all the best people are a little mad

Megan || Female || 35 || Slytherin "Always and forever." (The Mikaelsons, TVDu) "Saving people, hunting things. The family business." (Dean Winchester, SPN) ~ ~ A multi fandom space for all my many interests. Currently obsessing over the Grishaverse/Shadow and Bone #darklina , the Maas-verse #feysand / #nessian / #elriel , & Empyrean Series (Xaden & Violet own my soul) ~~

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Welcome to my little multi-fandom corner of the Tumblr-sphere! It’s my “dumping ground” of everything that strikes my (admittedly many) interests. Name is Megan (she/her, 30+, CST timezone) !

At the moment... 

Some top obsessions you might find here are-- 

Empyrean Series ( Fourth Wing / Iron Flame / Onyx Storm... )

Grishaverse / Shadow & Bone ( main OTPs: Darklina, Darkolai )

SJM series : ACOTAR / CC / TOG / ( top OTPs: Feysand, Nessian, Elriel ; Nesta’s character journey especially = intense but wonderful )

Fantasy book-loving (and probably some ranting too) in general

Hunger Games series

Updates on my two cats, who are my whole world (mini!panther Xaden & mini!lion Sasha)

Disney (specifically Lion King)

Ben Barnes

(American) Politics

Currently-- 

Reading:       physical book -- Fury Bound (Sorensen)       e-book --  Shattered (Rose) ; Reign of Night (Roethle)      audio book-- A Court of Silver Flames (Maas)** ; Four Ruined Realms (Corland) Number of Books Read in 2026: Twenty-Four (24)

**is a reread

Music: Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift... Adele, Daughtry, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, select Musicals (like Wicked, Les Mis, Hamilton, Phantom of the Opera are currently in the top right now)... 

(I’m a millennial, I have very eclectic music tastes, what can I say?)

Watching: while I have cut back on a lot of TV watching (like my mind just can’t seem to stay focused a great deal on a lot), some general faves are still Law & Order: SVU ; Law & Order: Organized Crime ; Yellowstone ; Outlander ; Bridgerton ; House of the Dragon ; The Daily Show

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Megan Elsinger's Bookstore | PangoBooks

Browse books from Megan Elsinger's bookstore on PangoBooks. Lover of #books 📚& #cats 🐈‍⬛ :: Writer ✍️ :: Reader of mainly #romantasy #fantas

Do you like books? Do you like extra special PRETTY books?

If so, check out my supply over on my PangoBooks page!

They're ones that I have little to no interest in, have already read and don't want to keep, don't mind selling to get some space and money, etc. And all are in top condition! (I note and show photos otherwise.)

Some are special editions from different book box subscriptions (bookish/darkly box, owlcrate, etc.), some are just super pretty editions that I just don't need anymore, some are unwrapped and have never been read, some have been read ONCE (at most), some are because I was silly and bought one version when I already had the other (and totally didn't realize it...)

I don't have all the ones I'm selling up there yet (it takes time to take these photos!) but check out it--and share to fellow book lovers who might want something special.

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The World as it SHOULD Be

I finished listening to Barack Obama's "A PROMISED LAND" a few days ago, and since one of my other books that I was waiting for on Libby wasn't ready yet-- I figured, "Well, I've done Barack's book. Now let's do Michelle's!"

The fact that BOTH are narrated by them (so I get to hear the voices of very intelligent individuals once more) is just a bonus

But I came across this particular part in her book, "BECOMING", and the quote really stuck out to me--

“The choice, as he saw it, was this: You give up or you work for change. “What’s better for us?” Barack called to the people gathered in the room. “Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?”

And really-- that's the whole point, isn't it? Why should any of us just settle for the world like it is, when you know it should be better? You KNOW that. So you try and make it better, to make it "as it should be"

I hear all the time, "well, that's just the way it is" (in regards to a LOT of different things, usually when I'm talking about how horrible something in the world is) and I just want to argue, "Well, then it shouldn't be."

At what point in our lives did we decide to just-- quit even trying to make things BETTER? To just give up, shrug our shoulders, and just "eh, that's just the way it is" about things?

NO.

I refuse to accept it.

If humanity had just settled for the world as it is-- well, then human kind wouldn't have advanced past the stage of cavemen!

And well, like Aelin said in SJM's THRONE OF GLASS series--

"The world will be saved and remade by the dreamers."

I'm not alone in thinking that, right? I'm not alone in wanting to make things better, to not just settle, right? Sometimes it feels like I am, like everyone is just so freaking tired that they don't care anymore and I don't know...

I can't not care. I can't not want to make it better, to at least TRY to do something that makes this spin around this planet, this life, something other than a miserable shit-show...

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Grand total of books read for 2025 :: Fifty-Nine (59)

(I hate that I ended up getting sick and wasn't able to power through a 60th, but oh well. I still beat last year's amount by 19!)

