USA friends: If you’re planning on doing lots of reading this Thanksgiving break and would like to keep it thematic, may I recommend some of these books on Native American cultures and histories?
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson (Dakota), 2021
Novel about generations of women and survival of family ties and the land. Fiction for people who enjoy Robin Wall Kimmerer
Rez Life by David Treuer (Ojibwe), 2013
Stark, fascinating, and humorous nonfiction that reads like a series of journalistic essays on sovereignty, natural resources, poverty, casinos, and culture.
Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi), 2003
Noted Indigenous scientist and author in her earliest book for popular audiences. Science writing at its best - beautiful and regenerative, though not without acknowledgement of the destructive power of capitalism, colonization, unequal resource allocation, etc. I read it December 2024 and it was absolutely a balm during a really emotionally tough time. Her other books Braiding Sweetgrass and The Serviceberry are also great reads.
Native Nations: A Millennium in North America by Kathleen DuVal, 2024 (Note: not a Native author)
History of Indigenous nations in now-North America – I learned a lot about what was happening during the 12th-14th centuries, especially in the Southeast, and found it helpful that she brought in context from climate events, astronomy, and comparative societal structures around the world. The book overall aims to reframe European colonization and rule and argues persuasively that Native nations controlled relationships and land for much longer than Europeans claimed. It’s not comprehensive (I especially was disappointed in the lack of West Coast/Cascades region nations, but I can find more of that elsewhere) but coverage is really interesting and extensive.
The Scarecrow || Recommended Reading || Master List
For your reading pleasure, here follows a master list of all SCARECROW-CENTRIC comics (cameos and one/two page appearances will not be mentioned) listed roughly in order of release. Note: some comics are included even if Scarecrow is not the main antagonist, but only if he plays a centric role in the overarching story
Feel free to message me if you think I missed something! This list is comics only, and does not include children's books or other media.
GOLDEN AGE
World’s Finest #3 - Riddle of the Human Scarecrow
Detective Comics #73 - The Scarecrow Returns
The Brave and the Bold #197 - The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne!
SILVER AGE
Batman #189 - Fright of the Scarecrow
Batman #200 - The Man Who Radiated Fear!"
Detective Comics #389 - Batman's Evil Eye
BRONZE AGE
Detective Comics #503 - The 6 Days of the Scarecrow
Batman #373/Detective #540 - The Frequency of Fear/Something Scary
The Super Friends #32
Detective Comics #571 - Fear for $ale
Joker #8 - The Scarecrow's Fearsome Face-Off!
Batman 400 - Resurrection Night
THE 90s
Batman #455-#457 Identity Crisis: Part 1 + 2/Master of Fear
Batman: Haunted Knight- Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special #1 - Fears
Batman #495-#496
Batman: Long Halloween (Series)
Shadow of the Bat #1
Shadow of the Bat #16-18 “God of Fear”
Batman Dark Victory (Series)
Batman: Haunted Knight - Fears
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special #1
Batman Annual #19 - Masters of Fear
Batman Adventures #4 - #5 - Riot Act
Batman Adventures #19 - Troubled Dreams
Batman Adventures Annual #1 - Study Hall
Batman Gotham Adventures #32 - The Remote Controller
Batman/Scarecrow 3D
Catwoman #58 - #60, #93
Fear of Faith (Legends of the Dark Knight #116, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #84, Batman #564, Detective Comics #731)
New Year's Evil: Scarecrow - Mistress of Fear
Batman Crimson Mist
Nightwing #9 - #11
2000 - 2009
Batman Daredevil - King of New York
Detective Comics #820 Face the ɘɔɒᖷ
DC Super Friends #8
Batman #608–619 (HUSH)
Batman Gotham Knights #16 + #49 / Batman: Black and White
Legends of the Dark Knight #137-141 - Terror
Gotham Knights #23 - Fear of Success
Superman/Batman: Torment (#37-42)
Batman #626-630 - As the Crow Flies
Superman/Batman #38 - 40
Batman Eternal #47
Batman and Robin Eternal #6, #14- #15
DC Halloween Special #1 - The Ballad of Ichabod Crane
Gotham After Midnight (Series)
Joker’s Asylum: Scarecrow
Year One: Batman/Scarecrow
2010 - 2020
Blackest Night #6 -Blackest Night
Untold Tales of the Blackest Night - Blackest Nightmare
DC Halloween Special '10 - Trick for the Scarecrow
Forever Evil: Arkham War (Series)
Batman the Dark Knight #10 - #15 - Cycle of Violence
Batgirl Vol 3 #2-3 - Batgirl Rising: Point of New Origin
Detective Comics v2 #23.3 Scarecrow
Swamp Thing #19-20
Harley Quinn #28 - #30
Batwoman #7 - #9 - Fear and Loathing
Green Lanterns #17 - Darkest Knight
Nightwing #50, #53 - #56
Batman ‘66 Meets the Man from U.N.C.L.E (series)
Batman '66 #28 - Scarecrow Comes to Town
Kings of Fear (series)
Batman/TMNT Adventures #4 - To laugh so not to cry
Shazam #12 - When Strikes the Scarecrow
Wonder Woman: Agent of Peace #4
Legends of the Dark Knight #16
Batman: Gotham Nights #17 - Harvest of Fear; He Who Eats Last...
Batman: The Adventures Continue #10
Fear State (Series) (FS Alpha + Omega, 106, #111–117, Detective Comics 1056, Harley Quinn #6)
Ok, I tried but I can't resist any longer. I'm sitting on the first three chapters of this and I love it so much. I want to share it now 🤭
Congressman/Thunderbolt Bucky Barnes x F!Congresswoman Reader.
Warnings/ratings/notes: language, political setting (literally I only know what Google, Hamilton and the West Wing has taught me!), yearning, longing, Bucky trying so hard to be better, he falls first - she falls harder, banter and arguing, enemies-to-lovers that’s really frustrated co-workers-to-lovers, a little Thunderbolt chaos.... I think that's it for now?
