Oliver Darkshire
@deathbybadger.bsky.social
dire homosexual 🏳️🌈 - ONCE UPON A TOME [2022] 📚 - ISABELLA NAGG AND THE POT OF BASIL [2025] 🪴- One Page RPGS 🎲 (www.patreon.com/deathbybadger) - 🏠 Manchester, UK
https://linktr.ee/oliverdarkshire
https://linktr.ee/oliverdarkshire
Pinned
some exciting news: another book! announcing The Devil and Mrs Gooch, a fantasy in which our capricious friend The Devil falls head over hoof for dread entrepreneur Gwendolyn Gooch, and her latest diabolical scheme: the rented apartment. expect torrid results. releasing USA May 2026 from W.W. Norton
i am currently in an ongoing 3 month long dungeons and dragons related row with a player who claims it was biphobic of me not to let him romance three evil hags and for a moment he was so earnest I almost agreed but on reflection no he's actually just insane
January 6, 2026 at 11:51 AM
i am currently in an ongoing 3 month long dungeons and dragons related row with a player who claims it was biphobic of me not to let him romance three evil hags and for a moment he was so earnest I almost agreed but on reflection no he's actually just insane
ME: I'll just sit down for a moment what could it hurt
THE TORTOISE WITH A KNIFE STRAPPED TO ITS SHELL WHICH HAS BEEN QUIETLY FOLLOWING ME FOR YEARS: yea that's right dipshit take a breather go on
THE TORTOISE WITH A KNIFE STRAPPED TO ITS SHELL WHICH HAS BEEN QUIETLY FOLLOWING ME FOR YEARS: yea that's right dipshit take a breather go on
January 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM
ME: I'll just sit down for a moment what could it hurt
THE TORTOISE WITH A KNIFE STRAPPED TO ITS SHELL WHICH HAS BEEN QUIETLY FOLLOWING ME FOR YEARS: yea that's right dipshit take a breather go on
THE TORTOISE WITH A KNIFE STRAPPED TO ITS SHELL WHICH HAS BEEN QUIETLY FOLLOWING ME FOR YEARS: yea that's right dipshit take a breather go on
Reposted by Oliver Darkshire
I should be cleaning but instead I’m reading Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by @deathbybadger.bsky.social
Last year’s books were pretty dark and I think this one isn’t
Last year’s books were pretty dark and I think this one isn’t
January 4, 2026 at 6:53 PM
I should be cleaning but instead I’m reading Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by @deathbybadger.bsky.social
Last year’s books were pretty dark and I think this one isn’t
Last year’s books were pretty dark and I think this one isn’t
Reposted by Oliver Darkshire
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by @deathbybadger.bsky.social. I loved Once upon a Tome and will probably read everything Oliver puts out. The book is witty, fantastically clever and creative, and just a plain good read.
December 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by @deathbybadger.bsky.social. I loved Once upon a Tome and will probably read everything Oliver puts out. The book is witty, fantastically clever and creative, and just a plain good read.
Reposted by Oliver Darkshire
2026 reading thread.
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil was a great way to kick off the year. I loved the weird, wonderful, somewhat depressing world described.
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil was a great way to kick off the year. I loved the weird, wonderful, somewhat depressing world described.
January 3, 2026 at 2:16 AM
2026 reading thread.
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil was a great way to kick off the year. I loved the weird, wonderful, somewhat depressing world described.
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil was a great way to kick off the year. I loved the weird, wonderful, somewhat depressing world described.
Reposted by Oliver Darkshire
I finished 'Mrs.Nagg & The Pot of Basil' by @deathbybadger.bsky.social in 2025. What an engrossing read!
The resolutions are not at all what i expected. Which is a lot of fun.
Already loaned my copy. Its a good and I definitely recommend it!
All ready on the list for 'The Devil & Mrs Gooch'.
The resolutions are not at all what i expected. Which is a lot of fun.
Already loaned my copy. Its a good and I definitely recommend it!
All ready on the list for 'The Devil & Mrs Gooch'.
January 3, 2026 at 9:32 PM
I finished 'Mrs.Nagg & The Pot of Basil' by @deathbybadger.bsky.social in 2025. What an engrossing read!
