You know when you finish a book and you cannot stop thinking about it? I am currently in that situation, with, of course, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, by Holly Black. As such, I really wanted to mark down my thoughts. This is not a serious review or anything, it's just somewhat organized musings. I also won't spoil anything!
Plot
Personally, I thought the plot was well realized. The story beats made sense and the pacing was good! I thought it was well executed. Also, the twists are super neat. They can be figured out, but they aren't glaringly obvious and they make sense. Plus they're fun!
The world building in this book hit a sweet spot for me. It felt very natural and well integrated. The world Worked. The mechanics were well thought out. It was also just the right amount of world building. It wasn't overly complicated, nor was it explained in a way that made it seem like the author thought the readers were idiots.
Characters
Holy Hell, I really liked the main character, Tana. I, personally, could relate to her a lot and understand her thought process and why she did the things she did. She is refreshingly human. Her flaws, strengths and motivations come together nicely to create a very interesting character. She goes through some nice development, becoming more sure of herself and solidifying her convictions/figuring out who she really is.
āIf she was going to die, she might as well die sarcastic.ā - Holly Black
As for Gavriel, I really liked him too. His motivations were compelling and I just genuinely liked his personality. He was mysterious (I love mysterious characters. When done well, they're my favorites.) without being a cryptic asshole. He remains true to his goals/motivations and is a complete character, not just tied to Tana.
āClever girl. You play with fire because you want to be burnt.ā - Holly Black
Aiden was interesting! Though he was very flawed, I appreciated the contrast he provided to Tana. I also liked the dynamic between the three, as it was an interesting triad of characters. One Human, One Vampire and one Who was Not Quite Either.
āBe careful," Aidan called from the bed. "You don't know what he might do."
"We all know what you'd do, though, don't we?ā - Holly Black
Those are the Main 3 characters, but the rest of the cast is fun as well, and most of them get decent characterization/moments. The side characters actively move the plot.
Themes
This is mainly personal thoughts, but for me, the main theme of Identity shined though with a secondary main theme of Acceptance.
āWe labor under so many illusions about ourselves until we're stripped bare. Being infected, being a vampire, it's always you. Maybe it's more you than ever before. You, distilled. You, boiled down like a sauce. But it's you as you always were, deep down inside.ā - Holly Black
Those were used sort of as the base/frame to explore other "sub" themes like love and morality. I don't want to say too much because obviously everyone has their own interpretation but the book really resonated with me. I thought the theme of Identity was handled very well, presented and interpreted through the duality of the monstrous (Vampires) and the Mundane (Humanity). In the book, Tana poses a question of whether becoming a vampire fundamentally changes a person, introducing a darkness, or just draws out a darkness that was already there.
āWhen we turn ,is there something shoved inside of us or is it more that something inside of us has been released?ā - Holly Black
I personally just thought the exploration of the Identity theme really compelling.
"She whirled, thinking to snatch up the knife and try to help."
I'm really loving The Sharing Knife so far, and this especially stood out to me because so often when female characters are involved in a fight scene but not a part of the fighting, writers just have them stand there and do absolutely nothing at all. It's really irksome because it makes them seem incompetent and it's not realistic. Even someone who doesn't know how to fight can do something to help, ie trying to stab the enemy of the person who is currently fighting, going to get help, putting work in to find what they need, ect ect.
It's something I notice a lot bc when I was little my mom and I were watching a movie (I can't remember which one) and there was a fight scene and the female character was just standing there, like a lump doing nothing. She made a rightfully derisive comment and I, being young (maybe 6ish?) was shocked lol. She then asked me If I would stand around being unhelpful in that situation, and I said no, but I didn't know what she could do? And my mom rattled off a list of things she could have been doing and thus I learned. And now it's a thing I particularly take notice of.
The Year of Romance Midpoint Review and Analysis Report was damnably long, and frankly it could have been longer. I did my best to keep things focused with the books, authors and arguments I wrote about. Quite a nice piece of work, if I do say so myself. Still, there were some books/thoughts/ect that I would have liked to talk about, but ultimately decided to eschew. That's what this post is for.
As I said the majority of Romances that I've read haven't really been impressive, either positively or negatively. Either they're decent (3-3.5 stars) or I'm completely ambivalent about them. (2.5 stars[most of them tbh]) But there have been some books in that range that warrant discussion. I also didn't touch on anthologies at all except for mentioning a few, and highlighting one story that's a part of one.
Anthologies
Interestingly enough, the majority of anthologies that I've logged have been for this. The reasons I didn't talk about them in the midpoint report are quite simple. First, only one (1) singular story from an anthology was memorably good enough to warrant praise/discussion as one of the highlights of the experiment. (Some have been really enjoyable and lovely, but not *highlights*) Second, I was not discussing categories of romance novel. The merits and demerits of romance anthologies, interconnected standalones, standalones, and series warrants it's own post and was not what I wanted to talk about.
They are a notable part of the challenge because I've found romance anthologies to be a very enjoyable type of romance novel. They're very convenient because it's multiple romances in one, are good ways to scout out new authors or series, if a story is bad it's over quickly, if a story is good it's short, sweet, and satisfying. The variety is welcome and fun. Plus, because they're short stories the skill of the authors is tested in a different way than a full length novel does. Note: I don't usually rate anthologies on Storygraph because I'd prefer to rate each story separately and I'd have to write it out in the review itself. I am Lazy and won't do that lol. Here are the important anthologies.
When He Was Bad - the only anthology mentioned in the report, solely because of Miss Congeniality. Hells Bells. I need to find a way to buy Miss Congeniality alone because it truly bowled me over that much. The Most Unique experience reading a romance to date, and honestly perhaps one of the Most Unique reading experiences I've ever had. Still haven't given it a rating bc how am I supposed to go about it in this situation? Irene herself is a 5* character and I truly did enjoy everything else because it was done well, and I keep thinking about it? So I might just give it 5*s.
Angels of Darkness - Interesting read. This is the anthology that led me to try out the Guild Hunter's series by Nalini Singh because though the story wasn't my favorite I found it decent and was somewhat interested in the world. The way she wrote angels in this specific story was much better than how she wrote them in Angel's Blood, which I ended up greatly disliking. The best story here is Nocturne by Sharon Shin. It's well paced and tightly written. The world is intriguing, I liked the characters, and it's somewhat memorable. It just wasn't notable enough to be mentioned in the report, but it really is worth a read. The others are irrelevant.