Word Count: 4k
Main Masterlist | Bucky Barnes Masterlist | Series Masterlist
Strategic Interests - Chapter 1
You’re an ambitious Congresswoman. Progressive, blunt, brilliant... And utterly furious that Bucky Barnes, this former assassin-turned-Congressman within your party, is somehow beloved by the public despite being decorative at best.
And the worst part?
He knows he’s not as qualified. But he also knows he listens. He learns. And he watches you run circles around people with twice your power. He starts to wonder if he’s falling for the only person who won’t let him forget what he used to be - or who he still might become.
Chapter 1
He was flailing.
Going down like the Titanic and taking any remaining dignity with him. A pretty poster-boy Congressman with not a single unscripted thought in that (admittedly) gorgeous head. Mealy-mouthed. Hollow. Absolutely drowning. You couldn’t tear your eyes away from the carnage.
“The rumours of wrongdoing are very worrying. They are… they’re very concerning. And worrying.”
Christ. It was getting worse. Like watching someone trip in slow motion, arms windmilling, a tray of drinks airborne. You winced sympathetically - but only a little. Then, with some considerable effort, you turned to the bank of microphones and cameras in front of you.
“If Director de Fontaine has nothing to hide,” you said, bright and clear and utterly lethal, “she should welcome the investigation. Transparency isn’t optional, especially when national security’s on the line. I intend to work with Congressman Gary to ensure we get the answers we’re owed.”
A flicker of a smile. A practiced nod. The press parting before you like the Red Sea. Behind you, Barnes was still muttering apologies.
He caught up to you down the corridor, away from the cameras.
“You could at least try to sound interested, Barnes,” you said, not breaking stride. “You get everything handed to you and still show up late to every goddamn meeting with the attention span of a houseplant.”
He didn’t flinch. Just smiled. That lazy, infuriating smile.
“You’re cute when you’re mad.”
You didn’t look at him. Just kept walking.
“And you’re desperate when you’re flailing. Did that line come from a focus group too?”
He laughed quietly behind you, and you heard the rhythm of his footsteps quicken to catch up.
At the hearing room doors, he stepped ahead and held one open for you, all courtly manners and mischief.
“After you,” he said graciously.
You paused just long enough to meet his eyes. “Thank you, Congressman.”
“Anytime,” he murmured. You watched his eyes drop to your mouth as he spoke.
The hearing was already packed. You squeezed through the crowd, nodding a few hellos and tossing a few warm smiles around, and slipped into a row with a couple of spare seats. Barnes did a token sweep for another seat, then sat beside you anyway. You slid along a little more to make space, but his thigh still pressed against yours in the tight space.
He was watching the panel. You were watching everything else.
Not just the speakers, though you nodded along at the right moments, flipped through your briefing with quiet precision, underlined something with a swift drag of your pen. But your eyes tracked the room, the audience, the reactions. Calculated, clinical.
You looked bored, but he’d seen men put bullets in heads with less focus.
When Congressman Gary pivoted to the question of “unauthorised experimentation on enhanced individuals” - that’s when you started writing in earnest. Not the scattered notes of a bored politician trying to look busy. Your pen moved with purpose and resolve. He couldn’t help himself.
He leaned in.
“Taking names?” he murmured.
You didn’t look up. “Something like that.”
You crossed one leg over the other, the slit of your skirt slipping open. Without missing a beat, you tucked the hem under your notepad.
Next to you, Barnes shifted on the wooden bench - not uncomfortably, but deliberately. Like he was making sure you noticed.
“Do you mind?” you hissed, eyes still forward.
“Not at all,” he murmured, maddeningly calm. “I just think it’s funny.”
You glanced at him, unimpressed.
“The whole ice queen act,” he added, voice low. “You don’t wear it as well as you think.”
You didn’t answer - wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Instead, you turned back toward the front, just as Congressman Gary started dressing down Valentina.
He leaned closer. “Tell me again how I don’t belong here. I like the sound of you angry.”
“You’re pissing me off, Barnes. I should hate you.”
His smile curled slow and dangerous. “Then do it harder.”
The panel called recess.
You stood quickly. “Read the packets. Stop expecting everyone else to clean up after you. You’ve been given a platform and I’m sick of asking you to use it.”
“I’d never expect that from you, Congresswoman.” He was still seated, eyes on yours. “You coming to Oversight and Reform this afternoon?”
“Why? Need someone to hold your hand?”
“Wouldn’t be the worst thing. You taking control.” A pause, then a whisper, low and rich: “Not the first time either, I’d bet.”
You froze for half a second - heat licking your spine - then shoved it down.
“Congressman Barnes,” you said, voice clipped, “excuse me. Some of us have a little more to do than standing around and looking pretty.”
You didn’t wait for a response. You just walked - and hated that you could feel his eyes on your back the whole way.
~~~~
You bounced from meeting to meeting, replied to constituent emails through your lunch (half a sandwich and doughnut from one of your staffers birthday celebrations).
By the time the afternoon rolled around you could feel a dull thud behind your eyes and tension in your shoulders.
The Oversight and Reform chamber was already buzzing when you arrived, your team filtering into the back row while aides scrambled with coffee and colour-coded folders. Barnes was, predictably, late. Again.
You took your seat, adjusted the mic, and caught your reflection in the monitor ahead. Composed. Sharp. Unbothered.
Then came the chair scrape.
He'd strolled in with that infuriating mix of deliberate calm and coiled tension - like someone used to walking into dangerous rooms and pretending they weren’t. You knew better. Everyone with a clearance file did.
Still, he had the nerve to be five minutes late and act like he owned the place.
His seat was two down from yours. You could still feel the weight of him.
The committee chair banged the gavel and called the meeting to order.
It didn’t take long for Barnes to say something you didn't agree with. It seldom did.
