3 From My TBR: South Korean Novels In Translation

 

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Since my To-Be-Read (TBR) list is continually growing, from time to time I like to throw together a list focussing on some of the (often diverse) titles on there.

I may never get to all of the 1k+ books on there, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve some attention!

I actually have a few little 3-book-long lists planned, which I'll hopefully get done and dusted and posted over the next couple of months.

I may continue with these little lists after that, I may not - depends on the vibes and my mood, tbh.

Anyway, I figured this would be a good way to get back on the metaphorical blogging-horsey and write some undeniably bookish posts which my brain has limited ways to overthink (please do not suggest any ways for me to overthink this! 😅)

As this is a TBR, I haven't read any of these, so have no idea whether or not they're any good!

The Bookish Diversity Link List 2025

 

Your resource for all things bookish diversity is back! (...Finally.)

Welcome to the 10th Bookish Diversity Link List, 2025.

Due to personal reasons, this year's list is the first since 2016 (the very first list - started in August) to not go up in January.

But I was determined, given the dumpster-fire state of the world, to carry on with the list this year.

So here we are, a little late, a little metaphorically battered and bruised, but still fighting to promote diversity in books. Because it takes a lot of positivity to counter negativity - and the world has plenty of negativity right now.

Friday Fics Fix - A Time-Loop Rec-List

 

...ironically, I thought I'd already done a rec-list on time-loops. I had not. 😅

I'm actually not a huge fan of time-loop fics.

If you don't know what a time-loop is - think Groundhog Day, or Happy Death Day, OK? OK.

In order for me to like it, a time-loop fic usually has to have a little something quirky to it - otherwise I get bored.

...So these aren't likely to be straight-forward, just a head's up!

Friday Fics Fix - Angst, Injury, and People Being Fiercely Protective of Izzy

 

 

'“Really? He said all that?” he asks, skeptical and hopeful by equal measure.

“Not exactly,” Stede admits, “He made a rather confusing analogy about the weight of a cannonball and controlled explosions and the two of you being like saltpeter and charcoal together.”'

Look, I never claimed to be a totally emotionally stable human being - not least because I'm not sure such a thing truly exists.

No, in fact, I've been quite up-front about my emo goblin spaghetti brain's weird and wonderful cravings. Mostly of the angsty variety.

...so I think you can probably guess where this post is going 😅

 

Comics Wrap-Up - Falling Back On Faves

 

It's Thursday, I'm tired, this is Dora Reads - so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - And Now He's An Armadillo

 

'I still think we should try Khonshu, Marc. He’ll be here before long anyway, so…

Nope. He is not having the bird fix this. He will… sort it out. Somehow. Like a big boy.'

This is such a random story. 

- It made me smile, and I think we all could do with some more of that at the moment.

Friday Fics Fix - A Melancholy Little Story

 

'He looked up at the sky and sent a question to the stars.

“Loki, are you there?”

No answer.'

 

This is a melancholy little story about love and loss...

...I ended up liking it a whole lot more than I thought I would.

(Just goes to show that taking a chance on something sometimes pays off.)

Friday Fics Fix - We Got It All

 

'The people who know the Winter Soldier is rogue and hunting won’t exactly be shouting it from the rooftops, because telling people your pet murder machine has gone a little bit rabid on you is just the slightest bit bad for morale.'

 

I'm cheating, this week.

I have rec'd this fic before - way back, in the ancient internet age of 2018 (and also in a few rec lists since then.)

Friday Fics Fix - 3 Novel-Ish Length Horror-Adjacent LGBTQ+ Fics For Spooky Season

 

It's October everyone!

So I thought we'd revisit 3 horror-adjacent* fics that are novel/novella length for this week's F3 - because I'm nice to you like that 😅

They also all turned out to be LGBTQ+, because fanfiction be like that.

*If it has a ghost, I'm counting it 😎

As always, remember to check the tags and the original rec'ing posts for Content Warnings and other details, like SPOILER status!

Friday Fics Fix - Challenging My Golden Fic Rule...

 

Warning: this post discusses mental health problems

'Ed is happy, Stede is happy, the crew is happy. Izzy stands on the sidelines with rope in his hands, watching them all mingle and play. No one seems to notice the shadows under his eyes, how they grow darker, how the purple bruise-like colour seems permanently inked onto his skin these days.'

