Lexi Biondi

Artist • Writer • Feeler • Music Lover

[thehmn]

I haven’t watched the Uncharted movie but listening to Americans/Canadians/Australians talk about how unrealistic it would be to make an old church into a nightclub and have an ancient thing behind plexiglass in a fast food restaurant is pretty funny.

Guys you would not believe how much old crap we got in Europe. In Leeds I walked by an old church that had been turned into a nightclub every day and in Denmark I once went to a McDonalds that had a glass window in the floor where you could see old ruins underneath.

We are way too many people living in a place where countries and cultures have come and gone over thousands of years and yeah we think it’s cool when we find some of our old stuff we forgot about so we want to preserve it in some way but we also want to make new things so we have to work around it.

Like look at this! This is from the biggest city near me, Odense.

They build a new shiny building around an old ruin! The thing behind it is a grocery store! That’s just what you gotta do in this part of the world.

So to all aspiring writers; it’s absolutely very realistic to mix old and new things in ridiculous ways in Europe so feel free to go nuts with it.

[foldingfittedsheets]

I redid this older comic I made for my storytelling class based on this post. Have some cute wlw love in your day.

It’s hard, if I had more free time I could make it so pretty, this is what I could throw together for the assignment.

Help support a queer artist: Ko fi, Redbubble, Teepublic

[kaelio]

Billionaire Mark Cuban Opens Online Pharmacy To Provide Affordable Generic Drugs

The company was launched out of stealth last year.

The Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs Company (MCCPDC) is a registered pharmaceutical wholesaler and purchases drugs directly from manufacturers, bypassing middlemen to lower the price of more than 100 medications, it said in a statement.

For example, the leukemia drug imatinib is priced at $47 a month on MCCPDC compared to the $9,657 retail price.

MCCPDC CEO Alex Oshmyansky reached out to Cuban with an idea for a low-cost generic drug company in a cold email. It was launched in January last year. They were motivated in part by “Pharma Bro” Martin Shrkeli’s outrage-producing price hike of the lifesaving drug Daraprim from $13.50 to $750 per tablet while Shrkeli was CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. Cuban told Forbes last year the pricing for generic drugs was “ridiculous.” He said he decided to put his name on the company to “show capitalism can be compassionate and to send the message I am all in.” It’s not clear how much he had invested in the company.

—

Reblog to save someone an entire paycheck, or more, on the pharmaceuticals they need.

[alwaysatomicconniseur]

Gods, I want this to be true so badly.

[kaelio]

It is true. Mark Cuban is doing this in part because he wants to run for President in 2024 if Biden doesn’t run again (Mark ran in 2020). He’s a Democrat and “I personally made medication affordable” will give him an immense edge. He’s far from perfect but this is a good thing he’s doing. Also he seems to genuinely believe this stuff, but either way, site’s up and operational and you can start any time.

[mishafletcher]

just so people understand what a big deal this is, i ran some fast price comparisons. goodrx is an app that offers discounts on medications for which you have to pay out of pocket, whether because your insurance doesn’t cover them or because you don’t have insurance. if you don’t have insurance, goodrx is often about as good as it gets, so i’m using their prices for my comparison.

please note that prices are location dependent on goodrx—it shows you the options at pharmacies near your location. i’m in pittsburgh, pa; if you’re in a different part of the country and you try this, you may get slightly (or wildly) different numbers. 

fluoxetine is generic prozac. thirty 20mg capsules costs $12.80 at my cheapest local pharmacy. costplus has it for $3.90.

atorvastatin is generic lipitor. thirty 40mg tablets is $10.95 at my cheapest local pharmacy. costplus has it for $4.20.

omeprazole is generic prilosec. thirty 20mg capsules is $13.90 at the cheapest local pharmacy; $4.20 at costplus.

aripiprazole is generic abilify. thirty 10mg tablets is $17.73 at the cheapest local pharmacy (and $260.60 at the most expensive—and that’s with a discount, still, yikes); $6.00 at costplus. 

lamotrigine xr is generic lamictal xr. thirty 25mg tablets is $36.59 at the cheapest local pharmacy; $8.40 at costplus. 

maybe that doesn’t seem like a huge discount, but the goodrx prices change *all the time*—last time i used it to buy fluoxetine, which was in the last couple of years, it was $31. also, many people are on multiple medications, or have multiple people in a household taking multiple medications, and $5 off every prescription adds up real fast. 

this is an objectively fantastic thing and a huge deal, and i hope they’re wildly successful.

[prismatic-bell]

HE HAS MY PRESCRIPTION ON HERE FOR $4.20.

THE CHEAPEST I CAN GET IT IN PERSON ANYWHERE IS $13 AND THE STANDARD PRICE FOR THE GENERIC IS $82.

TAMIFLU IS ON HERE FOR UNDER $4. IT’S AN ANTIVIRAL USED TO TREAT SEVERE CASES OF INFLUENZA AND REGULARLY COSTS OVER $100.