“I think what the Congresswoman meant to say is that the committee has a duty to ensure transparency - even if it means questioning institutions we usually trust.”
You felt your spine straighten.
You didn’t let it slide.
“Excuse me, Madam Chairwoman,” you said coolly, “but I don’t need Congressman Barnes to interpret my words for me. I’m perfectly capable of speaking for myself. Shocking, I know - a woman in Congress with opinions. I’d like to remind him that some of us actually worked damn hard to get here. We weren’t all voted in on a pretty face.”
The assembled press pool gasped. Flashbulbs lit up the room briefly. You returned to your notes with a slight shake of your head like you hadn’t just cut him off at the knees.
With a slow tilt of his head, Barnes smiled. “And I’d like to remind the Congresswoman that former Hydra assassins probably have to work just as hard to have our opinions heard. It’s not a competition - though it’s useful to know you think it was the face that got me elected.”
“Well it sure wasn’t the resume,” you replied, not missing a beat.
He leaned back slightly, cool as ice. “It got your attention, sweetheart.”
The press pool giggled.
You didn’t.
He should’ve stopped there. But no - Barnes always had to win.
“Also, that’s twice today you’ve called me pretty. Careful, Congresswoman - keep that up, I’ll start thinking you’re going soft on me.”
You felt the breath catch in your throat - not from the words, but the ease with which he said them. Like he knew exactly how to pull the pin and wait for you to go off.
God, you wanted to snap. You could already see the headline: “Firebrand Congresswoman Loses Cool with Ex-Assassin Heartthrob.”
So instead, you smiled. Controlled. Polite. Lethal.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to manage your expectations, Congressman. I don’t do soft. Not in committee. And certainly not for you.”
You didn’t look at him - but you didn’t have to. You felt it.
The shift.
The silence.
The slight, involuntary pull of breath before he looked away with a smirk.
You claimed that win.
Barely.
The hearing adjourned in a flurry of papers, aides swooping in with updates, and whispered questions. You stood, collected your notes, and didn’t look at him.
But you could feel him behind you - that annoying heat, the sense of someone who hadn’t earned their seat but still filled the room like he had.
“Congresswoman,” he said as you turned toward the exit.
You paused, just enough to make him think you might listen.
Then you looked over your shoulder, expression flat. “Late. Under-prepared. Cocky.”
He arched a brow, held out his hands. “Guilty as charged.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
He stepped closer, dropping his voice. “You’re not wrong, you know.”
That made you pause.
“I was late. I didn’t prep enough. But I watched you.” His eyes locked on yours, unexpectedly steady. “And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you be the only one taking this seriously.”
You blinked. Once.
Then you smirked - just enough to throw him off.
“I’ll believe it when I see it, Barnes.”
And then you walked away.
But your pulse was kicking just a little too fast.
And behind you, he watched you go like he was starting to realise exactly what he’d signed up for.
~~~~
Valentina’s fundraiser was in full swing when Bucky arrived, late, because of course he was. Black tie, polished boots, every inch of him scrubbed into something presentable. He hated these things - the glad-handing, the fake smiles, the hunger for power of those who thought they were gods.
Still, he could play the game when he had to. And tonight, he had to. He had to get to the bottom of whatever Valentina was up to.
He moved through the crowd with practiced ease, nodding where he needed to, eyes skimming until they landed -
There.
She was laughing - low, smoky - at something Congressman Gary had just said, one hand grazing his arm as she leaned in to make her point.
The dress should’ve been illegal. Dark, shimmering, backless. Red lips, bare skin, and a smile like she’d already won.
He didn’t just see her. He felt her - a punch to the gut, precise and inevitable.
He’d meant to head for the bar.
Instead, he stood there, thinking one thing, and one thing only:
He was in so much trouble.
“Looks like Doug’s in trouble,” he heard someone snigger behind him. Someone from Treasury,
“Nah, he’s soft on her. Calls her the lioness. If she’s on your side, she’s loyal as fuck.” Someone else replied.
“Yeah but if you cross her, she’ll fucking eat you alive! You seen the way she chews out people in her own party?” They turned, spotting Bucky before he could sneak away. “She’s had you a few times, Barnes.”
“Pretty sure you’re her current snack.”
“Good news is, if you make it out, she’ll stand by you.”
“Unless you do something stupid.”
“Story of my life,” Bucky told them wryly, raising his glass. “‘Scuse me fellas, gotta go into the lioness’s den.”
~~~~
You looked him up and down over the rim of your champagne flute, hoping the glass distracted from where your eyes were traveling. The suit fitted him beautifully. Tailored - it had to be, off the rack would never have fitted across his broad shoulders. The bow tie was crisp and tied perfectly. He nodded politely at Congressman Gary and made a beeline for one of the exhibits. You watched him carefully offer his card to Valentina's closest aide — Meg? Belle? Mel! Disappointment washed over you; you'd thought better of him.
Mel glanced over at you, catching your eye for just a second before turning back to Bucky with a tight smile. Clearly, she’d learned how to handle Barnes better than you had.
You shifted your weight, straightening the skirt of your dress, feeling the prick of heat in your cheeks - not from the room, but because Bucky Barnes had just shown you a side you hadn’t expected. And you didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Congressman Gary’s voice cut through the din, “You’re watching him like he’s a stray dog. Planning to collar him?”
You forced a smirk, “More like figuring out if he’s worth the trouble.”
Doug laughed softly. “Always so cautious. I like that. And I think he likes being caught by you.”
You rolled your eyes at him, your mentor and friend, then your eyes flicked back to Bucky, still deep in conversation with Mel. Charming, of course. He always was. But the tilt of his shoulders gave him away - too stiff for comfort, too still for someone enjoying himself.
Good, you thought. Let him sweat a little.
When Barnes approached again, laser-focused on Congressman Gary, you made your excuses to leave.
