Niko is Creative

Chill imagery and writings about the horrors of the world in fiction format. Consider this a dump page for my photography, writing drafts, and poetry. Pen Name: {coming soon}

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What I've read so far in 2025

And what I am currently reading.

I Was a Teenage Slasher, Stephen Graham Jones

The Talker, Alma Katsu

Blood over Bright Haven, M.L. Wang (100% Recommend)

Howard's End, E.M. Forster

Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackery

Beowulf, Seamus Heaney

Four Ruined Realms, Mai Corland

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Anon

Graveyard Shift, M.L. Rio

The Familiar, Leigh Bardugo

Teller of Small Fortunes, Julie Leong

Between Two Fires, Christopher Buehlman

The Witches of El Paso, Luis Jaramillo (DNF'd at 50%)

This Gilded Abyss, Rebecca Thorne

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, Rebecca Thorn (Reread)

Melody of Mana pt 1, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 2, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 3, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 4, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 5, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 6, Wandering Agent

The Dark Becomes Her, Judy I. Lin

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, Shannon Chakraborty

Piranesi, Susanna Clarke

Arrows of the Queen, Mercedes Lackey

Arrows' Flight, Mercedes Lackey

Cuckoo, Gretchen Filker-Martin

Heavenly Tyrant, Xiran Jay Zhao

Angel of Indian Lake, Stephen Graham Jones

The Only Good Indians, Stephen Graham Jones

A Small Place, Jamaica Kincaid

Ceremony, Leslie Marmon Silko

A Venom Dark and Sweet, Judy I. Lin (Currently Reading)

The Outsider, Stephen King (Currently Listening on Libby)

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I posted it to the wrong blog. ;3;

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35. Shadow & Bone. Leigh Bardugo 36. Cujo, Stephen King 37. A Deadly Education, Naomi Naovik 38. The Last Hour Between Worlds, Melissa Caruso 39. Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman 40. Carl's Doomsday Plan, Matt Dinniman 41. Strange Houses, Uketsu 42. Our Wives Under the Sea, Julia Armfield 43. Dungeon Anarchists' Cookbook, Matt Dinniman (currently listening) 44. Strange Pictuers, Uketsu Updates to the list! Pretty sure I might have forgot a few, but so far this is where we are.

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“We all know what’s caused us to be here.”

- Ken Casey, Dropkick Murphys

Sauce:

Dropkick Murphys and Veterans Rally Against Trump for "Disrespecting the Vets". Bishop, William Mac. Rolling Stone. 7 June 2025.

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"Rituals"

Mask on. Shoes off.

Road at my back. Path to my front.

It’s well-traveled. Grass scarred with dirt. There’re a few footprints even. Others have walked this way.

I breathe deep. My heart thumps.

As Orpheus before me, I walk onwards.

Wide footpath narrows. The trees are crowding in. Each scale of lichen counted, They are so close.

They whisper. I mean. The trees whisper to me.

Their trunks hollow, Filled with moss and rot.

Suffocating on spores, I think I might be tripping. This is real, my feet know every bit of rock and soil.

I break through, just in time.

The branches pull, My mask askew.

Before me is a hut, Most old and homely. It's roof of moss, Walls of aged wood.

She stands at the table. One hand outstretched.

"Tea?"

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What I've read so far in 2025

And what I am currently reading.

I Was a Teenage Slasher, Stephen Graham Jones

The Talker, Alma Katsu

Blood over Bright Haven, M.L. Wang (100% Recommend)

Howard's End, E.M. Forster

Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackery

Beowulf, Seamus Heaney

Four Ruined Realms, Mai Corland

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Anon

Graveyard Shift, M.L. Rio

The Familiar, Leigh Bardugo

Teller of Small Fortunes, Julie Leong

Between Two Fires, Christopher Buehlman

The Witches of El Paso, Luis Jaramillo (DNF'd at 50%)

This Gilded Abyss, Rebecca Thorne

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, Rebecca Thorn (Reread)

Melody of Mana pt 1, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 2, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 3, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 4, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 5, Wandering Agent

Melody of Mana pt 6, Wandering Agent

The Dark Becomes Her, Judy I. Lin

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, Shannon Chakraborty

Piranesi, Susanna Clarke

Arrows of the Queen, Mercedes Lackey

Arrows' Flight, Mercedes Lackey

Cuckoo, Gretchen Filker-Martin

Heavenly Tyrant, Xiran Jay Zhao

Angel of Indian Lake, Stephen Graham Jones

The Only Good Indians, Stephen Graham Jones

A Small Place, Jamaica Kincaid

Ceremony, Leslie Marmon Silko

A Venom Dark and Sweet, Judy I. Lin (Currently Reading)

The Outsider, Stephen King (Currently Listening on Libby)

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I posted it to the wrong blog. ;3;

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Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Medium: Listened to the Audiobook via Libby, Still plan to read the physical book for a close reading.

Recommend? Yes.