Night Shift - The one that prompted me to read more Illona Andrews books. It also brought the SPI Files by Lisa Shearin to my attention, because Lucky Charms, her story in this anthology was tied with Magic Steals by Illona Andrews as the best. The SPI Files are fun, but not classified as romance so I will say no more.
Must Love Hellhounds - These were just thoroughly diverting and I do in fact, love Hellhounds. None of the stories marred my overall enjoyment. As a whole, this is the anthology I would recommend to others since imo all the stories are decently good. The worst one is Angel's Judgement and it's fine!
Hexed - The solo negatively notable anthology. The only story worth reading in this one was Magic Dreams, by Illona Andrews. I'm partially Finnish-American so Ice Shards, inspired by Finnish mythology was of particular wary interest to me, and it was galling to read. It would have been a bitter disappointment if I had truly expected anything. There's nothing to say about the other stories because they really weren't good.
Four Weddings and a Sixpence - The first romance anthology I've ever read. It had a fun throughline to connect the stories, and the stories themselves were decent! Enticed me to read more romance anthologies.
Other Books/Authors
Beverly Jenkins: I've currently only read 2 of her books, but I plan to read more. Especially because she's written at least 70, so by no means have I experienced her full capabilities as a writer. The two I've read didn't grab me, though I would say I liked them. The reasons the characters had to fall for each other didn't fully click for me and the pacing was poor. Her characters are likeable, the plots are interesting and the settings are well researched, but hells bells. The two I've read were simultaneously "blink and you'll miss it," and as slow as pouring cold molasses. Her prose is straightforward and sometimes veers into tell, not show.
Jeanie Lin: The settings in her novels are lush and vivid, but again it's another pacing issue for me. My favorite work of hers so far is "The Lotus Palace" and it really did drag in parts. I can tell she puts a lot of work into her books re: the historical aspects because they were very well done. Want to read more from her.
Elizabeth Lowell: A very prolific author, and in some ways ever slightly similar to Barbara Michaels (due to the inclusion of knowledge and information on whatever her book centers for the suspense plot) She was my most read author at one point this year and she's currently 3rd. The reason I snarfed up as many books as I could was because most of her books are centered around specific interesting topics like different types of precious gems (jade, amber, ruby, pearl, diamond,) rare manuscripts, valuable paintings, Olympic Horse Riding, ect ect and they're romantic suspense, thus a mystery/thriller aspect accompanies the romance. Much more fun to me than just a romance alone. Each specific topic is woven through the story in a well researched, fun and enjoyable way. It was those topics that made the books for me. Plus, they're somewhat entertaining reads. Some are better than others but I also didn't find any worth talking about in the report despite how many of her books I have read. (11) Though considering that she has written over 70 that might change. It was actually no Barbara Michaels books being available that propelled me to check out my first Elizabeth Lowell book bc I saw the plot dealt with Faberge Eggs I went "Close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades" and dove in.
Crown of War and Shadow - J.R. Ward: I won this as an ARC Giveaway. It's worth discussing here if only for that. I was amused, though definitely not in the intended way.
Lord of Scoundrels - Loretta Chase: HELLS BELLS. This was so good at first. Was very nearly top tier (dynamic wise) right up until a bit after they got married.(I LOVE! A FUCKED UP DYNAMIC.) Jessica shoots him and it's absolutely glorious!!! Then it all goes to hell. She should have been less acquiescing sometimes, though she's a fabulous character. Why the fuck must the author include a child? It really undercut Dain's character in like every possible way, how it was handled lmao. He sucks (even more) bc he treats the kid horribly (countering his positive character development) and then he does a complete out of character 180 and suddenly loves and cherishes his bastard son, magically becoming a good dad? That was not earned in the least and further mars Dain as a character because it's rushed/makes no fucking sense. His character development and improvement as a person was good until then. Plus, now there's a child. I do not like children in romances UNLESS they are extremely well written. See "Beauty like Night" for the singular example I have of a child in a romance that is a) written well and b) compelling as a character. Would have been so much better as a story without the child. Additionally-very dated, written in 1995 about the 1800s so you can imagine the iffyness re: mysogyny and various prejudices. But hells Bells her shooting him and the glove scene make the read worth it.
The Devil in Winter - Lisa Kleypas: I LOVE A FUCKED UP DYNAMIC! Starts off very well/compelling. The pacing is so erratic though and the main characters are not as well developed or characterized as they could be. Unfortunately the dynamic shifts into a somewhat bland and standard one. I wish it had still been at least a little strange or unique! There's a way the author could have kept it fucked up but still develop it into a good romantic relationship. Have not read the others in the series and I'm not really interested in doing so.
My Darling Dreadful Thing - Joanna van Veen: Hells Bells I wish this had been truly good. It's fine. Very atmospheric and I appreciate that, and I did like Ruth and Peter. I also enjoyed the relationship between Ruth and Roos. However, the characters were not well developed and while I appreciate gothic references it never felt like the story was it's own. It felt like the author took elements from other stories and strung them together. Many stories have elements derived and inspired from others, but still manage to be their own thing. This kinda fails to do that. I appreciate the themes it deals with but it doesn't go very deep with them and honestly some elements just seemed like they were added just to have them. But, I did enjoy it overall. It's worth a read, especially for the unique ghosts and the case style format as well as the imagery.
Year of Romance: Midpoint Observation and Analysis Report (Extremely Long)
My Year of Romance is halfway done! 7 months ago I decided to do an experiment in the form of a challenge to myself. The challenge was to have Romance be my most read genre of 2026, and to that end, my most read genre every month. I have succeeded in this in all but one (1) month this year so far, and it is in fact my most read genre this year!
I am quite proud of myself because this has been...an experience. It's genuinely a struggle for me to keep romance on top, but I do think the challenge is worthwhile. I am very satisfied with how the experiment is progressing; it's producing important data, which is the purpose of all experiments. Been getting easier as I get better at selecting ones I'll actually like!
The reason I decided to undertake this endeavor is really quite simple. I wanted to broaden my horizons - to try something new and see what I could learn from doing so. Romance has never been my favorite genre, and I don't think it ever will be. However, I think Romance is extremely unfairly maligned. Like any genre it has a wide breadth of stories and quality, and I wanted to explore! Additionally, I am fully aromantic and asexual, so this is also an observational study of sorts lol. The null hypothesis is that Romances that suit my taste are just as rare as I think them to be. Alternatively, Romances that suit my taste are more common than I think.