“Congresswoman, you’re leaving?” His voice held a note of disappointment - or maybe it was something else. You weren’t sure if you imagined it.
“Not at all,” you said coolly, lifting your glass. “Just in need of more champagne.”
He smirked, eyes flickering to your glass and back up to your face.
“Is that your polite way of escaping me?”
You rolled your eyes and turned away, the soft click of your heels barely masking the flutter in your chest.
You watched from the bar as he led Congressman Gary to a dark corner in an area you knew was a camera black-spot. He was up to something, and you didn’t like it.
It wasn’t that you disagreed with his policies. It was that you resented how effortlessly he got there. The fame. The name. The jawline. Meanwhile, you’d been fighting tooth and nail for every vote, every headline, every ounce of credibility. And then along came Captain America’s brooding bestie, soaking up goodwill and soft-ball interviews like they were oxygen.
You narrowed your eyes. That wasn’t just politics; that was maneuvering. And you were damn sure he wasn’t just making friends with Doug.
The thought made your teeth clench.
You wanted to find out exactly what kind of game he was playing.
When he joined you at the bar, you did your best to ignore him.
“Get you a drink?” he asked. “Something better than cheap champagne?”
“Negroni, please.”
“Nice choice.” He raised a hand to the bartender, who slid over your negroni and a whiskey for him.
“Interesting chat with Congressman Gary?”
You sipped. “I could ask you the same thing?
“Just making conversation.”
“Well, I’m having dinner with his wife next week.”
He grinned. “Maybe we should make it a double date.”
“I don’t think so, Barnes. Didn’t you already spend the night working your charm on Valentina’s staffer?”
“Mel?” He scoffed. “That wasn’t flirting.”
You raised your glass with a polite smile. “Sure it wasn’t. Thanks for the drink.”
You stepped away, leaving him standing there with his grin - and whatever game he thought he was playing.
To your frustration, he followed you.
“Why’d you ask?” he feigned indifference. “Jealous?”
You glanced at the plaque, deliberately not looking at him. “Hardly. I don’t date.”
“Neither do I.” His smirk grew.
“But you’ll chat up twenty-something aides?”
“There you go again, Congresswoman.”
“Don’t misread me,” you said firmly. “I'm looking out for her, not you.”
He leaned in, voice low. “Told you - you’re soft.”
You didn’t answer. But the heat in your cheeks gave you away.
He stepped back, smug. “Not that I mind. Keeps things interesting.”
You exhaled a quiet laugh. “There are far more interesting things in this room than me, Barnes.”
He gave you a look that landed like a challenge. “I’m not so sure about that, ma’am.”
You caught the flicker in his eyes. Genuine, curious, dangerous, and turned away before it could spark anything more.
~~~~
A few days later, you were at your desk by 7:30, coffee in hand, notes spread in a perfect semicircle. The Capitol skyline was just coming to life when your aide, Kara, breezed in armed with her tablet and breakfast.
“Morning,” she said, barely looking up from the screen. “The press secretary’s flagged your quote from last night’s energy subcommittee. They want approval to push it to Politico. It’s sharp, but not too sharp. I think it hits.”
You nodded. “Tell her yes, but ask if she can thread in the clean energy jobs angle.”
Kara tapped quickly. “Noted. Also, I confirmed the reservation for Le Diplomate tonight, 7:30. Congressman Gary’s wife requested the patio.”
You laughed fondly. “Brave of Jenny. The forecast says rain.”
“She says she likes the risk.”
“Then maybe she’d enjoy politics more than her husband does.”
Kara grinned, scrolling. “One more: Congresswoman Alvarez’s daughter had the twins last night. You want to send something?”
“To both of them, please. Get the florist on E Street. Peonies if they have them for Ally, sunflowers for the Congresswoman. Add a note - warmest congratulations, proud of her, hope she’s resting, and then congratulations to the best Abuela those twins could wish for.”
“Got it.” Kara paused, glanced up briefly. “And, just a flag - Barnes hasn’t been in for Oversight this week. He missed Judiciary, too.”
You didn’t look up from your notes. “Is he on leave?”
“Not officially. No out-of-office. No one has seen him since the gala. Staff’s tight-lipped.”
Of course they are.
You flipped a page in your binder with more force than necessary.
“He’ll turn up. He always does.”
But it felt thinner than usual. The line you told yourself.
Kara moved on. “Your lunch with the clean water coalition is still on, but they’re bringing a new rep. He's a former lobbyist, a little slick. You’ll want to keep the high ground.”
“I always do,” you murmured.
Kara swapped your coffee for a fresh cup and put down a plate with a croissant you hadn't seen her holding.
“Let me know if Barnes shows up. Or doesn't.”
“Got it, boss.”
By the end of the following day, you’d signed another two appropriations letters, spoken on the floor, and given an impromptu press gaggle outside Budget. Your shoes hurt. Your voice was hoarse. But the momentum felt good.
Until 4:15.
The committee room was already half-full when you arrived - a rare joint session with Homeland, which meant cameras, crowded aisles, and a lot of posturing. You scanned the table automatically. Kara had left your notes and a bottle of water at your seat. You adjusted your blazer, nodded to the Chair, and paused.
Barnes’s seat was empty. Again.
You didn’t react, not outwardly. Just smoothed your papers and sat down.
The last time he'd missed one of your meetings, he'd sent a personal note of apology. Handwritten and accompanied by a piping hot flat white from the good coffee place down the road, not the on-site Starbucks.
This time, nothing.
The meeting started. You made your points. Asked your questions. But the whole time, your eyes kept drifting back to that empty chair - and the nameplate sitting in front of it.
By the time you got back to your office, your inbox was full, your feet were aching, and Kara was waiting with a folder of flagged correspondence and a packet of Advil.
“Oh,” she said, picking up your TV remote and turning it on, “you’re going to want to see this.”
A live-stream. Midtown New York in total chaos.
Firetrucks. Crowds. Police tape. A helicopter camera panning wide over the city skyline.
