Friday Fics Fix - Under the Sea, Just Bucky and Me!

There's an AU for everything - I'm sure I've said this before.

(Meh, maybe I haven't said it before. Who can remember any more?)

There's an AU for baristas, werewolves, vampires, colleges... plus that one time when I found a fic which literally had all the things I just mentioned, and more. :)

(Fangirling note: AU = Alternate Universe, of which there are many.)

And this week, I'd like to introduce you to the mermaid AU.

But first, let me level with you - I haven't been able to read as much fanfiction this week as I would've liked to.

So what I've done is pick the best of the handful of fics that I have read this week. Hope you like my selection ;)

There are a lot of mermaid stories out there - for multiple fandoms.

It's honestly not something I would naturally write about, or go out of my way to read, but I've stumbled across more than a few in my fangirling travels.

via GIPHY

This week's fic is a Stucky re-telling of The Little Mermaid.

(Fangirling note: As you probably know if you've been anywhere near this blog before, Stucky is the romantic entanglement of Steve 'Captain America' Rogers and Bucky Barnes.)

I'm not kidding.

It's made up of two chapters - chapter 1 is basically the whole story... and chapter 2 is the shameless smut!

Chapter 2 is 18+ only little nerdlets! I have to attempt to preserve what's left of your innocence.

Strangely, chapter 1 is pretty PG. So knock yourselves out with the first part, and show proof-of-age ID at the second ;)




This week's fic is:

In a Palace by the Sea by mylifeisloki



So enjoy the fluffy mermaid-ness (and the smutty mermaid-ness if you're old enough) and I will see you here next week for more fanfiction shenanigans ;)

(And hopefully by next week I'll have had time to read more fanfiction!)








Like this post? Try these:

• Friday Fics Fix! - So Many Alternatives
• Friday Fics Fix - Can It Be The Way It Was?

Comics Wrap Up - Sugar Cane in the Easy Morning

Graphic Novels

This week I read & reviewed Mythic, Volume 1 (UK - US) - which was pretty wacky, quite trippy, and a lot of fun.

You can check out my review here.

I also read Limbo, Volume 1 (UK - US) - also a trippy li'l number, and one that I'll be reviewing soon. :)






Other Stuff



Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, will be releasing a graphic novel, illustrated by Fred Fordham, in 2017.

The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship will be released in the UK, US, and Canada in June 2017.

It looks pretty darn awesome :)

-0-

Marvel are releasing a mini-series where Marvel characters are Tsum Tsums (yeah... I didn't know wtf that was before I looked it up. I'm still not entirely clear on the concept...)

I don't know whether to be happy... or scared. Maybe both?

via GIPHY

-0-

Troy Wiggins @ Panels wrote this very considered, impassioned, and interesting piece about the importance of black superheroes.

-0-

Ryan Haupt, also @ Panels, wrote a post about fears and failings, and the inspiration of superheroes in the real world.

Like this post? Try these:

• Review (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Mythic, Volume 1
• Comics Wrap Up - If You Change Your Mind, You Know Where I Am

Review (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Mythic, Volume 1

Title: Mythic, Volume 1

Author: Phil Hester

Artist: John McCrea

Other Contributors: Willie Schubert, Michael Spicer, Rian Hughes, Rob Levin

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Mythology

Series: Mythic (#1-8)

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

This looked interesting - mythological stuff and all that jazz.

So, me being me, and being easily amused, I gave it a shot.

Premise:

The world is in a very specific balance. That balance is helped (or damaged) by mythical beings.

To keep things ticking along smoothly, Mythic, run almost entirely by figures from myths and legends, acts as a sort mystical-world-police.

And now they're under attack...

Best bits:

I liked the retro-vibe to the art here.

It purposefully goes in for that sort of poor-paper-quality look that gives everything a slightly nostalgic, retro-comics, feel, and it really worked.

I also loved Cass - Cassandra, y'know the Cassandra, prophecies and all that? - because she was kind of kick-a*s, cynical, and fun, all at the same time :)

And Nate - the cell-phone salesman who gets dragged into this insane world - is just fab.

You have all these super-powerful people like: 'Nate! Little help?!' and he just steps right up and works that sh** out.

(Oh, and Cass and Nate? I totally ship it.)