 

 

Every so often, a fic comes along which challenges my golden rule of fanfic-rec'ing.

And the golden rule is, of course: If it's well-written, I must rec.

Friday Fics Fix - What's A Desperate Mage To Do?

 

'The first look at his demon had his mind reeling, and he swore softly.

"What in Hel?!"

Anthony Stark gave him a smug grin and a chuckle.'

You know in this house (...blog, shh,) we like creativity, yeh?

We also like FrostIron (Tony Stark and Loki in a romantic and/or sexual relationship.)

So... hopefully you can see where this is going 😅

Friday Fics Fix - Some Lovely Steve and Bucky Goodness

'And here Bucky was, living his whole life slightly out of step and just now realising it, because no one had ever told him so.

Slightly out of step.

Different.'

 

Sometimes, you find fics which were written just for you, ya know?

My dearest nerdlets, a fic with Bucky Barnes (from the MCU/Marvel movies etc.) as a sad Queer boi with synaesthesia and migraines? This thing was written for me - no question.

Friday Fics Fix - Out There In The Big Wide World

 

'“Loki.”

His mouth quirks in a smile. Ah, yes. That was his name once. Long ago. Or maybe not yet. He can’t remember which description is most appropriate anymore.'

There are a lot of continuation fics based on the Loki Disney+ series, out there in the big wide world.

I must have read a good number all by my lonesome by now - I know I've rec'd some on more than one occasion.

Friday Fics Fix - Uncle Sam and Uncle Bucky

 

'In the mirror, Cass’s eyes go wide in horror. “If either one of you says that to anybody I know, I’m gonna have to run away and change my name and join the circus. Is that what you want?”

Bucky pretends to think about it. “Would you at least be able to get us free tickets?”'

 

I enjoyed this one way, way, more than I thought I would.

So, this sees Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) and other Marvel stuff several years after TFATWS ends.

- Enough years, in fact, for Sam's nephew Cass to be going to his high school prom.

And of course Uncle Sam and Uncle Bucky volunteered to chaperone - because sometimes Captain America chaperones your high school prom, y'know?

Comics Wrap-Up - I'm All About The Nerd Humour

 

It's Thursday, me and a squirrel made each other jump yesterday, let's get these comics-y superhero-y things, m'k?

Friday Fics Fix - So. Freaking. Beautiful

 

'Sometimes, Klaus can’t look at Dave.'

OK, now that the trailer's out for the very lastest series of The Umbrella Academy (TUA) - for which I am both excited but also sad, because, lastest - this week's F3 seems super relevant.

...Happy coincidences, and all that jazz.

(Or maybe I need to read fanfiction from a wider range of fandoms - rec 'em in the comments if you got 'em!)

Friday Fics Fix - Bucky's A Literal Demon and Sam's A Literal Angel

 

'The first time Bucky laid his beady yellow snake eyes on Sam, however, he knew none of the other demons’ vices held a candle to his own.

He fell in love with an angel, after all.'

 

I don't know whether I liked this week's fic.

...I mean, it's good. I just don't know whether or not I liked it.

Happens sometimes *shrugs*

Comics Wrap-Up - The Freaking Chaos

 

It's Thursday, we live in a ridiculous timeline, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness right here on Dora Reads!

Friday Fics Fix - Cyberpunk Stucky

 

'“Okay, get up, the both of you.” He took out his phone, typed Shuri’s address in, and sent it to Steve’s number. “You’re going to get blood all over the upholstery. And then I’ll have to set fire to it, and then to you for making me sacrifice my good sofa.”'

I love it when fanfic authors have the determination, the dedication, the goddamn verve to write full-length novels.

When those full-length novels are so freaking good - so well thought out, so fleshed out in terms of world-building, so passionate and compelling, that you would legit. buy this as an original novel?

OH MY GOD!!!

Friday Fics Fix - Because I Am Trash

 

'"No, Sam, you're on vacation. Phone it in, let someone else do it."

"Bucky, it's an hour. We can go check it out, then stop at mine and get my stuff and be at the airport by five, half five at the latest. We've got time."'

Narrator: it did not take an hour.

...OK, so this is a The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) fic because I am trash and have run out of effs to give. 😘