Rubble fell, raining down onto civilians.
Then you saw him.
Barnes.
Heaving a slab of concrete up and away from families.
Your inhaled sharply. He was in combat gear, moving with purpose, flanked by others you didn’t recognise - two women, a man with a shield that wasn’t Captain America’s, a guy in a red suit.
“What the hell…” you murmured, dropping into one of the chairs next to the TV.
Kara lowered the volume. “No statement from his office. Nothing from Capitol Security either. But that’s definitely him.”
You swallowed.
So he hadn’t skipped your meeting.
He’d skipped town.
You leaned forward, elbows on your knees, eyes locked to the screen. He looked different - not just the gear. Sharper. Lighter on his feet. Like something had clicked back into place. There was a scratch on his face, he was covered in dust and debris.
Then, on live TV, you watched him disappear.
Not a cutaway. Not a blur.
He vanished before your eyes.
“Get me someone who knows what the fuck is going on,” you said, without looking away.
You didn’t move from the chair for a long time. Kara had left to make calls. You barely noticed.
They’d disappeared. Literally. One second they were there, and then… not.
Not even the feed anchors knew what to say. You’d seen a lot of things in politics. You’d never seen that.
You felt sick, and you weren’t sure why.
He was maddening.
Quiet in chambers, but sharp when he spoke. Thoughtful. Disciplined. Disarming. And somehow, he always knew exactly how to counter your speeches with calm logic that infuriated you.
He didn't grandstand. He didn’t speak much at all. And he didn’t seem to care that he was in way over his head - or worse, he did care, but still kept making the right calls. Winning more favour in Brooklyn every damn time.
You couldn't understand why the cameras loved him.
Actually… that one was obvious.
But you really couldn’t understand why he smirked at you like he was waiting for you to figure something out.
And now you'd never know.
Were they dead? All of them? Were the black marks dashed across the concrete and glass of New York City all that was left?
It felt like hours had passed - you weren’t sure. A handful of colleagues had gathered behind you, murmuring.
“Guess he finally got bored of us,” someone joked.
“Or someone told him what a committee actually is,” another said dryly.
You sighed, not taking your eyes off the screen. “They could be dead, for all we know.”
As the words left your mouth, figures began reappearing on the streets of New York - a child, an elderly couple. All of them terrified and relieved in equal measure.
Then, in exactly the spot they'd vanished, Barnes and his… friends? teammates? stood blinking into the daylight. They looked at each other, the relief evident, their camaraderie clear to see.
In the corner of the screen, behind the chaos, you spotted movement. Valentina de Fontaine, unmistakable, directing camera crews with one hand and smoothing her jacket with the other.
The screen went black, the news anchor filled for time, explaining that an emergency press conference was due to begin at any moment. When the feed came back, the angle had charged. A backdrop had been dragged into place. A podium appeared.
You watched the press conference unfold with mounting disbelief. Valentina was slick as oil, milking the moment like she’d waited years to pull this trigger.
Kara returned, hands full of updates, but froze at your expression.
“Do I need to kill the feed?”
“No,” you said flatly. “I want to hear exactly how deep this bullshit goes.”
And then there he was again, emerging from behind the backdrop.
Bucky Barnes. No suit and tie. No committee assignment. Just that familiar scowl, standing half a step behind Valentina like he wasn’t sure how he’d ended up there.
Like maybe he hadn’t agreed to it.
Not that it mattered. The cameras caught him all the same.
You exhaled.
“Well,” you murmured. “I guess he’s not coming back then.”
Last year, just to be jerks, the Lege passed a bill aimed at forcing the city of Boise to stop flying the Pride flag outside City Hall, where it has flown for a decade, just a few blocks down the street from the state Capitol.
The 2025 law forbade any flags on public property other than the flags for US America, Idaho, cities and tribes, military services, and a few other official flags of “a governmental entity.” The bill’s Republican sponsor insisted that this wasn’t culture war, heavens no, it was about promoting unity, and America, and “stuff that we can all agree on.”
The Boise City Council promptly turned right around and passed a resolution adopting the Pride flag as one of three official City of Boise flags, and ran the rainbow colors up the flagpole again. Hooray!
Unwilling to accept such rampant disrespect to their edict, Republicans in the Lege this year passed a whole new flag law, this one adding a new rule saying that only official city or county flags “designated prior to 2023” will be allowed.
[...]
Just to be a real prick about it, Gov. Brad Little signed the bill on March 31, the Trans Day of Visibility. Little also signed another far worse bill criminalizing trans people who use bathrooms or locker rooms that match their gender identity, not only in schools and public buildings, but also in “public accommodations,” like private businesses. First offense is a misdemeanor, with up to a year in prison, and a second offense would be a felony, with up to five years in prison. The Idaho affiliate of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates called it “the most extreme anti-transgender bathroom ban in the nation.”
In response to the two new laws, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean ordered the Pride flag lowered outside City Hall, but also presided over a special session of the City Council to honor the Trans Day of Visibility. Choking back tears, McLean said to the Council and an audience of about 60 Boiseans, “Many people in this state and around this country are seeking to divide us. They’re seeking to divide us by targeting the most vulnerable among us. I want the people in this room to know that I see you. We see you. You are wanted, important, and unique members of our community.”
That night, City Hall was lit in the colors of the transgender flag.
RIP, Jane – you would’ve really loved how much queer literature is explicitly gaying up your work.
***
For generally Austen-inspired work, check out:
I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner
George has major problems: They’ve just inherited the failing family estate, and the feelings for their best friend, Eleanor, have become more complicated than ever. Not to mention, if anyone found out they…
Hello everyone and welcome to my recommended reading list! I hope you will find something you will enjoy on this weeks list.
Thank you to everyone who enjoys my lists and reblogs them. Your support means the world to me. Thank you again to those who recommended fanfics or tagged me.