There is a medicine on here called Valcyte, it’s an HIV medication, he’s offering it for $100.20 which sounds outrageous (and I mean still kind of is but wait for it, wait for it) UNTIL YOU REALIZE ON GOODRX IT’S LISTED FOR $179 AS THE ABSOLUTE CHEAPEST PRICE I CAN FIND AND MY LOCAL WALGREENS SELLS IT FOR $1,009 FOR A MONTH’S SUPPLY.

This man is literally going to save lives. Jesus christ. I could cry.

[star-trekkin-across-theuniverse]

Heads up for my Americans.

[lexibiondi]

GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE ~ NATASHA NGAN

“Fire in, fear out.”

Girls Of Paper And Fire is a wonderful read which touches upon important subject matters for our society. I found the book entertaining and reflexive, the plot original and evenly paced, the characters dimensional and easy to relate to. 🧡🧡🧡

PROS:

Characters: I really liked how I could relate to all of the characters to a certain degree, specially the paper girls and the concubines. I think the cast of girls was diverse and it helped me see and learn of a lot of different realities.

Topics: The topics touched upon in this book are delicate but I think Ngan managed to tackle them in a respectful way that was at the same time informative and very emotional. The effect is of the violence and abuse the girls went through is clear and even if it is something that is normalized in Ikhara, Ngan makes it clear she doesn’t approve of any of it.

Lei’s Character Arc: I love how Lei goes from a scared girl to a fighter, but I specially love how the book makes it so clear that Lei’s had a fire inside her all along and that what she needed to learn was to nourish it and shape it to her will.

Romance: I liked the romance between Lei and Wren and that it was an important part of the novel. The romance was not separate to the plot, it was woven into it and I felt much of the book would be lost without it.

Worldbuilding: I found Ikhara to be a really rich land, enhanced by all the cultures woven together in it. The setting of the book was very powerful and I could see and feel through Ngan’s descriptions.

The Writing: I am so in love with Ngan’s writing style and her beautiful descriptions. They are like a painting and I can’t wait for more.

CONS:

(Slight) Insta Love: Even if I really enjoyed Wren and Lei’s romance, to me, at the start it felt a little fast. However, I can forgive this given the situation the girls were in. To me, their romance was an escape and maybe that is the reason why they fell for each other so quickly. So even if I would have appreciated a little slow burn romance, I really enjoyed this one despite the slight Insta Love.

FINAL THOUGHS:

I am very intrigued by the world of Ikhara and the lives of the Paper Girls. I can’t wait for the next book to see what Ngan will deliver and how this story will progress. Hopefully we will get some more romance between Wren and Lei and get a deeper grasp of their beautiful love.

““A war might be coming. But we have the wings to fight it.”

WARNING: Contains sexual abuse, rape (off scene), physical and mental breakdowns and animal violence.

[lexibiondi]

OUR DARK DUET - VICTORIA SCHWAB

After reading This Savage Song, I dived right into Our Dark Duet with excitement pounding through my veins. I have to say, this books did not disappoint. Kate and August’s journey had me shouting, crying, cursing, fangirling, laughing, crying again and burying myself under my covers for days (OK, maybe not for days, I had to go to University).

PROS:

Characters: Just as in This Savage Song, the characters were my favorite part of this book. Kate and August’s struggles and character development were AMAZING, tugging the strings of my heart in ways I didn’t even know were possible.

Setting: I love Verity. I probably wouldn’t want to live in it (for security reasons) but the world building is on point. Not too little, not too much.

Monsters: New monsters appeared that had not been there in This Savage Song, and I have to say they were exciting to read, specially the Chaos Eater. I loved how Schwab alternated between the dual POV’s we read in This Savage Song and added the POV’s of Sloan, Alice and the Chaos Eater. All the POV’s were weaved in beautifully and that only added more to this poetic book.

Plot/Prose: Both feed off from each other, creating a magical read that was equally parts page turning action action as philosophical and emotional reflection.

Emotions: At peak!!!

CONS:

I would say the ending but I have to give it to Schwab, the ending was right and masterfully done, I am just too wounded by it.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Our Dark Duet is the page turning, soul wrenching conclusion to V.E Schwab’s Monsters of Verity Duology. It’s a book that will shred your heart to pieces and suck your soul until your eyes are nothing but hollow, black spots in your face. Now go read it while I cry in the bathroom from all the feels.

[lexibiondi]

THIS SAVAGE SONG - VICTORIA SCHWAB

THIS BOOK IS LIFE!! I loved it. LOVED IT!!! ❤️

If you are a fan of sweet male leads and kick ass heroines, realistic fantasy worlds, monsters that are as complex and diverse as humans, family dynamics and awesome plot twists; then this book is for you. Also, If you love Tokyo Ghoul give this book a try. You won’t regret it.

Still not convinced? Let’s go the Pros then...

