to get a little more Crows content?   Decisions, decisions....

[fall-for-the-game]

Oh, yeah theres so many things i hate about the Half Bad adaptation, the first being the title? Like thats a choice??? Only redeeming quality so far is the hope for a healthy poly relationship and maybe certain people not dying

I would have maaaybe accepted "the bastard son OF the devil himself", that would have at least made some sense. But it's all got a weird tone? I don't know what they were aiming for with the title or some of the soundtrack...

Not sure how I feel about a poly ship, since I hated Anneliese in the books and in the show xD But if they can make it work, I guess why not.

[fall-for-the-game]

So. I've only had a chance to watch Ep1 so far but here are my thoughts.

1. I am unreasonably mad that he can read and that he has friends. Like. I feel like that's a big part of his character.

2. Where tf are Arran and Deborah?? Like maybe Deborah isn't a main character but Arran is and I'm pissed.

3. They haven't mentioned him having to be outside at night or telling fains from witches by their eyes.

So far the only thing I like from this show is that they changed Black and White to Blood and Fairborn. Idk I just think it sounds better.

An attempt will be made to watch Ep2 in the next couple days.

Agreed on all those points. I've finished it and it doesn't get better. The casting, like I've said before, is imho shit. Wait till you see Gabriel... And not having Arran is unforgivable. The woman who keeps questioning Nathan in Ep1? That's supposed to be Celia.

Also she comes around every month?? Instead of Nathan going into the council building every year on his birthday. I don't like it. They changed so much about him, he is nothing like he's in the books, even taking unreliable narration into account. They also mixed up and changed the powers everyone has (boy, did some of them make me mad) and there seem to be no real differences between Blood and Fairborn other than the Blood heal faster? And yes, the name change was probably for the best, but that's one of very few concessions I'll make to the show.

[fall-for-the-game]

HALF BAD ON NETFLIX?!?!?

Seems Netflix quietly adapted one of my all-time fav book series and I never even heard about it? I’m losing my mind???? Also, sorry but it’ll never live up to my hopes and dreams and expectations.

I already hate the casting. So far, everyone except for Gran looks nothing like I pictured them in my head. ESPECIALLY GABRIEL WTF??

And WHERE IS ARRAN?!   I can deal with them moving the timeline around a bit but leaving Arran out completely is unforgivable.  And what’s with Annelise stupid power, why did she need that? Celia is way too soft?? Everyone is too soft tbh. The tone is off, the soundtrack is awful. So yeah.

Well, at least maybe it’ll get more people to read the books, I guess…

[fall-for-the-game]

Yeah, no, it was terrible.

It got worse the longer it went on :/

[fall-for-the-game]

Excuse me WHAT???

Sorry, I just had to go look myself and like... what??

I haven't watched it yet but I hate the episode descriptions. I will reserve further judgment til I watch it but as of right now I don't like it.

Will return with my verdict once I have a chance to watch.

Yeaaaahh... I was just doing a quick browse on Netflix and ran across the name "Half Bad" and was like oh funny, that's the name of one of my favorite book series and then I read the quick synopsis and did an actual double take.

I already have a million issues with it, but please do let me know what you think!

[fall-for-the-game]

HALF BAD ON NETFLIX?!?!?

Seems Netflix quietly adapted one of my all-time fav book series and I never even heard about it? I’m losing my mind???? Also, sorry but it’ll never live up to my hopes and dreams and expectations.

I already hate the casting. So far, everyone except for Gran looks nothing like I pictured them in my head. ESPECIALLY GABRIEL WTF??

And WHERE IS ARRAN?!   I can deal with them moving the timeline around a bit but leaving Arran out completely is unforgivable.  And what’s with Annelise stupid power, why did she need that? Celia is way too soft?? Everyone is too soft tbh. The tone is off, the soundtrack is awful. So yeah.

Well, at least maybe it’ll get more people to read the books, I guess...

[starr234]

[goliath-de-senfina-sango]

This is a personal attack, i can’t

[3fluffies]

[professionalfangirl24601]

How cute is that Neil keeps everything important under his pillow?

[avendell]

Kaz and Inej

[deus-ex-moshina]

Me, googling this information frantically: Okay now you guys have GOT to be fucking with me, there’s NO way he could’ve actually–

ADVAGDHSGFHHJGHHJ THIS MAN IS INSAAAAAANE

[deus-ex-moshina]

Ben Barnes circa 2019, scrolling through his own tag on tumblr.com and seeing thousands of fan edits with him as the Darkling:

[deus-ex-moshina]

@follyfortune @bishirleys Hey. Hey sorry. The what

[deus-ex-moshina]

ASKDJSJFJJGJKFKGKH @Narnia fandom IS THIS YOUR PRINCE???? Is this your Prince Caspian??????

[mariathorpearchive]

but i don’t want to create the specific content that i would like to see