💜 This week, I read 30 fanfics—absolutely amazing fanfics. It has been so much fun for me, and I hope you enjoy my reading lists.
As always these will be listed in no particular order. None of these stories are mine. I’m just signal-boosting them. The author is listed next to the title. My goal is to signal boost writers and spread positivity in the community. 💜💜
Click HERE to see what I will or won’t read. This is very important.
Click HERE for past reading lists.
For my Masterlist Click HERE.
Please make sure you’re reading the warnings on every story. They range from dark to fluff. Do Not Read if you are under 18 years old. These stories are meant for adults only. You’re responsible for your own media consumption.
Header by @fictional-affairs
Page-break by @whimsicalrogers
If you can, please reblog these lists so they can reach more people on Tumblr. Likes are nice but Reblogs are golden.
I love you 3000 💜 Missy
All That Remains Is Us - (Steve x Reader) - @saiyanprincessswanie
You're Worth Everything - (Nick x Reader) - @castielscaplan
Hot Stuff - (Lee x Reader) - @societyfolklore
Not Funny - (Ransom x Reader) - @societyfolklore
Space Race - (Lee x Reader) - @buckybarnesfic
Got the Blues - (Lee x Reader) - @buckybarnesfic
Social Blunder - (Lee x Reader) - @buckybarnesfic
The 99th Chance - (Curtis x Reader) - @castielscaplan
He's Just Watching Out - (Bucky x Reader) - @castielscaplan
I Did It For You - (Nick x Reader) - @castielscaplan
Only You - (Bucky x Reader) - @societyfolklore
Field Day (2) - (Steve x Reader) - @holylulusworld
In the darkness - (Curtis x Reader) - @tarithenurse
Nightmare - (Dark!Curtis x Reader) - @tarithenurse
Use Your Words - (Bucky x Reader) - @jobean12-blog
The Best View - (Bucky x Reader) - @jobean12-blog
It's the Little Things - (Bucky x Reader) - @callalillywrites
Clint sees EVERYTHING - @nekoannie-chan
Where the World Cannot Enter - (Bucky x OFC, Steve x Reader) - @nekoannie-chan
Mouth full of...? - (Jake x Reader) - @buck-star
Trouble - (Bucky x Reader) - @buck-star
Burnin' Up - (Lee x Reader) - @sunday-bug
Study Breaks: Lee - (Lee x Reader) - @sunday-bug
Mine Baby [3] - (Bucky x Reader) - @castielscaplan
The Contract - Chp 2 - (Bucky x Reader) - @mickimoo1409
Our Love Was Meant to Be - Chp 2 - (Steve x Reader) - @callalillywrites
Best Night - (Bucky x Reader) - @navybrat817
Typographical Error - (Steve x Reader) - @navybrat817
Safe and Comfortable - (Bucky x Reader) - @sergeantbarnessdoll
Justin Sledge just released this awesome video about his personal recommended reading list on Western esotericism, for people who want to get started. So, that motivated me to finally stop stalling and update my own occult reading list. This list updates occasionally as I add (and get through) more reading material, so, stay tuned.
A [⭐] indicates a primary source, and a [🔮] indicates scholarship.
Classic Occultism
⭐ The Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. This three-volume doorstopper from 1533 is the definitive textbook of Western esotericism. It's almost the exact midpoint of the Western esoteric tradition, synthesizing a bunch of different traditions into a single cohesive system. If you want to understand the logic behind spellwork, this is worth reading. (ESOTERICA also has a great series of lectures on Agrippa.)
The Doctrine and Ritual of High Magic by Eliphas Levi. Probably one of the most significant occult books of the modern period. I wouldn't take everything that Levi says about history at face value, but Doctrine and Ritual is a great introduction to the theory and practice of the modern system of Western magic.
Book Four and ⭐ The Book of the Law by Aleister Crowley. Book Four, also called Liber ABA, Magick in Theory and Practice, or simply Magick, is Aleister Crowley's comprehensive guide to his own system of magic. It's not the most accessible occult text, but it's worth listing here because of Crowley's general significance to modern occultism. The Book of the Law is a short philosophical and mystical poem that is the foundational text of Thelema.
The Middle Pillar and Ceremonial Magic by Israel Regardie. The Middle Pillar is one of the definitive texts of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn's system of magic. Definitely recommended for people just getting into modern ceremonial magic. The latter is a short treatise on ritual logic. (I really like Regardie's writing style; I think I prefer him to Crowley.)
The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall. A survey of esoteric philosophy from around the world, with a Masonic bent. Haven't actually read it yet, but it's important enough to list.
The Kybalion by "The Three Initiates" (aka William Walker Atkinson). I know I shit on The Kybalion a lot, but it's actually a decent introduction to basic occult philosophy for people who have no familiarity with the subject. If you're completely new to occultism, The Kybalion is a lot more accessible than some of the other material on this list. Just keep in mind that it's a jumping-off point (and it's not actually Hermetic).
Folk Magic and Witchcraft
🔮 The Triumph of the Moon and The Witch by Ronald Hutton. Hutton is a modern scholar of paganism and occultism, one of the only scholars I've found who specializes in both paganism and occultism, and their relationship to each other. Honestly, I recommend anything he writes. But I would start with The Triumph of the Moon, which is a history of the development of neopaganism (Wicca in particular). The Witch is a historical study of the witch trials, and the concept of the witch in different times and places.
New World Witchery by Cory Thomas Hutcheson. A general overview of North American folk magic by a folklorist, directed at practitioners. If you’re American, it’ll help you discover folk magic in your own backyard. Hutcheson also has a podcast of the same name. He's also the editor of Lewellyn's Complete Book of North American Folk Magic, which I haven't read yet, but which looks really promising.
Of Blood and Bones: Working with Shadow Magick and the Dark Moon by Kate Freuler. A book about the darker side of folk magic — curses, Shadow work, osteomancy, blood magic, and the like. Despite the title, it’s very straightforward and not insufferably edgy. But it's also pretty beginner-focused, directed at practitioners who are more used to the “love-n’-light” style of modern witchcraft.
