@elizabeth-fitz.bsky.social
With CINDER HOUSE done, I've made a start on ALCHEMISED. As I understand, it started life as Harry Potter fanfic. I never read it in that format. I kind of wish I had because I find I'm constantly trying to translate it back into Harry Potter rather than seeing it as it is.
November 29, 2025 at 9:35 PM
With CINDER HOUSE done, I've made a start on ALCHEMISED. As I understand, it started life as Harry Potter fanfic. I never read it in that format. I kind of wish I had because I find I'm constantly trying to translate it back into Harry Potter rather than seeing it as it is.
I was also very amused to note a little cameo from @leioss.bsky.social in the story. Is she the person I know most likely to buy a charm from a fairy? Quite possibly.
November 29, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I was also very amused to note a little cameo from @leioss.bsky.social in the story. Is she the person I know most likely to buy a charm from a fairy? Quite possibly.
And, in the tradition of the very best retellings, it manages to keep something of the shape of the original, while taking it some very unexpected places.
All this packaged up with some gorgeous writing. It has me looking forward to Marske's next book.
All this packaged up with some gorgeous writing. It has me looking forward to Marske's next book.
November 29, 2025 at 9:30 PM
And, in the tradition of the very best retellings, it manages to keep something of the shape of the original, while taking it some very unexpected places.
All this packaged up with some gorgeous writing. It has me looking forward to Marske's next book.
All this packaged up with some gorgeous writing. It has me looking forward to Marske's next book.
Ella becomes part of the house, unable to leave the grounds. Unsurprisingly, it speaks poignantly to isolation and loneliness. The relationships Ella eventually develops become so precious.
Being Marske, queerness is also an integral part of the story in ways that were deeply satisfying.
Being Marske, queerness is also an integral part of the story in ways that were deeply satisfying.
November 29, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Ella becomes part of the house, unable to leave the grounds. Unsurprisingly, it speaks poignantly to isolation and loneliness. The relationships Ella eventually develops become so precious.
Being Marske, queerness is also an integral part of the story in ways that were deeply satisfying.
Being Marske, queerness is also an integral part of the story in ways that were deeply satisfying.
I have enjoyed all of Marske's work, but this is my favourite so far. It's a retelling of Cinderella, but Ella happens to be a ghost--poisoned along with her father by her step-mother, then finished off by falling down the stairs as her magical house grieves the death of her father.
November 29, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I have enjoyed all of Marske's work, but this is my favourite so far. It's a retelling of Cinderella, but Ella happens to be a ghost--poisoned along with her father by her step-mother, then finished off by falling down the stairs as her magical house grieves the death of her father.
A reading update: as expected due to its novella length, CINDER HOUSE by Freya Marske didn't take me long to read.
November 29, 2025 at 9:30 PM
A reading update: as expected due to its novella length, CINDER HOUSE by Freya Marske didn't take me long to read.
Oh wow! I've never seen a baby echidna before.
I'm glad it was unharmed. Are you caring for it or did it go elsewhere?
I'm glad it was unharmed. Are you caring for it or did it go elsewhere?
November 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Oh wow! I've never seen a baby echidna before.
I'm glad it was unharmed. Are you caring for it or did it go elsewhere?
I'm glad it was unharmed. Are you caring for it or did it go elsewhere?
Exactly! Or to help draw a line and say "We saw you at Thanksgiving, we're going elsewhere for Christmas."
On the other hand, you're so right about how it could result in double the stress and prep.
On the other hand, you're so right about how it could result in double the stress and prep.
November 28, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Exactly! Or to help draw a line and say "We saw you at Thanksgiving, we're going elsewhere for Christmas."
On the other hand, you're so right about how it could result in double the stress and prep.
On the other hand, you're so right about how it could result in double the stress and prep.
ALCHEMISED has a long queue at the library, necessitating only a 2-week loan. It's also a chunky beast. Chances of me getting through it while also navigating my office job's busy period seem low, but I'll give it a go anyway.
November 27, 2025 at 10:48 PM
ALCHEMISED has a long queue at the library, necessitating only a 2-week loan. It's also a chunky beast. Chances of me getting through it while also navigating my office job's busy period seem low, but I'll give it a go anyway.
As someone who has to negotiate Christmas with three families, I sometimes wonder whether Thanksgiving would take the pressure off.
November 27, 2025 at 10:42 PM
As someone who has to negotiate Christmas with three families, I sometimes wonder whether Thanksgiving would take the pressure off.
After A PARADISE BUILT IN HELL, I wandered through a rather terrible post-apocalyptic paranormal romance which played into quite a few of the negative stereotypes of humans in disasters that Solnit rails against.
It was also terrible for other reasons, but the less said, the better.
It was also terrible for other reasons, but the less said, the better.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
After A PARADISE BUILT IN HELL, I wandered through a rather terrible post-apocalyptic paranormal romance which played into quite a few of the negative stereotypes of humans in disasters that Solnit rails against.
It was also terrible for other reasons, but the less said, the better.
It was also terrible for other reasons, but the less said, the better.
It also makes me wonder what parallels the victims of the fire in Hong Kong might be going through.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
It also makes me wonder what parallels the victims of the fire in Hong Kong might be going through.
Solnit takes her examples from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake up to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It struck me how the accounts of the disasters grew more horrifying as they drew more within living memory. It's definitely a book to be read with caution and in good mental health.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Solnit takes her examples from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake up to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It struck me how the accounts of the disasters grew more horrifying as they drew more within living memory. It's definitely a book to be read with caution and in good mental health.
However, on a longer-term scale, these efforts tend to calcify or to be pushed aside (even destroyed) by less-effective help from government and outside organisations.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
However, on a longer-term scale, these efforts tend to calcify or to be pushed aside (even destroyed) by less-effective help from government and outside organisations.
Solnit discusses the way civil society--our neighbours--are always going to be the first ones to respond in a disaster and are best able to be flexible in their response to the situation on the ground.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Solnit discusses the way civil society--our neighbours--are always going to be the first ones to respond in a disaster and are best able to be flexible in their response to the situation on the ground.
I'm tempted to buy my own copy of A PARADISE BUILT IN HELL because I suspect I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I'm tempted to buy my own copy of A PARADISE BUILT IN HELL because I suspect I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time.
I got through A PARADISE BUILT IN HELL and managed to return it safely to the library. Regretfully, I also had to return THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE by Richard Osman without cracking the cover.
November 27, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I got through A PARADISE BUILT IN HELL and managed to return it safely to the library. Regretfully, I also had to return THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE by Richard Osman without cracking the cover.
I've got to say I'm really looking forward to this one.
November 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I've got to say I'm really looking forward to this one.
This was so lovely. I appreciate you sharing it.
November 23, 2025 at 2:39 AM
This was so lovely. I appreciate you sharing it.
Reposted
always remember: Terry Pratchett said trans rights
this book was written in 1996 by a 48 year old British man and no cis person in 2025 has a single goddamn excuse to behave differently
this book was written in 1996 by a 48 year old British man and no cis person in 2025 has a single goddamn excuse to behave differently
November 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
always remember: Terry Pratchett said trans rights
this book was written in 1996 by a 48 year old British man and no cis person in 2025 has a single goddamn excuse to behave differently
this book was written in 1996 by a 48 year old British man and no cis person in 2025 has a single goddamn excuse to behave differently