As I said, Romance was never my favorite genre, and while I never actively did seek it out, I never purposely avoided it either. Occasionally a Romance would naturally drift my way, and if it seemed interesting enough I would snap it up and read it!~ In a way, them being Romances is a bit incidental to other factors that caught my eye. The romance is a part of them, a part of the whole that I love.
Northanger Abbey
Emma
Persuasion
The Blue Sword (I would also include The Hero and the Crown but it's not a Romance)
The Knight and the Moth
Book Lovers
The Bright and Breaking Sea
A Swift and Savage Tide
In order to properly go about doing this, I needed 3 things. Romances to read, ways to find them, and ways to track my progress and log my data. It was also important to set specific parameters for the experiment. First, in order for a book to count for the challenge it must be classified as a Romance on Libby or Storygraph. However, there have been some instances where it's been classified as a Romance on one but not the other. This does present a limitation as I'm using Storygraph to track my data, but I have determined that the sample is off sufficient size that missing a few books that aren't tagged as romances on Storygraph or Including books not tagged as Romances on Libby will have a negligible affect on the data. Second, I am not including Manga, Manhwa, Manhua, Webcomics or Comics. The focus is on Romance Novels, and the scope is broad enough as it is. It also very specifically does not include books that have romances in them, but aren't Romances.
My methods are not scientifically sound, but I feel they're sufficient for my purposes. In order to find Romances to read, I have four main avenues. First and least used is raiding little free libraries when I walk my dog or just jaunt around the neighborhood. Importantly, I also contribute books to the little free libraries I raid. For instance, if it's a Romance I didn't like or that I enjoyed but don't want to keep I'll stick it in a little free library, especially if I got it from there. I'll also contribute other genres as it would be quite selfish of me to raid them but never give anything in return. Second is just noting Romances that catch my eye on SNS, and seeing if they're available to put on hold/borrow on Libby. Third is recommendations from friends. Fourth, and most utilized is filtering specifically for Romances on Libby and going H.A.M from there.
Once I've found Romances to read, I of course, read them. After I finish I'll log them on Storygraph and record my thoughts/review if there are any notable ones, good or bad. As of now I've read 111. February was the month where Romance was not my most read genre. (It was Mystery)
The results so far? Unsurprisingly, a majority of the Romances I've read are fine to meh, not really notable in any way. It is like this for most genres imo, so this being the case for Romance is expected. It's been thoroughly meh overall, but that's not what we're here for. We are here for the romances that were notable! The ones that suited my taste or that made me question what I was subjecting myself to (I don't regret this undertaking and never will, but also during the course of this experiment so far I have subjected myself to some truly terrible Romances, but that's all in due time) . Of course, those notable Romances that I've discovered that I absolutely love are what make this whole thing worthwhile! There are a few I would have naturally read, but the ones that I checked out solely because of this that I really wouldn't have before are particularly fun. Without further ado, the notables! (Positive)
The Spymaster's Lady (4*s) -This is the book that launched it all. I read it for the first time in December 2025, but I reread it in May to see if it still held up. It does. This book must be laced with catnip for me, specifically because goddamn. Annique is such a fascinating character (perhaps one of my favorites? Definitely a favorite romance protagonist) and the plot showed her off to great advantage, and it's very well executed. Grey is also well written and likeable, and the development of the characters separately and in a romantic relationship is great. I actually believed and understood why the relationship developed. The prose is great as well, and as I listened to the audiobook the narration was top tier.
Of course I am now making my way through Joanna Bourne's entire catalog, which basically is just this series. I have read 2 others so far and really enjoyed them! Beauty Like Night is my second favorite, I enjoy it thoroughly but I like the plot in Spymaster's Lady better. Plus, I gotta say "Querida" is like, a top 10 endearment of all time. The other one I've read by her is "The Forbidden Rose" which I also enjoyed. It was worth the read, well written and fun, I just liked the others better. I'll continue to make my way through the series in whatever order suits my fancy.
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke (4*s) - Okay, not going to lie the likelihood of me checking this out without the challenge is low, but it's not zero. Had I done so, and happened to read this instead of "The Spymaster's Lady" this would have also launched the experiment. Hells Bells. It's obviously very different, but it did remind me of Pride and Prejudice, and it's based on the Taming of the Shrew which is the Shakespeare play that haunts me the most lol. (Plus I do love 10 Things I Hate About You, so I guess It figures that I would enjoy this) I adored Cassandra as a character, and I actually adored Lucien as well. This is one of the rare ones where the plot *is* the romance (revolves around it) that I actually genuinely love. The characterization of the leads and the development of the romance was believable and I was rooting for them both, together and separately. Loretta Chase is a good writer, I've read others of hers but this is my favorite bar none. It is part of a series too but I'm not interested in the others, and it works well as a standalone, I'm very satisfied.
Rebecca (5*s) - This is one I would have read naturally, and funnily enough the romance is pretty much a non-factor for me for this. It's a fantastic book and the romance between Maxim and the Narrator is a key part of the book, but not what makes it so good. The prose is so atmospheric, vivid and evocative. What a stunning book, extremely interesting and well realized. It's slow paced and twisty in such an intelligent way and very thought provoking. It's a slow cooker of a book, an a unique read. I love books like this, I'll think about it a long time.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (5*s) - This is another one I would have read naturally, I'd been wanting to read it a long time before this and got around to it this year. The romance is a factor in what makes it good, but it's not as absolutely amazing as it is because of the romance. The romance itself I really enjoyed, I found it very well written and I was rooting for Helen (especially) and Gilbert (I do love him as a character but dang, he really is the orchestrator of his own torments) Anne's writing, the plot, prose, characterization and specifically Helen Graham herself make the book fabulously good. It's a Romance because Helen fell in love with Gilbert and vice versa, not because Anne set out to write a story where the two leads fall in love. It's Helen's story, and her romance with Gilbert is a part of that. (An important part, it is a Romance for sure)
Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites - Fluff and Fangs Edition (5*s) - Yeah I had this on hold at the QLL for like 8 months before I finally got my grubby mitts on it. Intended to read this way before the experiment started. Fortuitously available during the experiment, lucky me!
Joy Demorra has such a way with words. I really appreciate this book. I personally read the fluff and fangs edition, but I've decided to read the other edition too. (Eventually) The pacing is slow, but in a good way. Things are very carefully interwoven and it's quite subtle, the romance takes a bit of the center stage but in the background details and parts of the plot uncoil, and they're quite skillfully related.