⭐ The British Book of Spells and Charms by Graham King. A survey of British folk magic, arranged by spell type. They're mostly spells from the nineteenth and early twentieth century, but some of them are older. This is a mini treasure trove of British folklore.
Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide and The Witch’s Path by Thorn Mooney. I haven’t actually read the former, but I like Mooney as an author, and I really appreciated The Witch's Path as a general guide to how to apply what you learn about magic, especially if you’re experiencing burnout. Worth reading even if you’re not Wiccan.
The Crooked Path and The Witch’s Sabbath by Kelden. The Crooked Path is a beginner’s guide to Traditional Witchcraft, a tradition that evolved alongside Wicca and is inspired by historical witchlore. A good introduction to witchcraft in general. The Witch’s Sabbath is about the Sabbath concept in particular, and how you can apply it to your practice.
Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways, The Devil's Dozen and The Black Toad by Gemma Gary. Gemma Gary is one of the big names in Traditional Witchcraft, which I've been getting more into in the last couple years. I appreciate learning about her practical application of folklore and folk magic as a coherent modern tradition. Definitely worth reading if you're interested in a tradition of witchcraft apart from Wicca (or if you're interested in theistic Satanism, but want it to have a more folk horror aesthetic). More advanced than Kelden's material.
🔮 Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic by Tabitha Stanmore. A scholarly examination of folk magic and its practitioners in medieval and early modern Europe. Stanmore humanizes this history by telling the stories of individual people in a very conversational style.
🔮 ⭐ The Cunning Man's Handbook by Jim Baker. A study of the practices of primarily English folk magic, alongside material from various manuscripts, making it something of a study-cum-grimoire. Very dense, but absolutely packed with material.
⭐ A Complete System of Magic by William Dawson Bellhouse, edited by Daniel Harms. An edition of the magical notes of a nineteenth-century English cunning man, William Dawson Bellhouse. British folk magic, straight from the tap.
🔮 The Visions of Isobel Gowdie by Emma Wilby. A study of Isobel Gowdie, a woman accused of witchcraft in early modern Scotland, whose lurid confession heavily influenced modern witchcraft. I have already learned so much about Scottish witchcraft and folklore from this book!
Hermeticism and Alchemy
⭐ The Corpus Hermeticum. The foundational text of Hermetic philosophy, from Hellenistic Egypt. It's a set of short dialogues between Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary founder of Hermeticism (sort of the ancient equivalent of Merlin) and various other figures. I recommend The Way of Hermes, the translation by Clement Salaman et. al.
⭐ The Emerald Tablet. A very short, cryptic alchemical poem that first appeared in a medieval Arabic manuscript. It supposedly instructs the reader on how to create the Philosopher's Stone. (There is only one Emerald Tablet, and it's less than a page long.)
🔮 The Secrets of Alchemy by Lawrence M. Principe. A summary of the history of alchemy, written by a scholar for a lay audience. A great introduction to it! Leans more in the direction of alchemy being early chemistry than occult philosophy, though.
🔮 The Experimental Fire: Inventing English Alchemy, 1300–1700 by Jennifer M. Rampling. A scholarly history of the development of English alchemy in the medieval and early modern period.
🔮 A Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery by Lyndy Abraham. Exactly what it sounds like — a dictionary of motifs in alchemical artwork, what they represent, and how they relate to each other. Excellent if you want to begin to understand alchemical art.
Alchemy and Mysticism by Alexander Roob. An encyclopedia of images related to alchemy and magic, styled like museum exhibits. Also good if you want an overview of alchemy and other philosophical ideas in Western esotericism, or want a catalogue of images related to the subject, or just want to know what all those cryptic pictures mean! For a book mainly consisting of image captions, it's surprisingly dense.
Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy by Robert Allen Bartlett. Instructions for how to actually perform alchemical experiments. (Do not play with mercury.)
Practical Alchemy: A Guide to the Great Work by Brian Cotnoir. A general introduction to chemical and spiritual alchemy, directed at occultists.
The Philosopher’s Stone by Israel Regardie. Regardie's analysis of alchemical texts and artwork, through the lens of the Golden Dawn system. I recommend the version with Chic and Sandra Cicero’s additional essays and commentary.
Ceremonial Magic and Demonology
⭐ Grimoires, including (but not limited to) the Lesser Key of Solomon, Ars Notoria, the Grande Grimoire, the Grimoirum Verum, the Picatrix, and the Book of Abremilin the Mage. I recommend getting scholarly editions of them, like the ones by Joseph Peterson and Stephen Skinner.
🔮 Grimoires: A History of Magic Books, The Art of the Grimoire, and The Oxford Handbook of Witchcraft and Magic by Owen Davies. Owen Davies is a celebrated scholar in this field. The first book is a scholarly introduction to grimoires. The second is a survey of magical diagrams and alchemical art from manuscripts. I haven't actually read the third one yet, but it's an Oxford Handbook and I trust Davies, so it's on the list.
The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish. A history of and introduction to the Western esoteric tradition, not directed at practitioners. This is a great place to start, if a bit outdated.
The Book of Grimoires: The Secret Grammar of Magic and A Dictionary of Ancient Magic Words and Spells by Claude Lecouteux. The former is a survey of spells from various grimoires, arranged by type, which is a good introduction to grimoire magic if you're feeling overwhelmed. The latter is a dictionary of incantations and voces magicae from magical texts around the world. (Also recommended if you're a worldbuilder and you need ideas.)
Secrets of the Magical Grimoires by Aaron Leitch. A general introduction to grimoires, another good place to start if you're feeling overwhelmed.