Grade: A

The journal approach to the prose is really insightful to the internal mechanations of Piranesi's (the titular characters) thought process while exploring this strange eldritch place known as "The House". As the entries progress, you become more aware - as the reader - just how surreal the location is through Piranesi's narration and how he reveres it as a divine entity unto itself. Due to the journal format, we the reader are discovering the mysteries of the story actively alongside him.

Where it suffers is when the Journal feels more like narrative than journal entries. We stop getting these exploratory reflections on the House, its wonders, and its nature to progress to more full narrative scenes that feel a touch to immaculate for a bias first person to be writing in a journal.

It essentially feels like Piranesi is writing the entry as things happen rather than after the fact given how beat-for-beat it is.

Thoughts Beyond the "Continue Reading" Link due to potential spoiler discussion.

This aspect is explained later when he starts opening up old journals with the original him's entries. These include massive sections narrating about other characters: - The Prophet, and the Other - through either what may be excerpts of other novels or Sorenson's (o.g. Piranesi) first hand accounts. It kind of takes me out of the journal writing aesthetic that felt strong at the start of the book.

That's the main negative I have with it. Maybe this will shift when I read the book - will update if it does.

After all, the book doesn't try to really challenge how real and not real the situation is. Instead it just is Real and is Happening, and when Piranesi returns he's just treated as a mentally disturbed person who needs therapy because no way can the real world believe such an occult space exists. So, "The House" is treated as some coping thing due to the trauma of being kidnapped and held captive for 5+ years by the Other by the real world side.

There's very much themes about how science and logic has bled the world of magic, and how there is a line between those who no longer seek it, those who do, and the ones who genuinely can connect to it. There may even be sub-themes of selfishness and power hunger versus respect of the old and ancient.

Essentially, summarized, the theme may as well be Modern Academia has masked and disrupted the Old World. Consider the way Western European Scholarship/Academia mutes non-European voices in their research (consider reading Orientalism by Said and Decolonizing Methodologies by Smith for more).

Outside of that I liked the nuance that the Other adds to the story by being Piranesi's foil. We get to see the ways he just can't connect with the magic he is so desperately trying to master, just like his mentor before (the Prophet). The Prophet, however, was able to naturally tap into the 'childlike state of wonder' that let him naturally transition to the House without using a ritual, which the Other has to use because he clearly lacks that. It can, later, be argued that Piranesi/Sorenson can also do this, but I don't recall if they made it clear if he had to use ritual or just thought.

I assume the ritual because he had to bring someone with him at one part.

Anyways, it's clear the Other's lack of respect for the House and seeing it as a tool, sets him up for failure against Piranesi and 16 later on. I do at least understand how his manipulation worked to try and keep Piranesi from trusting 16 thanks to the amnesia.

Too bad he didn't think of how well Sorenson journals!

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My Bookish Hot Take:

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods was done dirty by Social Media, and Book Reviewers not reading it closely enough. I also feel its a sign that "modern readers" aren't reading to understand the characters and setting, and more just for the entertainment value these days.

More Under "Keep Reading" for vague spoilers.

One thing I'll never forget is how often the female protagonist was called an idiot and stupid for the situation she ended up in, despite all the structural items in the narrative that would have informed the reader of the lengths of what went on to manipulate her into compliance. It just echoed a lot of people I've seen treat real women for falling for shitty men, and inevitably get abused, as stupid/foolish/idiotic/dumb for not "just running away" or "seeing the signs".

Just because you - the reader - could 'see it coming' doesn't mean the character can, and thus is stupid for it. Take a moment to re-read or at least find the clues that build the 'how' and 'why' that created the protagonists emotional vulnerabilities and see it from their position, not yours.

This is how reading builds empathy.

Was the book a perfect read? No.

It's a solid B at best because of repeatitive things, and the weird need to time skip disjointing the 'how' of Antony's manipulation and her falling for it. The latter being part of what I contribute to people likely missing some of the before and after time skip indicators for the abusive manipulation going on. That said, I just feel bad for how it got that label as a 'colonizer romance' and so many people ran with it and let it poison their reading from there on.

I think we - as readers, reviewers, and writers - need to not let ourselves be swept up by what someone posts on Twitter and take time to interpert the work for ourselves, individually, rather than join the crowd.

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"Bring Her kcaB"

I don't even know how to summarize this.

The brother's had me hooked since Talk to Me and I'm glad to have gone into this new movie from them on opening weekend. Their way of using sound, camera, and emotions to just string together effective horror is amazing. They also do an effective level of foreshadowing, or build up the story effectively through out the film's time putting it all together one brick at a time.

Recommend? Yes.

Letter Grade: A

Beyond the Line is Spoilers and more comments on my impressions.

There was some elements I wish were better hinted at. Like the missing kid, Connor. I understand that "Oliver" being weird was a "hint", but I went in assuming he was just another foster she had. Maybe I missed smething in the dialogue with Wendy?

In contrast, the hints at a ritual involving bringing someone back to life was made clear. We get a woman, watching weird films, with a blind dead daughter, who jumps at fostering a blind living girl. How that all culminates into the ending of the film is just chef's kiss. Though man, I feel so bad for Andy. It really feels like it did nothing to give his place proper closure - unless that's intentional to the deeper messaging.