It's very intelligently written, and though I read the fluff and fangs edition it's hot. The characters are believable and loveable, and I love the fun little literary nods. This book isn't my typical fare, and it's not really in line with my typical 5 star ratings. But genuinely this story has earned it's rating for me. Intelligent, fun, interesting and hot.
*Deep Sigh* I think this is the one with the most embarrassing cover (if I cared lol) It's also an anthology. There's two in here, and only one that's worthwhile. Listen. Listen. We *gestures conspiratorially at you* do not care one WHIT about the second one by Cynthia Eden. Can't even remember what it was called and anyway I dnfed it. No, the real gem here is "Miss Congeniality" by Shelly Laurenston. This novella was an insane experience for me because of the main character. Irene Conridge is a 5* character for sure- I love her, but the reason my experience with this novella was so wild is because Irene is basically just me as a character in an erotica. There are some key differences IE Irene is not ace/aro but hells bells. Her thought processes, her personality, they're so very akin to my own. A glimpse into another me, and a very interesting experience. BONUS The novella itself was great. It was hilarious and I really liked the dynamic between the leads. The way they snark at each other was top tier. The plot was super fun and I actually liked Van (the male lead) a lot too! There's some iffyness almost by default because it was written in 2008 but it's just genuinely good in spite of it and the iffyness is like not a big deal anyway.
And now, we get to notable authors who are my most read for this.
Melanie Cellier - I tore through her fairytale retellings in December 2025, and she became my second most read author for 2025? XD They're interconnected YA Fantasy Romances and they're really quite fun. Her twists on the fairytales are neat and the characters are likeable! I also liked the worldbuilding and how things are interconnected. They are not groundbreaking by any means and they are somewhat formulaic but I found them thoroughly entertaining. I reread my favorites in 2026.
The Desert Princess (3.75*s)
The Abandoned Princess (3.75*s)
Illona Andrews - They're a very prolific writing team, and as of now they are my most read author of 2026. (I suspect Barbara Michaels will overtake them soon, however. In fact I'm certain.) They write very well, overall, but their books have been hit or miss. The first thing of theirs I ever read was Magic Steals, a novella in an anthology called "Night Shift" and I really liked it! From there I read more of their novellas and started on their various series. They have a real talent for fun worlds and story concepts.
Kate Daniels - (Up to Magic Strikes) A very fun series, well executed and thought out worldbuilding! Most of the characters are lovely and I really liked the mysteries in each book. Why haven't you read the rest you ask? Well. The issue is Curran, and Magic Strikes is pretty much when Kate and Curran get together at the end, so for the rest of the series I'd have to deal with that. While there are some aspects of his character that are truly interesting, and he has good points- But Hell's Bells, he's one Bossy S.O.B, and acts like Kate has no choice in the matter re: getting together with him. Kate very distinctly has her issues as well as a character and has been quite awful to Curran (though provoked tbh) but that whole "You'll come crawling to me and love it. You in my bed is inevitable." thing Curran has towards Kate annoys me. Unfortunate, as this is kinda their default romantic dynamic that they write. It works better in some of their works than others.
Hidden Legacy # 1-2 (1.75*s): Ugh :/ It's really annoying when the mc creams every time their object of affection is "on screen" and it has that dynamic I was talking about, but even worse than in Kate Daniels. Some aspects were great but dang.
The Edge Series (1-2): The first book was nothing special, but it wasn't bad. Now, Bayou Moon (3.75 *s) , which is number 2 in the series is the standout here. It's my second favorite book of theirs. I loved the setting and worldbuilding, and I liked how the plot was multilayered in between a family feud and a villain pulling strings. It was fun and enjoyable. I kinda wish they had stayed in the Mire bc it's such an interesting setting. Not interested in the rest as of now.
The Inkeeper Chronicles - Thoughful worldbuilding and fun plots, with enjoyable characters. Decent overall but not super notable. Only being talked about bc I'm discussing Illona Andrews works. Only read the first 2 also. Don't feel like reading the rest yet.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (4.5*s) - this is their best book (that I've read). Extremely fun and well thought out. I love the worldbuilding and the magic system and the characters and especially the plot. *Deep sigh* It does have that "You'll come to me eventually dynamic between Maggie and Everard BUT. I didn't mind it as much, and felt the romance to be well written- SO FAR and thus the dynamic was more understandable, and it was more "We'll be together eventually I swear it and you know it." and not "You'll come crawling to my bed and love it". There was a lot of work put into every aspect of this story and it shows.
Mimi Matthews - Well Researched! I love the historical notes at the end of her books. Standouts for me are The Siren of Sussex and the Belle of Belgrave Square, both of which were entertaining and lovely reads. Planning to read more of her work.
Stephanie Laurens - Her book "A Secret Love" was one of the ones I found in a little free library that I decided to keep! Her writing style is very vivid and she executes her plots and dynamics well, at least based on the one book of hers I've read and the one I'm reading literally right now.
Barbara Michaels (AKA Elizabeth Peters) Real Name Barbara Mertz. One of my FAVORITE Authors. Perhaps THE gothic romance author for me. Also wrote some of my favorite Mysteries. The writing is witty, the plots are intelligent and well researched, and every time I read a book of hers I learn something new! That's extremely valuable to me. Her books are FUN! Romance wise some are better than others but I haven't encountered a romance she's written that I actively dislike. Which is very impressive because I am not naturally inclined to like romances. I am naturally inclined to be ambivalent or resigned to them and it's more common for me to dislike them than like them, to be completely honest. Here the focuses are on her gothic romances, of which my favorites so far are (in no particular order):
Vanish with the Rose (4*s) - Having read Vanish with the Rose, I was learning a lot about old rose varieties and poetry dealing with roses. The plot is fun and intriguing, and the characters are well done. It's genuinely melancholy and sad at times but it's balanced well with wit and heart.
Black Rainbow (4*s) - Wrote about this in a post along with Patriot's Dream and Shattered Silk, so I'll put that here as well: This was very tense and atmospheric as well as slow and steadily/well paced. Reading it was a great experience. Megan herself is not very interesting but she's a very good foil for Jane, who is the Best character in the book. Barbara Michaels did very well ratcheting up the tension the whole way through. It's an interesting gothic novel where it's not necessarily the setting but the personal dynamics between characters that make it so. Of course those are key to any gothic but the setting was illustrated by the dynamics. In some gothic novels the dynamics are illustrated by the setting.
Houses of Stone (4*s) - This one was lovely and extremely well written. It resonated with me, the feminist perspective throughout, regarding female authors, their erasure/discredit, and railing against it, illustrating the injustice and stupidity of it. And, it was a great fun plot.
The Sea King's Daughter (4*s) - Wrote about this in my May Reads post, so I'll copy that here: WILD PLOT. I loved it, though the plot is truly out there. (But it's fun!) The plot is also a bit predictable in some ways if you pay attention (it's rewarding not predictable in an unsatisfying way) Also I love the ocean! As always the intellectual thread throughout the book was thoroughly enjoyable.
It's time for the other side of the coin, the books I encountered during this challenge/experiment that genuinely had me questioning why I was subjecting myself to this drivel. (That I didn't include while talking about an Author's work) I could just quit - But quitting would be pathetic; I can handle some bad books. Sometimes they're even fun. They're also important to this experiment/challenge so as to compare with the good ones and elucidate the things that make them good, bad, or in the middle.
Angel's Blood (1.75*s) - Look. If in your romance the main girl shoots the love interest and he almost dies, and my reaction is "You should have shot him again to finish him off." Mayhaps you are failing to write a good romance. ALSO it's not fun to read when angels are written in a certain way, and they definitely are here. "Awe inspiring power. Perfection incarnate. Blah blah blah so beautiful so handsome so flawless ect ect ect divine and better than everything else"Boring. Annoying. Fun to tear apart.
Road of Bones (2*s) - I wish the setting and world were more developed or thought out. Serilla is not an interesting character, she's extremely one note. It's also strange that despite traveling her entire life, and on the run her entire life she kinda sucked at it. Why do any of these people like her, other than that she's the MC and they need to like her for the plot? I love journey narratives but the pacing was honestly pretty bad and it lacked tension. Did not care about the romances at all tbh, either option. Could tell where things were going a mile away with one of them. Storywise I felt it was unnecessary just to set up the other one tbh. Oh you need her to end up with the other guy? Here we'll make this one awful. (I do think the why was believable but it was very rushed and honestly poorly executed, so it was really just stupid and had no impact.) That was the main issue with the story, most of it was purposeless and because of that it's not worth reading. There's like 4 times the MC is dramatically revealed to be a liar! The balance between the romance and the journey was bad and because of it each one suffered, though mainly it was the journey plot which is a huge problem. The focus on the romance (which was poorly written on both ends) was detrimental to the main non romance plot and with that suffering it in turn undercut the romance, and it's a vicious circle. What a disappointment.
A Week to Be Wicked (1*) - has the dubious distinction of being the only book I've read for this to invoke my anger. Here are my thoughts from when I wrote about it in my January Reads post - The main character who is a geologist puts her research and stuff on hold to marry the love interest. And sheās satisfied with that. Itās supposedly a happy ending! What The actual fuck. I know that her achievements and work being dismissed because sheās a woman is accurate to the time, and it makes sense that she would not be admitted into the geology conference because of the time period. However, I do not like the fact that she just accepts that. Fuck that. What the author should have done is have her achieve her goal of sharing her work as well as getting her romantic happy ending. It didnāt have to be through the conference obviously but somehow. So itās not just her essentially putting her work on hold to marry somebody. God-what the fuck was the author thinking? She tries to assuage the wound by having it be she's only temporarily giving up. She'll get back to it, but right now it's important for her to focus on her married life and romance. But it made me seethe even more instead of smoothing things over. The worst part is that I liked it! I liked it until the ending! It had it's issues but I was having fun! *deep sigh* I could see why they loved each other, and her intelligence and passion for her work was a reason he ended up loving her and her doing that eats at the foundation of the romance. (She liked him because he's a softie at heart and fun- as well as pretty open-minded considering the time period) But He's happy she's putting her dreams on hold for him when those were a reason he loved her? Blech
Nocticadia (1.75*s) - No emotional buildup. Frustrated instalust and then fucking. Used the fact the mc forgot/lost her phone like 4 times as a plot device. Eyeroll The prose is rote, and the characters are poorly developed. The pacing and plot are so stretched out and it's full of filler. It's funny tho. Wish the parasitology aspect was more important and fleshed out.
Anathema (2*s) - Much the same issues as Nocticadia just in a fantasy dark romance instead of a contemporary one. It's not slowburn if they're into each other IMMEDIATELY and just don't end up fucking until the end. Emotional development/attraction? What's that? I did like it better than Nocticadia but not by much.
A Dawn of Onyx (2.5*s) - There is nothing notably good about this book to be completely honest, but there's nothing bad enough that I felt anything negative about it either.Ā It's just generic and bland. If I had to regret reading a book for this challenge, it would be this one. There was nothing for me, I got absolutely zilch from reading it. There was something for me in reading the others even if I despised them.
Morbidly Yours (DNF) - Didn't get past the first chapter because I could not get over my annoyance with the main character. She refuses a ride she desperately needs because it has a coffin in it. That's so stupid- not even an occupied coffin! She just makes baffling decisions and she's written as stereotypically positive and optimistic, but with no brains. Sunshine characters are not inherently stupid, being an optimist and having a positive outlook on life and being bubbly doesn't mean one is stupid, so why do so many authors write these characters dumber than a box of rocks? She doesn't realize Callum is a mortician, she thinks the mortuary is a hotel, ec ect bc apparently her synapses are permanently misfiring.
Soul of a Witch (3*s) - the most disappointing read of the whole thing so far. Has some genuinely well done aspects and there's femdom. (My favorite) However, the author tells us things, doesn't show them. The characters aren't super well developed and thus unfortunately the dynamic between them isn't believable. There are genuinely fun scenes that work well on their own, but when you take the characterization into consideration they aren't believable. I can tell what the author was going for, all the elements were there but it just didn't stick the execution and landing. There was so much smut to the detriment of the plot. By all means, have as much smut as you want but give the plot the same consideration or at least integrate it into the plot itself! The pacing was off and there really wasn't any tension. I hated the pregnancy part of this book. On one hand, it's just not my cup of tea literally at all but that wouldn't mean it's bad. On the other, everything becomes about the pregnancy. Everly can't want to live for herself - she wants to live solely for her child. Why can't she want to live for herself equally as much as the child? Why does her being pregnant have to be the deciding factor? Can't it be just one factor? Some of the erotic scenes were fun and interesting. Some weren't. And like I've said before it's not like erotica actually does anything for me, sexually, it's just some dynamics are better and more fun to read about.