There's also some pretty damned weird stuff here for us to enjoy - which made me smile, 'cos you all know that I'm all about the quirky stuffs ;)

Not so great bits:

Dudes, I could've done without the mountain-sex (yes, I actually mean 'mountain-sex') - it's just not something I needed in my life. #SorryNotSorry.

So there's some sexual content here, and a lot of adult humour. There's also a butt-tonne of swearing, gore, and violence. So if any of that is an issue? Not the book for you.

A lot of people are also going to find a little bit... I'm gonna go with 'trippy,' but 'bat-sh** crazy' also kind of works.

Again, I'm all for the wackiness, but it might out-weird a lot of people. Trust me, this is wacky.

Also, the Mythic uniforms made me really, really, want pizza. They look like delivery people - and I got really hungry.

Verdict:

OK, this is gonna be a bit much crazy for some people's systems.

But dude, I thoroughly enjoyed the sh** out of it ;)

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

Liked this post? Try these:

• Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) Luna The Vampire by Yasmin Sheikh
• Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening

The Diverse Books Tag

**This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links, which allow me to earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.**

**Please only use my affiliate links for .COM purchases, as I do NOT earn from other Amazon sites**

This tag was invented by Naz @ Read Diverse Books, who wants to get everyone reading diverse books.

And you guys all know that I want to get everyone reading books of any type. So there's a lot of crossover space there ;)

How You Can Be An Eco Book-Nerd (With 5 Handy Tips)

Books are awesome. Book nerds are awesome. Being eco is awesome.

Why don't we combine the three??????

It can be difficult, sometimes, to be eco when your favouritest hobby (e.g. reading) is based on paper and electronic stuff.

But fear not nerdlets! I have 5 handy tips for minimising our planet-destroying ways while still reading what we want!

1. Natural Light = Good.

Just because we read about vampires doesn't mean we have to live like them. When and where natural light is available, open your curtains and use it!

I have a BAD habit of waking up in the morning, putting my light on, and reading in bed under the electric light.

This is OK and understandable when it's a grey and basically nocturnal January morning where you can barely see your hand in front of your face, but in the middle of a bright summer's day, use what the sky gives you! It's free!

2. Swap Time!





via GIPHY

Swap with a friend to get extra life out of paper books and magazines. Sometimes this works out better for one friend than another.

(I read fast and The Bestie reads slow - she gets more of my stuff than I do of hers. But that's OK, because she's awesome.)

In the end though, this is a great way to clear space for new books while re-using the old ones.

You can also lend/borrow books, but I know some of you are a bit fussy about that. I'm not, but that's 'cos I'm a rebel, me ;)

3. Use Your Library, and WALK To It





via GIPHY

Libraries are awesome and get you new books for free! True story.

This also means utilising one copy of a book several times - that re-using thing again!

Now, the other fab thing about libraries is that walking to them is cheaper than the gym AND means saving on the eco no-no of unnecessary car usage.

Of course, if your library's further away, you might not have that opportunity, but try using public transport where you can!

4. Sleep or Off?

There seems to be no general agreement over whether it's better to put your e-reader into sleep mode, or just switch it off. Apparently, Amazon claims it makes no difference.

With my Kobo, I have to say the battery life definitely seems to last longer if I put it off when I know I'm not going to be using it for a while.

Sleep mode is great for saving energy if you're chatting to someone, or popping to the loo, or whatever.

Likewise, there seems to be little to no info out there on whether you should charge your e-reader regularly, or leave it to run down.

My advice? Pay attention to what your own particular e-reader does. And go with that.

And as long as you remember to put it either on sleep mode or off, it's better than just leaving it on all the time ;)

5. The Hidden Eco-Book-Sins





via GIPHY

I'm talking about tea, coffee, and snacks. We all like a little bite to eat and something to drink while we read. But we forget about the energy involved.

I'm not saying to go nuts and guard your kettle valiantly with a teaspoon, but watch how much water you're boiling. If it's just you and your book, then you don't need to put all that much water on to boil.

And remember to recycle your snack-packaging where possible!

So my little Eco Book-Nerds, go forth and spread the word!

And remember, not only will the planet be better off, but you'll also be saving yourself/whoever pays your bills some cash. And who doesn't want that?????







Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - A Taste of Wales
  
• 6 Ways To Read More Widely

Nerd Church - The World Won't Save Itself

Let me level with you my dearest nerdlets: the world sucks right now.

