Friday Fics Fix - HP Halloween Begins!

'Malfoy looks shocked, like a deer caught in headlights, nowhere to run and just staring wide eyed at Ron, pushing Harry towards him. Suddenly Hermione realises what Luna meant: the bet.'

It's October! Which means a whole month's worth of Harry Potter fanfiction, 'Friday Fics Fix' posts, here at Dora Reads!

(Because that way I can avoid Halloween-themed fics and therefore hopefully avoid reading things I can't un-read. 😅)

Friday Fics Fix - Light and Dark

'There was a noise somewhere but he couldn't make it out. He tried to call for help but it wasn't words, just a distressed sound and more tears.'

I love Oliver Queen, aka The Green Arrow, and the show he's the lead of - which is handily named Arrow. 😅

(Also handily, this was the first in the CW's DC series, known collectively as 'Arrowverse')




Oliver's had something of a rough life. 

I mean, the first 20-something years were pretty sweet - he was the priviliged trust fund party-boy with little regard for what substances he was sticking in his body, and the feelings of his romantic partners.

(I was gonna make a dodgy pun there, but thankfully resisted. If you can figure out what it would've been, then you've probably read as much fanftiction as I have! 😅)

Comics Wrap-Up - I Couldn't Bear The Thought of Leavin' Her

It's Thursday! Time to get your cape and cowl and enjoy some superhero-y goodness!

Comics Wrap-Up - I'm Not What You Think You See

Girl power, Queer power, and a butt-tonne of comics-y goodness! It's Thursday, and it's time for superheroes!

Month in Review(s) - August 2019

August was not as hot here in the UK!!!!! 

Thank whatever deity, divine power, or cosmic entity that may be listening!

Don't get me wrong, there were still days which were officially too hot. But there were less of them. *sighs happily*

Unfortunately, I spent most of August with a cold.

Because I'm one of those people who will catch every virus imaginable after a galandular-fever-like illness screwed my immune system over when I was 16. Good times.

Friday Fics Fix - Something Followed

'He can feel something else coming through, something uninvited.'

I love horror.

...You may or may not have noticed.

Generally speaking, the less-realistic and more fake-looking the horror is, the more I'm freaked out.

There are some notable exceptions (Pet Sematary *shudders*) but overall, the more realistic and convincing the horror is, the more I'm like: meh, it's a ghost.


Related Reading: Nerd Church - My Real-Life Ghost Stories

Comics Wrap-Up - And Just Don't Tell The World That You're... Sh!

It's Thursday. And not all heroes wear capes. (Comics still rock though.)

Comics Wrap-Up - Troubled Love and High-Speed Noise

It's Thursday. I have no idea how we got so far through the week. Let's get some superhero-y goodness!

Review Time! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Watersnakes by Tony Sandoval

This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.com (USA.) I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Title: Watersnakes

Author: Tony Sandoval

Genres: 

Graphic Novel, Fantasy*, Young Adult, Magic Realism, LGBTQ+ (F/F), Horror*, Ghost Story* (*ish) 

Buy Now USA

Comics Wrap-Up - Girls Get Up Early and Stay Out Late

It's Thursday! The day that comes after Wednesday and before Friday!

It also means superheroes and comics-y goodness here on Dora Reads! 😀

Friday Fics Fix - Change Is The Only Constant

'“You have three sisters today,” said Klaus with a mouthful of dry cereal, a box of Cheerios in hand.

“Okay,” said Five, before going back to whatever he was doing.

“..That’s it? No signature snarky response from ol’ Número Cinco?"'

One of the many reasons I love my Queer Umbrella Academy Queen, Klaus Hargreeves, is that the TV version of his character in particular gives Queer folks the perfect space to explore ourselves.

Klaus wears skirts and feather boas.

He loves make-up and unicorns and high heels and the colour pink and women and men.

He rocks. Out loud.

Comics Wrap-Up - It's A Beautiful Thing When Boy Meets Boy

It's Thursday, and that means it's time for superheroes and all the comics-y goodness! Woo! 😀

Month in Review(s) - July 2019

July was too goddamned hot.

I spelled Gorffennaf wrong in the graphic - oops! 😅

I'm not built for anything past 23C, and it hit, like 31C.

I know to some of you who live in hotter places than the UK, that's nothing but... it's really not nothing to us!

I'm not a nice person when I'm hot - I'm grumpy af and just want to make the world suffer.

Also, I live in Wales. Summer is traditionally one big rain shower - WTAF with this heat?!

Friday Fics Fix - Rub-a-Dub

'Draco may have screamed (in a very manly and authoritative way, he later insisted to Harry) when he saw the state of the bathroom.'

Sometimes, with fanfiction, you only have two choices: fun and fluffy... or things you can't unsee.

I mean, I don't make the rules, I just read the fics.

Comics Wrap-Up - Blonde Hair Blowin' in the Summer Wind

**This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.com (US). I earn a commission from qualifying purchases**

It's Thursday, and I've got a butt-tonne of strong female heroes, awesome TV shows, and general comics-related goodness! 😃

Nerd Church - My New Self-Care Strategy

(Warning: this post discusses low self-esteem and Depression)


I have a plan!


My plan is this: to treat myself BETTER than I think I deserve.


'Hang on Cee!' I hear you cry (well, I don't but it's a structural narrative device,) 'What the hell are you talking about?!'

Let's rewind.

Friday Fics Fix - Twists and Turns

'Trying to talk to Five is like talking to a brick wall that thinks it’s smarter than you and disappears as soon as it gets bored, which is quickly.'

Let's visit The Umbrella Academy!

(I will never tire of this show.)

Comics Wrap-Up - God is a Woman

Once a year, there is the event of all comics-y-ness - San Diego Comic Con (SDCC).

Unfortunately, most of us can't sell our souls to get to SDCC...

...but fortunately, the trailers the big companies release there trickle out over the next couple of weeks, and the big announcements are pretty much immediate!

Nerd Church - Casual Homophobia: A Thousand Cuts

(Warning: this post discusses several instances of homophobia, and the feelings caused.)

I use the term homophobia here as a catch-all for all types of bigotry against LGBTQ+ people.



When I was very, very, small, someone I love - an adult - said something that stuck a tiny dagger into my heart.

They said, "...it shows being Gay as something natural. Which it's not."

And a teeny-tiny voice in my small child brain said, 'But what about me?' and then I stamped it down very, very, hard.

Partly because I didn't know what I meant. What about me? What was I?

Well, if straight was the natural... then I was straight? Right?

Friday Fics Fix - 3-For-1 Boarding-School Special

I normally recommend one fic a week in these posts. This week, I'm gonna rec three.

Why? Because I can't choose between them.

And now I've given up trying - I'm just gonna give 'em to you, with a bit of info about each!