The resolutions are not at all what i expected. Which is a lot of fun.
Already loaned my copy. Its a good and I definitely recommend it!
All ready on the list for 'The Devil & Mrs Gooch'.
The resolutions are not at all what i expected. Which is a lot of fun.
Already loaned my copy. Its a good and I definitely recommend it!
All ready on the list for 'The Devil & Mrs Gooch'.
ME: (puts the kettle on)
ANCIENT GREEK CHORUS: he's had too much caffeine today
ME: (turns kettle off, visibly annoyed. puts mug away)
CHORUS: he can run from the kettle but not from his blood pressure
ANCIENT GREEK CHORUS: he's had too much caffeine today
ME: (turns kettle off, visibly annoyed. puts mug away)
CHORUS: he can run from the kettle but not from his blood pressure
January 4, 2026 at 12:27 AM
ME: (puts the kettle on)
ANCIENT GREEK CHORUS: he's had too much caffeine today
ME: (turns kettle off, visibly annoyed. puts mug away)
CHORUS: he can run from the kettle but not from his blood pressure
ANCIENT GREEK CHORUS: he's had too much caffeine today
ME: (turns kettle off, visibly annoyed. puts mug away)
CHORUS: he can run from the kettle but not from his blood pressure
I really enjoy the mad theory that some early translator of Cinderella misheard "pantoufle en vair" (slipper of fur) for "pantoufle en verre" (slipper of glass) and then it stuck
January 3, 2026 at 8:29 PM
I really enjoy the mad theory that some early translator of Cinderella misheard "pantoufle en vair" (slipper of fur) for "pantoufle en verre" (slipper of glass) and then it stuck
its sort of very obvious odysseus and penelope are made for each other because he gets back after 20 years covered in filth and she's not sure it's really him under all that grime so instead of saying hey why not take a bath she decides the best way to handle the situation is with a fucking riddle
January 3, 2026 at 1:54 PM
its sort of very obvious odysseus and penelope are made for each other because he gets back after 20 years covered in filth and she's not sure it's really him under all that grime so instead of saying hey why not take a bath she decides the best way to handle the situation is with a fucking riddle
so I guess for this season of #thetraitors they basically had claudia drive through a series of randomly selected gay bars in a fringed van and snatch the first 20 or so people she could find
January 3, 2026 at 12:53 AM
so I guess for this season of #thetraitors they basically had claudia drive through a series of randomly selected gay bars in a fringed van and snatch the first 20 or so people she could find
I don't pretend to be an incredible raconteur but making a boy sit like a dog for me at a party is an icebreaker that never gets old, easiest way to win over every bottom in a 20ft radius
January 2, 2026 at 8:54 AM
I don't pretend to be an incredible raconteur but making a boy sit like a dog for me at a party is an icebreaker that never gets old, easiest way to win over every bottom in a 20ft radius
an original in-box instruction manual for the 2002 real time strategy game Age of Mythology
Ok, everyone, what book is sacred enough to you to get sworn in on?
Strange takes on Mayor Zamdani swearing his oath on the Qu’ran. It has nothing to do with church & state. The point of the oath is for the person swearing in to do so upon some text that is sacred TO THEM. Some Presidents swore in w/o any book. John Quincy Adams was sworn on a law book. His choice.
January 2, 2026 at 8:38 AM
an original in-box instruction manual for the 2002 real time strategy game Age of Mythology
my pot-of-basil voice is high art
"Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil" by @deathbybadger.bsky.social was the most fun I've had with a fantasy audiobook in a long ass time. The little high-pitched voice of the Basil plant will live in my heart. Always.
December 31, 2025 at 9:58 AM
my pot-of-basil voice is high art
Reposted by Oliver Darkshire
"Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil" by @deathbybadger.bsky.social was the most fun I've had with a fantasy audiobook in a long ass time. The little high-pitched voice of the Basil plant will live in my heart. Always.