Splendor (2*s) - The main character cannot tell when she's being fucked with and it's very frustrating. That marred it even though it has a very interesting premise and is well written, prose wise. There's a line between naive and stupid which the fmc unfortunately uses as a jump rope. Why would the ml like her when she constantly invaded his privacy as well as being so naive? Why would she like him when he toys with her maliciously?
This is ultimately a study in personal taste. Objectively though, I think the most important factor as to whether a Romance is good or not (other than plot, which is the most important aspect in any book, even character driven ones as the plot is what shows your characters to advantage and drives their development) are the reasons the characters have to be interested in each other and ultimately fall in love. If those aren't in evidence and understandable you can have all the well done character development you want but you're S.O.L. The romance will be bad if there's no reason they love each other or if the reasons they love each other don't work.
"Why do they love each other?" You *must* answer this question. In my experience very few romance novels answer it satisfactorily, let alone well. In all of the books I struggled with either the reasons the characters loved each other didn't exist, weren't believable or were eroded throughout the book.
There are other factors that I think are particularly important to a good romance but they aren't the factors that everything rests on, the keystone of the romance itself. Those factors would be the characters/character development, the pacing, the execution of the writing (showing not telling) and the prose itself. All of these can make or break the romance (and story) and feed into each other. But the reasons the characters love each other are the only factor that can kinda salvage it if some of these other factors are less well done for a Romance.
Believable characters and well done character development go a long way in making a romance work. This is entwined with the reasons the characters love each other, which can be a driving factor of the character development and make the characters more realistic and believable. However, they must be well characterized outside of the romance, with character traits and goals unrelated to the romance and the personal agency to act both within the romance or not.
Getting the pacing right for your story is key for character development, feeding into the romance. Very frustrating if not done well. Depending on the pacing issue characters who you don't intend to be the following ways can either become impulsive idiots or wishy-washy and pathetic. Or the answers to the main question for a romance are severely undercut by having things happen when they shouldn't/having nothing happen when something should. Slow, fast, and medium pacing can all really suit a romance.
The execution of the writing and the prose itself I feel are evident. Show us why they love each other. You have these reasons? Prove it, don't just say they love each other because -. We need to believe, and having immersive prose will contribute to that.
In all of my favorite romances these things are done extremely well. The plots, reasons for the characters to love each other, the characters themselves, the writing all come together to make these books into something really special! Something that makes this entire endeavor enriching and genuinely fun! I'm eager to continue in the hope I'll find more like my favorites from before and during. I do think I'm actually proving the null hypothesis though because out of 111 so far only a scant few have genuinely impressed me. (That sounds so snobby I'm sorry but it's true) Honestly they seem just as rare as I thought so far, but the experiment continues!!
What's up next for me in my Year of Romance? Here's what I have on Libby currently.
XD alright so I have been really busy with just life. And I had been intending to write more for Love and Deepspace but I quit the game the day Valko was cancelled because the company lost their creative integrity. I won't delete the imagines I wrote but also I'm definitely not writing for this game anymore. No idea what I'll do with this blog but I'll figure something out.
I was bored at work, and thus attempted to compose a response to the opening line of Christopher Marlowe's poem The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
"Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove,"
The first line is all single syllable words, and it's 8 syllables in total, as is the second line. However, the second to last word is the only one that has 2 syllables.
I wanted to compose a response that was sort of the flip side of the coin. I'm not skilled enough to match the specific syllable structure and still convey what I wanted but I do like what I ended up with! I also wanted to use the same/similar language and structure as it is supposed to be a response. What I came up with has 8 syllables for each line and instead of the first line only having 1 syllable words both have the structure of the second line. It's better to see it together as it's a response.
I know this is controversial XD and I most definitely do not support censorship. It sucks, and thus we didn't get Rafayel unbuckling his belt. But I must confess I do like what we got better. It's more unique and fun, and adds something interesting to the scene. Forgive me, but him unbuckling his belt would be generic. It's cool and all but I really do like tearing the bracelet off better. Bonus, it's like he's throwing "shackles" away and is free to pursue his pleasure with us.
Again, I do not think censorship is good and it sucks that they were forced to change it. HOWEVER what they changed it to is absolutely great. Just as good and frankly better imo XD
Now, the Love Interests are all extremely powerful in their own way, but if I really have to choose who the most powerful are that would be Rafayel and Zayne. Rafayel can create living things out of his fire lol (we saw this during that gardening event) along with anything he can do because of his being the God of the Sea (such as control the weather) and siren abilities like what he used to kill Raymond.
And Zayne, being the Master of Fate and God of Annihilation was able to bind MC and his fate together, permanently, and in every dimension. More recently, being able to freeze a part of the ocean waves as they're currently crashing is no joke, along with the ability to make anything he wants out of ice. Plus there's what we've seen with Dawnbreaker and his time as a combat medic.
Xavier, Caleb and Sylus are also extremely powerful of course, and MC is the most powerful canonically. I'd go so far as to say since the timelines/stories are split, they're the most powerful in their timeline, making them all pretty equal in power. This is just an analysis as to why I think Rafayel and Zayne are the most powerful in the contrived situation of them all fighting lol
I have a headcanon that when Rafayel cries happy tears, the pearls that form are all different colors, and when his tears are sad they're all white. Which is fitting since white is a color of mourning in Chinese culture.
I'm not going to lie, I think this is a poor translation. As it stands this is a bad riddle (In English), but I'm sure it's not in Mandarin.
The answer is time, and the riddle isn't really applicable to it. Time doesn't "exist at every moment" it *is* every moment. You can leave time by dying lol though your remains remain in time. Additionally, I do think you can explain time.
This riddle also contradicts itself by saying "you can see me" and then "you can't see me" when it's more about being able to see the signs of time.
So I think the translation team made a mistake with this. Which is totally okay! I'm grateful for all the work they do and sometimes things happen. But here's my attempt at a better riddle:
"I have no form, but am constant. Although you can see signs of me, I cannot be touched. You are always affected by me, yet I cannot be seen. Although you understand me, I'm inexplicable. What am I?"
(I do think you can explain time though but you know.)
This is of course just for fun! Additionally it is based on the English translation of the original Mandarin. It is not akin to the original Mandarin and I would never try to do that since I don't understand Mandarin. This is me trying to make the English version of the riddle better and more applicable to it's answer, it doesn't have really that much to do with the original at all :)
I dislike a lot of Non!MC reader fics because they mischaracterize MC so badly. They make her so catty and bitchy, when she's not like that at all. It's very misogynistic tbh. I personally haven't seen any non!mc fics where she's characterized well and accurately. I know they exist! And I think the idea of a non!MC reader is completely fine and good.
