Just Them

“We are never more ourselves than when we think people aren’t watching.”

― Stuart Turton, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle 

No spoilers

Can’t believe my first post is about a book I would never have picked up under normal circumstances. I’m not big into the murder mystery genre, however, during one of my daily walks, I had to pick an audiobook on my phone quickly before my hands froze off. 

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a very convoluted read, with many characters and even more twists. I’m not the smartest reader out there, so having to take in every single detail and process every unpredictable turn really took a toll on me and manifested into a whooping 2 week reading time. 

The start was intriguing but pretty slow, and the tempo doesn’t pick up until around page 100. I enjoyed reading about every single character, and can definitely appreciate the effort that went into world-building and a cohesive story (considering how many characters and plot lines the author had to keep track of), however, I can’t help but think that the story was a tad too convoluted. 

I don’t believe in numerical ratings so I will give it a “Pretty Good, But Not My Favorite.” I would absolutely recommend it, especially if you enjoy this kind of genre. It’s a very unique and one-of-a-kind read with an intriguing mystery twist. 

My singular contribution to the kcd fandom

The Lady & The Unicorn, oil on linen, Hannah Flowers

“Nastassja Korolevichna” and “Maria Swan White” by Sergey Solomko

A Self-Portrait’, of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1847

And that dialogue about the Minotaur still haunts me…

White Mourning

“I always find it strange, how rarely evil comes dressed for the part. One might expect a wicked being to look like this creature—horned and fetid, unmistakable. And yet, the truest threats arrive masked as angels of light.”

Summary: In the dead of winter night, the betrothed arrives. A dragon rots in a filthy cage, brought as proof of a holy slaughter. In a castle thick with secrets and snow, the bride, haunted by the dreams of fire, begins to stray. And when the wedding bells ring, the veils will be drawn for mourning.

Read on AO3!

Illustrations from Stories from Hans Christian Andersen by Edmund Dulac (1911)

"O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,"

Vivien McDermid (Scottish, 1981) - Swan Silence (2022)