I did like the subtle-messaging about how CPS (not sure about the Australian Equivalent) can fail placement of children by putting them into dangerous situations. As someone who once temporary lived with a foster-mother who was exploitative and abusive to her foster-children, I've seen such things first hand. It was so long ago and I was so young, I didn't even know what to do and my own family (staying with this woman, fresh off a divorce) were house-insecure at this point. So, I picked up this subtle-undertone there. Maybe it wasn't intentionally there, but it was seen.

Also the subtle hinting at the kreatin being laced only getting confirmed later. It was done very well between the scenes of him getting knocked out so hard over night, and how she dumped it all down the sink when she knew the counselor lady was coming in.

I'd say this is one of my favorite horrors of 2025 so far, next to Sinners and Companion. I forgot Heretic was 2024. This increase in horror this and last year has been awesome as a horror fan.

Also I don't know why, but I was crying at the end; just started from the pool scene onwards.

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Updoots

This summer break has been going pretty awesome.

I finished Piranesi (post soon).

Got through 1/3 of Queen's Own.

Finished Campana's "Truth Revealing Ritual" First Draft.

Almost finished with the "Help Calling Charm"'s First Draft. (about 1/3 ~ 1/2 done in terms of scenes)

My goal is to finish the entire first volume of Campana's story by end of summer break. It's a big goal, but I look forward to trying to reach it, even if its all just first drafts.

What is the plan for Campana's Cameras and Curiousities?

The first Volume of Work Will Include:

The Truth Revealing Ritual (Short Fiction, Draft is ~7,000 words)

Help Calling Charm (Short Fiction, at ~3,500 words so far)

Untitled : Ginerva's PoV (Flash Fiction)

Untitled Story (Novellette)

These drafts won't be posted here. It is likely the first three parts will be made available on my Ko-Fi for $1 donations (HoA has sprung surprise assessment fees on the entire community that are a loophole to the 10% yearly increase cap, #fuckthehoa). That addendum is key to this decision since I'm a 100% TPD veteran on fixed income while I am going to school for my second bachelors. Surprise costs have a high impact on me.

Not sure what else to throw up here.

That's mostly it for reading and writing goals. I might be doing a video essay on Readers, Empathy, and Social Media Showmanship (not the title, but some of the focus topics).

Thanks everyone! <3

Have a great day.

Niko

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Atalanta at the Dog Park.

I really should start taking her again.

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A while back, I got a weird book title idea in my head: "Single Ladies Guide to Summoning Eldritch Cats."

So I put it in as an easter egg in C(3)'s second short: "The Help Calling Charm" because I still haven't worked out a plot for it.

The paragraphs are as follows...

The idle silence let Adelaide take in the books once more. There was a collection specifically behind the counter that seemed different from those out in the shop itself. Each spine speaking to some topic about ghosts, spirits, and the realms of the dead. One such book title read: “The Crossways of Life and Death and Where to Find Them.” Weird. A few more spines were taken in. Some looked to be part of a series titled: “A Single Lady’s Guide.” One sporting a sticker advert on it that said: “A Timeless Aide for Women of Every Age.” By “Age” Adelaide assumed it meant time period not the chronological age of the single lady using them for some reason. She’d be concerned if there was a young girl summoning “Eldritch Cats” after all! It just didn’t seem proper at all for an elementary age child to commit to!

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"The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame." 

Oscar Wilde

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We Survived the Semester!

Well I survived this Spring 2025 semester, but if you are past your own or nearing the end: Congrats to you as well for surviving too!

This summer break is going to be filled with so much reading to catch up with my summer break. I've already picked up Queen's Own from Mercedes Lackey. That one is a long time coming.

Can you believe the Gryphon trilogy was my first Valdemar books? Then I never read any of the rest. Now, 20+ years later, I've picked up Queen's Own and began it. I'll also be going through the Iliad and the Odyssey as well. There's a lot more books too. Like the Priory of the Orange Tree, A Venom Dark and Sweet, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls and Buffalo Hunter Hunter and so many more.

If the reading of next semester is not as intense as it was this past semester, maybe I can continue working through my tbr.

In addition to that, I'll be working on even more writing. I got a lot to finish for Campana's Cameras and Curiosities, and to begin cracking into the Novelette that follows the two short stories I've done. Then again who knows what will happen. I could start that and end up on a totally different project. Like I got a sci-fi thing kicking around to ever since I started playing Warframe and did the Tempestratii quest.

Well.

Thanks for all who have come here.

Also Perfidy has been submitted to three or for different zines. So we'll see if it clears muster and gets a proper publishing!

This is the only way I'm going to survive this year.

Reading. Writing. Games.

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"In this Garden of gardens, I am the God of the Gaps."

Sleep Token, "Look to Windward"

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Become a supporter of Niko S. today!

If you enjoy my work, please consider supporting me via ko-fi!

Final Drafts of Work will be made available as e-pubs in the store when they are finished.

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