A/N: Personally the thought of spending someone else's money is so distasteful to me, I really hate the thought of it. My idea of Luxury and Decadence is the same as MC in this fic, so I wondered how the LI's would deal with that. Regarding Caleb his money, and a pragmatic, independent MC who likes saving money, and who considers luxuries to be things like āgetting the name brand groceries.ā This is more like musings than a full fic, but I hope you enjoy!
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Caleb himself, growing alongside you, has the same idea of luxury. Things like getting the pricier groceries at the grocery store, buying clothes at the mall instead of a thrift store, being able to fill up the gas tank, handmade gifts ā thatās luxury to him. So, when he actually has money he doesnāt quite know what to do with it except for those things. Heās nothing if not pragmatic and he funnels money into investments, and a high yield savings account. His paycheck is split between his expenses, his investments, his savings, and of course, the āwhateverā money, used for whatever he wants/needs at the moment. You manage your money in a similar way, and easily maintain your lifestyle. In a way, he views his earnings as a matter of course, something mandatory for him to achieve. He doesnāt quite know what to do with it, but of course heād take care of you with it, and of course heād do whatās needed to earn enough money for both of you to be comfortable, and, if it came to it, for you to be comfortable alone.
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That new money? A portion of it, Caleb spends on his residence. Now, he doesnāt go overboard and add things just to add them, and his house isnāt ostentatious or tacky in any way. Itās comfortable and has whatever necessary. He wants it to be comfortable for you, so heāll add features and rooms youāll like in addition to what he wants. For instance hereās a small workshop with a display case for his models, a room dedicated to your hobbies. The kitchen is state of the art and the bathroom is spacious and modern. The beds have comfortable, high quality mattresses and bedding. Thereās a place to store your weapons and a place to train and exercise. Thereās a thorough, effective security system to protect the residents ā I.E, you. Though, to be honest any idiot who managed to break into the place would be met with an irate hunter and furious farspace colonel. His residence perfectly reflects the regard he has for you, itās a perfect encapsulation of both of your requirements in a home.
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Calebās gifts for you are split into different categories, and all of his gifts fit one or more of these. First and foremost, heāll gauge what you need, and then buy you a gift that fulfills that need, and that he thinks youāll like. Second, if you donāt need anything, then he gets you something he knows you want. Caleb is very attentive, and takes note of whatever catches your fancy. Third is the āimpulsiveā gifts. The gifts he gets for you for no reason, other than that he saw them and thought of you. Theyāre not things you need, or things you know you want, but instead these are things that Caleb thinks youāll like. And given how well he knows you, heās always on the money.
Any gifts you give him are taken care of meticulously, and if he can he keeps it with him as much as possible. (As evidenced by the necklace) He really loves it when you give him gifts, because although he knows for sure that you care about him as much as he cares about you, having a physical reminder helps ground him. You make him feel safe and stable, which is something he sorely needs and greatly appreciates.
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Caleb wants to take care of you and cherish you, and the way he goes about it is almostā¦ automatic and sometimes really quite subtle. In general, anytime he invites you anywhere he pays, be it food, tickets, souvenirs, ect. If he invited you, you arenāt paying, no matter what you say. If you invited him, he offers to pay but abides by your decision. The more subtle ways go a little like this:
āHey, Pip-squeak may I please borrow your car to go get groceries for our dinner?ā The answer is yes of course, and lo and behold ā the car returns full up on gas, and your refrigerator is fully stocked for the next two weeks.
āOh, Pip-squeak I noticed that your washer machine was on the fritz, so I figured Iād call for repairs, is that alright?ā If you say something along the lines of āOh, yeah I was meaning to do that.ā or anything affirmative ā even āAh, Iām waiting until I can afford itā, heāll set up the repair appointment for a time heāll be at your place and pay for it. Heāll accept repayment from you if you insist upon it, but that money is going into a savings account specifically for you. Very often, whenever he notices something wrong, heāll enact repairs for you himself. If he knows enough about how to repair whatever needs it, heāll take care of it. Caleb is a smart man, after all. That also means that he knows when to leave it to the professionals. You repair things yourself of course, when needed, but those times less frequent now.
Ask to help him, heāll be so happy. He get to spend time with you, while helping you out? He couldnāt be happier. Even if you donāt help, and just sit and keep him company, heāll be happy as a clam, as often he doesnāt need help, though itās always appreciated.
Very often, heāll pay for something and youāll intend to pay him back, but heāll never mention the matter and distract you from remembering to pay him back.
Written on a note attached to a package holding new, top of the line hunterās equipment: āPip-squeak - Stay Safe out there! Your equipment is nearing the end of itās safe use window, so I got a new set for you. Think of it as an early birthday gift ;)ā In the package is the new, state of the art hunters equipment perfectly tailored to you.
In short, he really just beats you to it. If you want to pay for yourself you gotta be quick on the draw! Heāll let you, but he tries to not even give you the opportunity. But, heās never angry when you pay, and if you pay for him he loves it. Being taken care of, most especially by you, is something he lives for. The reciprocal care between you two is his most treasured relationship.
Moths to Flame (Rafayel x Artist!Reader Headcanons)
I am an artist (drawing), so I wanted to explore this scenario! Personally, as an artist Iād be a bit nervous for Rafayel to know about my art, but I believe heād support our creative endeavors wholeheartedly. In this scenario, MC is someone who does traditional illustrations and paintings, and is an extremely good artist but is somewhat insecure when it comes to Rafayel knowing about their art. [Alt title: Mothlight] XD Basically art is the light and Rafayel and MC are the moths. Artists will always create! Fun fact, the art I mention is something I'm planning to draw!
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You take great care to keep your skill and art private. You only post your art on SNS, never your face or voice. You donāt even post process videos showing your hands.
You have quite the following, and the mystery surrounding you contributes to that growth. People find your art fascinating and dynamic. Itās so varied. Some pieces are deep, layered and complex, and others are silly. They can be fun or serious. Frankly, as an artist you have the range!
Because of your job as a hunter, you donāt need to take commissions, so you donāt. It also gives you the knowledge to depict wanderers with uncanny accuracy, and youād best believe some people have noticed, leading to rampant speculation.
Of course you knew Rafayelās work. Heās one of your biggest inspirations, someone whoās work you admired and loved. Rafayelās work encouraged your own creativity.
Rafayel loves seeing all different art from everywhere by anyone. Creativity is inspirational and anyone can create!.