PROS:

The Characters: Sweet monster hero with a heart of gold? Check. Tough, ruthless female lead who goes through a change of heart? Check. AWESOME secondary characters? Check. Freaking evil villains? Check. Cat? Check!!!

The Music: This Savage Song plays heavily into music. August and the others Sunai’s powers come from music and there is heavy focus on its beauty and power.

The Plot Twists: You’ll have to read the book for those but trust me when I say, they will leave you screaming, crying, cursing and OMG this book is too much.

The Feels: EVERYWHERE!!!

Prose: Beautiful

Character Arcs: AMAZING!

CONS:

The only one I can find is that I wanted MORE moments between Kate and August. Otherwise, this book is flawless.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Why are you even here? Just go read the book. It’s amazing! It will keep you turning pages and you can actually feed your soul through reading. Don’t forget to eat though...or do? IDK. I am kidding, do remember to eat. But seriously just go read the book and stop reading this!!! GO! GO! GO!

[lexibiondi]

ALETHEIA BY MEGAN TENNANT ~ REVIEW

“We all ask for honesty, but none of us really wants it.” (Aletheia, p.8).

This book is AMAZING! If you love Dystopian novels with kick-ass heroines who are also multilayered, novels that make you question not only humanity but yourself as well, friendships that will bring you to tears and romances that are in ways forbidden but healthy and beautiful nonetheless; then Aletheia is the book for you. Not convinced yet? Let me walk you through the Pros and Cons of this wonderful book:

SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING (IF YOU DESPISE SPOILERS PLEASE HEAD TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS REVIEW)

PROS

1) Protagonist: 736

“Sometimes I feel like I’m three different people. There is the default one...then there’s the small girl; scared, untrusting and bitter...And then, there is the darkness...it’s the dark part that I constantly wish I could purge from my mind. (p.109-110).

736 (AKA Kitten Commander) is a Kick ass heroine with as many shades of gray as you can imagine. She will make you question every aspect of your life and of that is not relatable, IDK what the hell is.

2) Love Interest: Jason

“You are a beautiful kind of a mess.” (Jason, p. 230).

Do I have to say anything more? This man is adorable, flawed and will make you swoon and fall for him as hard as 736 did.

3) Friendships:

“You will get hurt...At least with love you have someone by your side as you fight through all the rest of the shit the universe throws at you.” (Arson, p. 270).

I loved, LOVED the friendships in this book. Every character is interesting, intriguing, fleshed out and strong in their own ways. At times when 736 was talking to them I felt them giving advice not only to her, but to me as well.

4) Feels:

This book is filled with feels, FEELS, FEELS. You will cry, laugh, swoon, throw stuff in anger, curse and then fall in love all over again.

CONS:

1) There are some very small typos here and there but the book is AMAZING you will hardly pay any attention to them. Honestly I am kind of a perfectionist so I thought this would bother me. It did not. The book is so good I just wanted to keep reading and reading.

2) This is not really a CON, but this book will definitely leave you wanting for more. Good news is: there is more! Red River, Book 2 in the trilogy is in process and trust me when I say, I will rush to get it as soon as it’s out.

SPOILER SECTION IS OVER:

In short, Aletheia has so many interesting characters, heart tearing friendships, a swoon worthy healthy romance and some seriously sick plot twists. And the FEELS! This book will leave you feeling so many emotions that you will be at risk of exploding (Don’t worry though, it’s totally worth it).

Now do yourself a favor and go read this awesome book. I mean it.

[lexibiondi]

THE SAVIOR’S CHAMPION ~ JENNA MORECI

I LOVED this book so much.

I approached The Savior’s Champion with caution but I am glad to say it did NOT disappoint. The Savior’s Champion is a fantasy tale following the experiences of Tobias Kaya as circumstances force him to join the Savior’s Tournament.

*SPOILER FREE REVIEW*

PROS:

What I liked most about this book was the Romance. It is healthy, slow but passionate and overall beautiful. The characters were all great. I loved how fleshed out Leila’s character is. She was definitely my favorite character alongside Tobias, Orion and Delphi. The twists and turns of the book got me wanting more, and even though I predicted the final twist, it still managed to surprise me and get me all wrecked and emotional. The EMOTIONS! This book made me feel, FEEL. None stop. Wether I was crying or melting, swooning or simply loathing the antagonists this book had me on an emotional rollercoaster (in the good sense).

CONS:

For me the only downside of the book was how one death was not dealt with in depth. Now, to be fair, this only happened with one character who was pretty much an asshole. Still, his death threw me (and obviously him) off a little bit. Apart from that my only complain is that the second book is not in my hands right now so I can devour it.

OVERALL:

Jenna Moreci did an AMAZING job with this book and I can’t recommend it enough. If you like well built Romances with HEALTHY relationships, sweet but flawed protagonists, strong AND empathic female characters, high stakes, a touch of magic and plots that keep you wanting more; then The Savior’s Champion should be your next read.

Still here? Why are you still reading this review? Go and read this AWESOME BOOK! NOW!!!