Paris, Orlando, Nice, Dallas, Jo Cox, Brexit, Philando Castile... I could keep going on but it's already too depressing. This is 2016.

Yes, the world sucks right now.

Bu it doesn't have to.

Hell knows, the world can be a beautiful and amazing place, and good things are possible.

Sure, there's always going to be bad somewhere in the world. Fact of life.





Utopias don't exist, and they would probably be mind-numbingly boring if they did.

If we could avoid a dystopia a la The Hunger Games, 12 Monkeys, 1984, Logan's Run, etc. though -? That would be great.

via GIPHY

'But Cee, I'm just one person!'

Yes little nerdlet, you are, indeed, one individual. But the world is made up of individuals.

Amazing individuals who are beauty and light and intricate complexities of muscles and neurons all mixed together, thinking and feeling and loving and living.



One person can change the world.

I know, I know, I sound starry-eyed pie-in-the-sky right now. But I mean it. One person. You.

Small changes mean everything in this world my dear friend. Butterfly effect and all that jazz. Plus, not adding to the general crappiness going around has gotta count for something... right????

It's actually quite simple to change the world: don't be a jerk, and be nice.

Not hard, right????? You'd think so, but somehow we seem to be having trouble with it.




So join me. Because the world won't save itself.

It doesn't have to be much - put your change in the charity box, say 'thanks' or 'please' or 'sorry' as applicable... it's the little things guys. Help save the world.





Nerd Church is a weekly post where I discuss things and attempt to stop the world going to sh*t. I'd be super happy if you shared :)






Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - Love Will Always Win
• Nerd Church - We Are All People

Conversations - Book Series: Yay or Nay?

Conversations is a meme from Geraldine @ Corralling Books and Joan @ Fiddler Blue.

I just join in when I feel like it because I have a hare-brained way of approaching life XD

So, this week/fortnight/whatever-day-it-is we have the question of:

Book Series: Yay or Nay?

OK, I'm going to indulge my Bookish Rebel tendencies again, and just point out that as a community, we bookish-people WORRY ABOUT THIS WAY TOO MUCH.

Seriously, you all seem to have these rules about series - ranging from you HAVE to finish a series, to all of the books in the series  HAVE to be exactly the same size and in corresponding covers or you will all freak the hell out!!!!!!

Meanwhile, I'm in the corner, like: 'Can I get anyone a cuppa? ...Or a chill pill?'

People I bug on the Internet have discussions with may already know this, but I read a lot of series out of order.

And for this I-do-what-I-want!!!!! and don't give it a second thought attitude, I blame several factors:

• The fact that I will quote Loki and/or Loki memes WHENEVER POSSIBLE

via GIPHY

• My hippie-ish upbringing - I've heard 'go with the flow' since I was too teeny-tiny to know what the eff it meant.

• Reading a sh** load of comics - seriously, ain't no-one got the time, money, or will-power to read through all 50+ years of major Marvel and DC canon. And even if you do, it's still not gonna make all that much sense. (Earth-616. Spider-Ham. That is all.)

• Being a major library/second-hand-store reader, you tend to pick a lot of stuff up that's mid-series, often by accident. After a while, you barely notice any more.

via GIPHY

• Fanfiction has warped my brain. I no longer require long explanations for anything. You wanna have a world where everyone is a talking banana? WHY THE HELL NOT????? (*Laughs hysterically*)

• Most of the time the author will stick a bunch of reminders into the latest volume of the series, because we all have the memories of book-amnesiac goldfish.

via GIPHY

That all said, I seem to have meandered off-topic (which is totally not like me *snorts sarcastically*)

Right, the point, which I'm sure I had somewhere towards the beginning... but, then again, maybe not... is that we stress too much about series.

So, are series better, or are standalones?

Well kids, let me let you in on a little secret - there is no 'better.' There's only things that you enjoy and/or connect with, and things that you don't.

The difference isn't in whether the story is split into one part or one hundred.

The difference is you.

via GIPHY

What do you think? Am I making sense? Or am I talking complete cr*p? (Wouldn't be the first time.)

Do you think it's more about the story than the number of instalments? Or does that matter more to you?

Like this post? Try these:

• Conversations - Is 15 Years Old Too Young To Be Reading Fifty Shades of Grey?
• Conversations - Lending Out Books