Anyone includes you. Little did you know, Rafayel loved your work too. He found it unique and interesting. Your use of motion, and color, the line weight, the composition, all the elements in your art mesmerized him because it was so different from his art. But he didnāt know it was your art, you just happened to be an unknown artist he came across and really admired.
The piece that caught his attention was a charcoal illustration of an artist drawing a statue in a studio with a sea view. Her body was angled away from the camera, her face in profile, the piece on her canvas half finished as she caressed the pristine face of the white marble statue, her hand covered in charcoal smudges. The sea outside was choppy, but the weather wasnāt stormy just windy.
Rafayel followed you immediately from his private, anonymous account.
When you met him, you were chill and calm, admiring his work but keeping it to yourself as you were on the job. Besides, he didnāt seem like the type to want to listen to what others said about his work, unless he cared about their opinion or found what they were saying to be with merit. But you just met him, so your opinion wouldn't be important to him, and you honestly didnāt feel qualified enough to comment, so you said nothing, even as you stated working as his bodyguard. It wasnāt a secret, per se as you never resolved to keep it from him but you also just never actually told him.
Artists ask those close to them about their work, and want their input. Itās one fun and good way for them to include those they care about in their work. Rafayel is no different. It is through those questions that Rafayel discovers your artistās eye. Everyone has one, but it needs to be used and honed, and Rafayel could tell yours had been honed.
āWhich color should I use?ā He eagerly awaits your answer. āHmm, I would choose that one. Itāll add some interesting contrast to the piece and I love how vibrant it is. But, if you think the other one is better, use that one. Youāre the professional after all.ā Rafayel smiles, and dips his paintbrush into the color you chose. āAs a professional, I agree with your assessment, cutie. Perhaps you should paint these pieces instead~ā You giggle at this, jokingly protesting. āNo Way! One, I love your art and I know you love your art too. Two, Thomas would have a cow.ā
āWhat do you think?ā Rafayel presents a page of his sketchbook, the art messy and unpolished, but exquisite nonetheless. āItās interesting! The composition is very dynamic and clever. Using it to direct the eye and misdirect the viewer from the depths youāve painted to the surface adds a lot to the piece.ā He asks you questions like this frequently.
In those times you draw together, he can tell you have skill. He can also tell youāre a little insecure from your reluctance to draw with him. It makes sense, he supposes, for someone whoās not necessarily an artist, or even someone who was an artist, to be intimidated to draw with him, but he doesnāt care about your skill level. He wants to do something he loves, art, with someone he loves ā you. Heās reassuring and playful, and doesnāt pressure you.
During all of this, you keep posting your art online, and he keeps seeking it out. Things start to pile up. Every artist has their own style, and heās noticing that elements of yours...and elements of one of his favorite artists were matching up.
Line weight, color, motion, technique, all were similar. But in order to know for sure, heād have to see more art he knew was yours. So far, he just had small sketches and art from when you did art together. Or, of course, if his favorite online artist posted art he knew was yours for sure.
He wants you to feel secure and safe enough with him to share your art or other things with him, so he doesnāt voice his suspicions, especially since they arenāt confirmed. But heās curious, and does want to confirm. Who wouldn't, in this situation?
Rafayel is devious, crafty. Most of all, heās patient. If it turns out heās wrong, no issue. It just means heāll be able to introduce you to this hobby he loves, sharing it with you at the start, an ideal situation. If heās right, heās thrilled. His favorite person is one of his favorite artists? Heāll be one of the only ones to know who they are? Another ideal situation honestly. Your creative process, the thought behind your work, heās so fascinated.
He gifts you a sketchbook - high quality paper, a design tailored to you, hand-bound and the perfect size to fit in your bag of choice. Then, he waits. He knows that often you post your new sketchbooks when you get them, along with the first page. Itās a little tradition! Though you might not post some of them, if you posted this one, heād know. Itās the only one of itās kind in the world, after all.
Coincidentally, you were finishing your previous sketchbook, so his timing was impeccable, giving a new sketchbook to you right as you needed one.
Rafayel is in for a lovely shock, because not only do you post the sketchbook, the first few pieces in it are sketches of him. Theyāre referenced from photos, because youāve never sketched him (or anything for that matter), around him unless you were working together.
This man is Elated. He loves your art. He loves you.
But of course, he never pressures you and waits until you share on your own.
āCutie, should I buy up all your work so only I have it?ā He laughs. āNo, I know you want to share your work with the world, so I wonāt do that. But I demand that you let me see everything you want to share first!ā
Before, he was watching your art from afar. He might have asked to collaborate/mentioned/featured your art but you seemed like you wanted to be left alone to do your own thing, and he respected that. Him mentioning you would have put you under increased scrutiny, and, if he was being quite honest he wanted to keep his inspirations secret, of which you were/are one.
Now, though, he wants to collaborate, officially. If you think that youāre not at his level, that youāre work isnāt good enough to be intertwined with his, he disavows you of that notion, thoroughly but gently.
āOh please. Iāve wanted to collaborate with you since before I knew it was you. Besides, you know me. Do you really think Iād work with someone whoās art I didnāt love?ā So, you start doing collaborations and the art world flips out.
Eventually, you entrust Thomas with the secret, and he proposes your own exhibit. Thomas firmly believes your art is worthy of it, irregardless of your connection to Rafayel. Heās a professional, and, like Rafayel, he only works with artists whoās work he loves.
To be fully transparent, heād been considering trying to reach out to you before he found out and propose an exhibit anyway, so this is great! Especially since your work is so unique.
Rafayel guards the secret of your identity jealously. If you donāt want anyone to know, no one will.
Any art you give him gets a place of honor somewhere in his house.
The two of you often ātalk shopā and go over aspects of your works in progress, giving feedback, critique, and love/appreciation and encouragement.
Youāll go on outings to sketch together. Itās so interesting to see the different things each of you has noticed and focused on about whatever place or things you were sketching!
Whenever either of you gets too absorbed in your work, the other will make sure you eat, drink and rest.
Once/if you gave him permission, one of his favorite things to do would be to flip through your sketchbooks, just looking at your art, committing it to memory.
Art, for you is a shared expression of your creativity, love, and passions, no matter the subject or feeling. He values your input and contributions, recognizes your skill and most of all, loves you as a person and your art, and you do the same for him. Both you and Rafayel inspire and learn from each other.
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P.S: I do plan to do the rest of the money concept, I just had to take a detour lol. I'll also maybe do a part 2 of this? But also will do the other LIs eventually with this as well. ^J^