And this was harder in parts than I thought it'd be, when I set out to do it. I feel like some of my FAVES this year weren't "the fave" for that month, and the first part of the year-- yeah, let's just say those were the hardest ones to narrow down to a victor!

Some honorable mentions ::

Rule of Aurora King (Nisha J. Tuli)

Fearless (Lauren Roberts)

Shield of Sparrows (Devney Perry)

The Scars Within (Ang T. Dalton)

Unbound (Penelope Bloom)

Of Blood and Aether (Harper Hawthorne)

The Serpent and the Wolf (Rebecca Robinson)

Brimstone (Callie Hart)

The Darkness Within (Ang T. Dalton) **eARC; will release Jan.13.2026

Here's to even MORE wonderful reading (and some *hopefully very incredible* sequels) in 2026!

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Donate to Support Xaden's Health: Dental Care Needed, organized by Megan Elsinger

Hi. My name is Megan, and this little lovable guy is named Xaden. He came in… Megan Elsinger needs your support for Support Xaden's Health:

Anything--spread the word, get it out in front of other eyes, etc. I still haven't been able to figure out a way to free up funds to help little Xaden (not to mention the fact that little Sasha needs a dental checkup too...)

More precious kitty images below (just because)

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When little Xaden tries to distract me from doing anything that isn’t “paying attention to him”… Obviously we stop & take care of His Majesty 👑🐈‍⬛

This boy is utterly gorgeous and loves all the cuddles & every bit of attention that gets bestowed upon him.

But he is totally not spoiled at all... Nope.

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When little Sasha wakes up & doesn’t know what universe he’s in, we’ve got to document it. Even if that does put the camera in his face 😂

Precious little lion always wakes up from his naps in that way. "Where am I? What year is it? What universe am I in?" The complete confusion (and "Why are you disturbing me?") looks are always there.

It probably doesn't help that I then stick the phone in his face to take a photo, but he looks so freaking cute!

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Utterly perfect way to spend the evening, that’s all I’m saying. Little Sasha & little Xaden agree, naturally. 📚: FEARFUL by Lauren Roberts

Posted over on my instagram about a month ago, but yeah. Figured it wouldn't hurt to share here, either, since these precious boys are my entire world.

(And the novella was pretty good, too.)

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Little Sasha, my wonderful, curious, mischievous little lion, has discovered a brand new hiding spot. He’s my professional hide-and-seeker & it took me all day to discover he was here. Silly little lion cub!

Keep in mind that normally, the gap between the shirts is not there, of course. So little dude was completely hidden.

That towel has now become his. And it's his favorite one, naturally! Which definitely makes it far easier when I have to get him into the carrier to go somewhere... since his scent is all over it...

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Like the ancient sphinxes, Sasha decides who may approach the SJM books… who is worthy enough to touch such valuable artifacts…

Needless to say, the precious (demon child) takes that job very seriously. It's one of his favorite spots to be when we're in the library--if he's not actually in his soft cat bad, of course. (Xaden usually claimed the window or is demanding attention from me at the desk.)

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While I did manage to post this on my instagram on October 1st, I didn't make it over here for Threshing, but oh well. Turns out, though, that my copies of the "Wing & Claw" Editions for Fourth Wing and Iron Flame arrived on-- You guessed it!

October 1st!

Which gave me the perfect excuse to play around and "reorganize" my Empyrean bookcase. (I can't call it a shelf at this point. There's four shelves and I'm probably gonna end up using all five on this case strictly for Empyrean stuff.)

Shelf #1 -- The OGs. The originals. The ones that came from midnight releases (in terms of IF & OS) and the FIRST copy I got of FW--that started it all. And yes, it has the initial dragon edges.

Shelf #2 -- The Wing & Claw Editions.

Shelf #3 -- The "Special Editions" from (left to right) The Bookish Box, Acrylipics, and Lilac Library.

Shelf #4 -- The "Others" -- paperback edition, Holiday FW Edition, an extra IF, the Target edition of OS...

All the decor has come from so many artists and others on the internet (usually either their direct shops or their etsy shops, or the book box sites (like BookishBox), or BooksAMillion/Barnes&Noble, etc.

Yes. It is my favorite case. Followed closely in second place by my SJM case, but Empyrean definitely is the favorite :)

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And I cannot let International Cat Day pass without celebrating my precious little demon child, my little lion, my cub Simba--little Sasha! He is the most curious little thing ever, and gets into the most trouble because everything is always for Sasha. Naturally!

Once more copying this one over from my instagram, this is the post I made for little Sasha on International Cat Day (August 8th). We celebrated Sasha's FIRST BIRTHDAY (making my curious little lion) an entire year old and "officially" an adult cat, back on February 13th, and he has officially been with me for an entire year back on April 2nd of this year.

When I brought him home that night as a tiny little fluff ball, little Xaden was like "what did you do, mom?"

But needless to say, as exasperated as Xaden will seem, and as super curious as Sasha as (because naturally he has to know everything and be everywhere and be the very center of attention, of course!), the two brothers get along wonderfully.