December 31, 2025 at 7:45 AM
"Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil" by @deathbybadger.bsky.social was the most fun I've had with a fantasy audiobook in a long ass time. The little high-pitched voice of the Basil plant will live in my heart. Always.
d&d releases lately are a bit like the world is threatened by Balthamor, an undead wizard who is not defined by his career choices, you need to kill him because he wants to birth the Necrobaby, but please be aware his politics are a product of his circumstances, his circumstances are that he is evil
December 30, 2025 at 11:33 PM
d&d releases lately are a bit like the world is threatened by Balthamor, an undead wizard who is not defined by his career choices, you need to kill him because he wants to birth the Necrobaby, but please be aware his politics are a product of his circumstances, his circumstances are that he is evil
I keep trying to pick up victor hugo but I feel like he might be one of those writers you need to read in the original french and I wont do that, I simply will not do it, not until they apologize for the siege of Orléans
December 30, 2025 at 10:43 AM
I keep trying to pick up victor hugo but I feel like he might be one of those writers you need to read in the original french and I wont do that, I simply will not do it, not until they apologize for the siege of Orléans
THE PROCESS BEGINS
advance copies swarm from my crooked tower like winged monkeys
advance copies swarm from my crooked tower like winged monkeys
So stoked for @deathbybadger.bsky.social ‘s next book from @wwnortonlibrary.bsky.social !
December 30, 2025 at 9:12 AM
THE PROCESS BEGINS
advance copies swarm from my crooked tower like winged monkeys
advance copies swarm from my crooked tower like winged monkeys
I picked up Frankenstein yesterday (I know, I know, oliver how are you so shoddily educated) and I essentially did not move from my seat until I turned the final page just now. what mastery of the craft. I weep in envy.
December 30, 2025 at 12:01 AM
I picked up Frankenstein yesterday (I know, I know, oliver how are you so shoddily educated) and I essentially did not move from my seat until I turned the final page just now. what mastery of the craft. I weep in envy.
me, an academic: (exhales a plume of smoke from my pipe. I haven't said a word in 5 hours) 1844 was a rather good year for sodomy
December 28, 2025 at 2:41 PM
me, an academic: (exhales a plume of smoke from my pipe. I haven't said a word in 5 hours) 1844 was a rather good year for sodomy
thinking of getting back into ad&d again which is either a really good idea or a sign I'm not coping so well
December 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
thinking of getting back into ad&d again which is either a really good idea or a sign I'm not coping so well
can't decide if I need to watch The War Between The Land and the Sea because to be honest the title does a great job of summarizing the events of the series, not sure what else I would need to know
December 27, 2025 at 6:26 PM
can't decide if I need to watch The War Between The Land and the Sea because to be honest the title does a great job of summarizing the events of the series, not sure what else I would need to know
a fun game for events and gatherings: casually drop the Rat King into conversation and see who looks alarmed, but importantly if challenged you must never admit to having said the words Rat King, you deny it to the grave, this game can ruin an entire evening
December 22, 2025 at 9:45 PM
a fun game for events and gatherings: casually drop the Rat King into conversation and see who looks alarmed, but importantly if challenged you must never admit to having said the words Rat King, you deny it to the grave, this game can ruin an entire evening
imagine doing roll call at Troy, like "agamemnon" and he goes "its pronounced agamemnon" and you say "isnt that what I said" and he says "agamemnon" in a passive aggressive way so you try again but you literally cannot hear the difference and he rolls his eyes and you move on but it's really awkward
December 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
imagine doing roll call at Troy, like "agamemnon" and he goes "its pronounced agamemnon" and you say "isnt that what I said" and he says "agamemnon" in a passive aggressive way so you try again but you literally cannot hear the difference and he rolls his eyes and you move on but it's really awkward
alas "join us or die" never goes down quite as well as people seem to think it will
December 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM
alas "join us or die" never goes down quite as well as people seem to think it will
latest writers discourse is whether it's acceptable to hate the writing process sometimes, and the answer is very simple, if you hate writing then you are an ungrateful indulgent wretch, and if you don't hate it then you are a vain shallow popinjay, everyone is wrong, and we should all die
December 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
latest writers discourse is whether it's acceptable to hate the writing process sometimes, and the answer is very simple, if you hate writing then you are an ungrateful indulgent wretch, and if you don't hate it then you are a vain shallow popinjay, everyone is wrong, and we should all die