🔮 A Grimoire Encyclopedia, Vol. 1 and 2 by David Rankine. This is a very dense, scholarly two-volume encyclopedia on grimoires. The first lists all the grimoires we know of, all their manuscript copies and call numbers, etc. Great if you want to look up manuscripts! If you're not a scholar, I would just get the second one, which compares the content of all the grimoires to each other, listing spell ingredients and correspondences.
🔮 Unlocked Books by Benedek Láng: Part of Penn State University Press's "Magic in History" series, this is a scholarly book about medieval and early modern manuscripts of occult texts, and the state of occultism in Europe.
🔮 Conjuring Spirits: Texts and Traditions of Medieval Ritual Magic by Claire Fanger. Another book from the "Magic in History" series, this is a compilation of scholarly analyses of medieval ritual magic in various grimoires.
🔮 Magic in the Middle Ages by Richard Kieckhefer. An academic but readable book about the history of medieval magic.
A Dictionary of Demons by Michelle Belanger. A long list of every demon found in historical grimoires. Great if you’re interested in demonology!
A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels by Gustav Davidson. A long list of every angel in the huge corpus of Abrahamic texts.
🔮 Magus: The Art of Magic from Faustus to Agrippa by Anthony Grafton. A historical study of a specific culture of ceremonial magic among the European elite. Haven't read it yet, but it looks very promising!
🔮 The Magic Books: A History of Enchantment in 20 Medieval Manuscripts by Anne Lawrence-Mathers. A brand new work of scholarship on the history of medieval magic through the lens of manuscripts specifically. Very excited about this one!
Practical Magic
Hands-On Chaos Magic by Andrieh Vitimus. Still one of my favorite occult books. It takes a decidedly chaote approach towards magical practice, but that means it isn't working within any specific religious framework (e.g. Wicca) It teaches you all the necessary skills you'll need to practice magic, and encourages experimentation. If you do the exercises in this book, you'll have learned the basics.
Nocturnal Witchcraft, Gothic Grimoire, and Nocturnicon by Konstantinos. These are great if you’re a spooky type. Nocturnal Witchcraft was one of the first “advanced” books I read. Nocturnicon is the most advanced, and concerns death and lovecraftian magic. Despite the edgy presentation, I like Konstantinos' down-to-earth, conversational style.
Shadow Magick Compendium by Raven Digitalis. A guide to Shadow work and general magic with a spooky bent. This book introduced me to sigil work and some other magical practices that I still use. I like Raven Digitalis' writing style a lot, and I also have his Goth Craft and Esoteric Empathy.
Sorcerer’s Secrets: Strategies in Practical Magick by Jason Miller. A general guide to magic, good for beginners. I read this one pretty early on, and it got me thinking about the logic of magic in a way I could easily understand. I've also heard good things about Miller's Consorting With Spirits, though I haven't read it.
The Essential Golden Dawn: An Introduction to High Magic by Chic Cicero and Sandra Cicero. An introduction to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn’s system of magic, one of the foundational systems of Western occultism. Even if you don't plan to practice it, it's a good idea to get a basic understanding of it.
Ancient Greek Magic
⭐ The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation by Hans Dieter Betz. An English edition of the Greek Magical Papyri (or PGM). It is the earliest known grimoire in the Western tradition, one of our best sources for Ancient Greek magic, and an absolute gold mine.
🔮 Drawing Down the Moon and Redefining Ancient Orphism by Radcliffe G. Edmonds III. The former is a scholarly but accessible overview of the different types of magic in Ancient Greece and Rome, and their place in Greco-Roman culture. It covers the definitions and contexts of magic, curses, love spells, divination, theurgy, philosophy, basically everything you need to know. Even if you're not interested in Ancient Greek magic, I recommend reading it, because it's a good introduction to the anthropological study of magic in general. The latter is a much denser look at Orphism specifically, also recommended if you're interested in mystery cults.
🔮 ⭐ Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World by John G. Gager. English editions of curse tablets!
🔮 ⭐ Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds by Daniel Ogden: A sourcebook of ancient literature concerning magic.
Ancient Magic: A Practitioners Guide to the Supernatural in Ancient Greece and Rome by Philip Matyszak: A simple and straightforward introduction to Ancient Greek magic, less scholarly but very easy to follow.
⭐ The Golden Ass by Apuleius: A Roman novel about a man who is turned into a donkey by a witch. A very entertaining story, also our source for "Cupid and Psyche" and one of the best sources on the Mysteries of Isis that we have.
⭐ The Orphic Hymns: A New Translation for the Occult Practitioner by Patrick Dunn. Exactly what it says it is, a translation of the esoteric Orphic Hymns directed at modern practitioners. I've had a lot of success with it!
The Hekataeon by Jack Grayle. By far the best modern grimoire I've found, synthesizing ancient PGM-style magic with modern folk magic. I've had a lot of success with this, too!
Misc
🔮 The Western Esoteric Traditions: A Historical Introduction by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke. Exactly what it says it is, an introduction to the historical development of Western magic. It's a bit out of date, and it skips over the Middle Ages almost entirely (so make sure to pick up one of the books on medieval magic!), but it's still worth reading.
🔮 Occult: Decoding the Visual Culture of Mysticism, Magic, and Divination by Peter Forshaw. A history of occultism through the lens of art history! Similar to The Art of the Grimoire and Alchemy and Mysticism.
⭐ The Red Book by Carl Jung. My personal favorite mystical text, with some truly stunning artwork. It is a trip. I recommend studying Jung in general if you're interested in mysticism.
Okay, that's more than enough to get you started! Please don't feel like you need to read all of these cover-to-cover; I usually dip in and out of the denser, more scholarly works depending on my needs and what I happen to be researching. Set your own pace. While these are all books that I have, there are also plenty of books by the scholars I trust that I don't have or haven't read yet. I'd read anything by Ronald Hutton, Stephen Skinner, Radcliffe Edmonds, Owen Davies, and David Rankine. And definitely check out Justin Sledge's channel, ESOTERICA, on youtube!