My boys are my entire world. I can't imagine life without them. I don't want to.

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On International Cat Day I have to highlight all the black cat love, with my precious little Xaden. This is just a small snapshot of the almost 2 years I've had with him (so far). And my chill panther is my baby. We love him completely.

Copying over from my instagram, the post I made for precious little Xaden on International Cat Day (August 8th). He turned two years old back on June 23rd. (Or at least that's when we celebrate his birthday because the shelter estimated he was born "somewhere around the latter part of June of 2023" -- so he gets the 23rd as his birthday.)

I will officially have been his cat mom, and he would have been in my life, for two years come September 26th. I wouldn't change anything. This baby is everything to me.

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A few months ago, a co-worker’s daughter came across this little abandoned kitten. Poor thing was so near death, and my co-worker was all “we CANNOT keep it” (to her daughter) so she asked if I could, knowing how much of a cat lover I am. She offered to pay for all its care, etc. if I took it, but as much as I’d take every kitty in the world, I couldn’t either. So I brought the little guy to the shelter, hoping he’d make it, get a good home, etc. Today, I’m in PetSmart getting food for little Xaden & Sasha & what do you know— there’s the little guy from those months ago, looking so much healthier, ready to find his forever home! So proud of him (and the ones at the local shelter who helped get him back to health). You go, little guy! I hope you find that loving family that will give you all the cuddles and treats forever! (You definitely deserve it!)

Seriously, though -- this MADE MY DAY today! I had (in all truth) figured the precious baby had succumbed to his sicknesses, or just realistically had no idea that I'd ever see him again. Why would I? I gave him to the shelter and "Hoped for the best".

To get the very fortunate chance to know now that he made it, that he is alive and well, that he is healthy (and has so much energy in that little PetSmart "come and adopt me" area), has just given me so many feelings, it's unreal!

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When little Xaden is oh so curious about the phone that is taking his picture (that his mama has in his face again)

Needless to say, he looked so statuesque while sitting on my bookcase there (and this was by far not the only picture taken) but it was the one with him nosing the phone's camera like that-- and thus making little Xaden even more adorable and precious and the perfect kitty that he is.

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It is way too hot to function in this world right now.

Have I said before how much I utterly despise summer? And the heat? Not just "oh I prefer the cold" --

No. I DESPISE the summer weather. With every passionate bone in my body. Detest it. Hate it. I would utterly obliterate it if I could.

Because "summer" holds absolutely no importance once you're out of school and it's no longer a break, etc. All it means is that the weather turns absolutely fucking MISERABLE in every possible way:

the sun is WAY too bright

the humidity

the "cool" days are in the mid-80 degrees Fahrenheit (of which you MIGHT get... two or three in the entire 4 months--if you're lucky) ; average days are mid to high-90s.

it ALWAYS feels at least 100 degrees

the bugs are out in FULL force. We're talking beetles, spiders, june bugs, mosquitos-- ALL OF THEM.

being outside for barely 0.5 seconds makes you sweaty and soaking wet with that sweat that it feels like you need to take another shower. I mean your clothes are literally WET (like you just came out of that shower IN said clothes) but all it is that sweat from said heat & humidity

heat = major trigger for my migraines. and you know how they say "figure out what the triggers are, avoid them, etc." Can't exactly CONTROL THE WEATHER, can I? So the summer is utterly MISERABLE as I stay inside as much as humanly possible (with the AC on, the fans on full-blast, etc.) because it's the only way I can diminish said expose to such a migraine trigger

another of my medications doesn't work well with heat so again-- see above.

I have ZERO patience with stupid people on a nice, cool wonderful day. As we all know, heat makes tempers even shorter and patience fried to the average person anyway. So imagine the fact that I have to deal with that-- THEIR stupidity and lack of patience--and the fact that my ZERO level is now in the negatives because of said heat and temper--

Not to mention the fact that all of this makes it hard to focus on things, and all I want to do for the most part is sleep with the precious kitty boys underneath a maximum blowing fan.

And the fact that this kind of weather (because of climate change and all that) has gone from being during June-August, for the most part, to now pretty much mid-May to mid-October, (sometimes as early as March & April) still in the 80s or so in November and if we're lucky we can have "fall weather" at Xmas time so I can at least PRETEND the season is somewhat right--

I couldn't do THREE months years ago.

There's something severely wrong with people that enjoy the 9 months of this crap.

(I will take winter temperatures over summer temperatures ALL YEAR LONG because I can put on a coat--five coats, ten blankets on the bed--if I get cold. I can only take so much crap off!)

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It’s this special boy’s birthday today (well, yesterday, but I forgot to post this pic here on tumblr--even if it did make it to some other social media sites)! He’s a big full TWO YEARS OLD! Needless to say he’s just as chill as always, and somehow miraculously puts up with his little brother’s antics.

Happy birthday, little Xaden!