selenak: (Borgias by Andrivete)
[personal profile] selenak
The third volume in Jo Graham's series about Giulia Farnese is compelling Renaissance romp, full of fascinating personalities, political intrigue and emotional crisis. (You can read my review of the first Giulia novel here, and of the second here.) Incidentally, it's eerie how these novels fit with contemporary events. The last one which dealt with the papal elections, and one key point it makes was no, it does matter which candidate succeeds, sneering that one is like the other gets you into the abyss fast, and now this one features the French Invasion of Italy. (No need to name the many wars and invasions currently happening.) It coincides with the first big personal crisis between our heroine and her beloved, Rodrigo Borgia aka Pope Alexander VI., which Graham uses to expertly tie the personal and political story together.

ExpandMild spoilers ensue )

ST: Strange New Worlds 3.01 and 3.02

Jul. 20th, 2025 07:16 pm
selenak: (Discovery)
[personal profile] selenak
In which it's time for the charming nostalgia show again.

ExpandWhile the season opener resolves last season's cliffhanger, episode 2 makes one of Peter David's inventions canon )

Just Create - Monitor Edition

Jul. 19th, 2025 03:40 pm
silvercat17: close up of Lion-o's face with sparkles (liono)
[personal profile] silvercat17 posting in [community profile] justcreate
What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?

Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?

What do you just want to talk about?

What have you been watching or reading?

Chores and other not-fun things count!

Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky

Foundation: 3.02

Jul. 19th, 2025 06:02 pm
selenak: (Default)
[personal profile] selenak
I had an extremely busy week for rl reasons, but am now up to date with the most visually gorgeous sci fi show currently on tv. (The possible competitions being on hiatus. Or cancelled, grr, argh.)

ExpandSpoilers want more time )

Superman [2025]

Jul. 14th, 2025 11:13 pm
myrmidon: [commission; DNT] ([film;] only act like i know everything.)
[personal profile] myrmidon posting in [community profile] fandom_icons
Superman (2025)
[ david corenswet ]


[ here @ [community profile] axisandallies ]

Multifandom icons!

Jul. 13th, 2025 12:35 pm
word_never_said: (Default)
[personal profile] word_never_said posting in [community profile] fandom_icons
45 total (The Pitt, The Wheel of Time, The Gilded Age)



more here @ [community profile] stillpermanentt

Foundation 3.01

Jul. 13th, 2025 11:26 am
selenak: (Demerzel and Terminus)
[personal profile] selenak
In which we make another time jump, the Foundation is now in its monarchical phase, while Empire seems to approach its version of the Third Century Crisis. Also: Demerzel is still my favourite.

ExpandSpoilers are explaining the Three Laws of Robotics and the Zeroth Law )
silvercat17: blue/white tiger in a cage and snarling (tiger)
[personal profile] silvercat17 posting in [community profile] justcreate
What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?

Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?

What do you just want to talk about?

What have you been watching or reading?

Chores and other not-fun things count!

Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky

R.F. Kuang: Yellowface (Book Review)

Jul. 8th, 2025 04:08 pm
selenak: (Damages by Agsmith01)
[personal profile] selenak
Very entertaining satiric novel set in and about the publishing industry. Our first person narrator, June (white), is a writer with a debut novel which didn't make a splash and won't even, so her agent tells her, get a paperback edition, in stark contrast to her college friend Athena Liu's (American Chinese) work: Athena has three novels already published, just secured a Netflix deal and celebrates that and finishing the first draft of her newest work with June when she dies an accidental death by pancake. June doesn't just dial 911. She also makes off with Athena's manuscript, about which only she knows, edits, rewrites and publishes it. Presto, success, at last! ! But wait! There's no lack of sharp-eyed foes waiting, social media is truly a jungle, and June might be her own worst enemy....
ExpandVery vague spoilers ensue )

The novel has the right kind of length for this story - which is to say, less than 400 pages - so the various buildings up of suspense - will June get away with it being the big, but not the only one - are not drawn out too long, and there's not a gigantic cast of characters. Said characters reminded me of comedy of manners types - very stylized, often types for certain ways of behaviour - fittng the satire format. The only other thing of R. F. Kuang's I'd read before was Poppy War, a fantasy novel of a very different type, so I'm impressed by her range. Otoh, if Poppy War was so grim that I emerged emotionally exhausted and sure I would go through the experience again (while being glad I had done so in the first place), Yellowface felt like a slick writty automaton which you observe once and marvel at its cleverness but don't feel the need to do it again. But I will certainly continue to keep out an eye for this author.

various

Jul. 7th, 2025 11:25 pm
sinew: (/人。•ヮ•。人\)
[personal profile] sinew posting in [community profile] fandom_icons
[63] heaven official's blessing (tgcf)
[16] pixel
[13] art
[06] boyfriends
[03] sanrio
[02] barbie



more here
Page generated Jul. 22nd, 2025 02:52 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios