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Mara

@whatmaraloves

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• Lvl 25+ • ger • 🌈
Pfp is from the amazing @gooddaydreamer 💖
If you found me here, well ... I am sorry 😂

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✨️paranormal✨️
for #randomspooktober by @random_oldtaku

I've discovered @granitewavesseries a while ago, and I immediately fell in love with the characters, the world building, and the animation style. And today I've got my pre-order rewards for supporting the series becoming reality over on @legendsofryuu 🥹

The first few episodes were already A-MA-ZING, and I can't wait to get to know more about the world and the characters and see how the story unfolds.

I'm also looking forward to how @sonnenliedseries and @infinitseries are gonna turn out! I was so happy to see them included as stickers in the package ✨️

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(This is not a paid promotion, by the way. I'm just hyped and all giddy that this arrived today 😅) by @whatmaraloves

8

3

9 days ago

Heya, my lovelies 💖

#marasmixedmaychallenge by me
✨️Forest✨️ & ✨️Flowers✨️

I'm currently reading 'Don't Let The Forest In' by C. G. Drews (@paperfury), and I'm already in love with it. Not only is it well written, but there are actual drawings of the monsters in the book?! How cool is that?

'Hazelthorn' also has drawings in it, focusing on plants. I haven't read it yet, but as far as I know, its horror is more based on the garden and its fauna rather than monsters. Either way, I'm super excited to read it next once I've finished 'Don't Let The Forest In'.

Botanical horror as genre is what piqued my interest in these two books. I've never been much of a horror fan in the past, but the past 4 to 5 years, I got more and more invested in it through Let's Plays of horror games on YT, spookie stories and the likes. Last year, I even read my first horror book, and I'm actually hooked by now.

If you read lots of horror, please feel free to recommend me your picks in the comments. Extra points if it's queer horror 🤭

I'm a bit sad I didn't manage to fill my challenge bingo card, but RL got in the way, and I simply didn't have the time to prepare posts like I was hoping for 🫠

But hey. 6 out of 8 is a pretty good attempt, don't you think?

Anyways, I wish y'all a happy Sunday! Stay hydrated! 💖

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Partners ♡
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@sasamiyalover
@kati_liest_manga by @whatmaraloves

15

0

5 months ago

Heya my lovelies 💖

#marasmixedmaychallenge by me
✨️Gaming✨️

Dragon Age The Veilguard is about 1,5 years old by now. And while I did enjoy it while I played it, the more I'm thinking about it afterwards, the more disappointed I am. For me, it's the weakest part of the Dragon Age series, especially story wise.

However, I did enjoy the graphics, loved the character creation and its possibilities, and as Dragon Age fan, I was really happy to revisit this world. Plus, I *loved* Manfred and Assan. They are my sons, and I will fight anyone and everyone for them 😌

I will probably still replay it at one point, simply because I want to see if my choices actually make a difference or not. But my favourite one of the series will be forever Dragon Age Inquisition.

Have a wonderful weekend, and don't forget to drink lots of water in this heat! 💖

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Partners ♡
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12

0

5 months ago

Heya my lovelies 💖

#marasmixedmaychallenge by me
✨️Music✨️

Today, I present to you my latest obsession:
Epic - The Musical by @jayherrans 🎶

I've heard bits and bobs about this musical retelling of the Odyssey every now and then, but never really paid much attention to any of it. Until last year November when I *finally* decided to listen to it for the first time from start to finish all the way through.

It threw me down a whole new rabbit hole, resurfaced my old hyperfixation with Greek mythology, and I didn't listen to anything else for 2 whole months.

So yeah. If you haven't heard about it yet, but like Greek mythology or even just great music, go and listen to it!

And if you do know it, feel free to tell me your favourite song (or saga) in the comments down below! 🎶

I'm incredibly excited to see Jorge's next project 'Ilium' come to life. But if it's anything like Epic, I know it won't disappoint 😌

Stay hydrated, you sweet peas, and we'll see us in the next post 💖

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Partners ♡
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13

2

5 months ago

Heya my lovelies 💖

#marasmixedmaychallenge by me
✨️Rain✨️

Does it rain a lot in the manga 'Remembering Gale'? No.
Is rain a common topic in the series? No, not at all.

So why choose it for rain besides that gorgeous artwork on slide 1? There's no other reason. I just really like it and wanted an excuse to show it to you 🤭

BUT if you don't know about Remembering Gale by @pusshukaato, but like beautiful art styles, queer stories, and heavy topics, maybe you should check it out.

It's available online in English and in print version in English and German 😌
I'll leave you the genres and blurb down below.

There's one simple reason why I chose this prompt for today. Because I DESPERATELY need it to rain and finally cool down. I. Am. Melting! Please, summer hasn't even fully started yet, and I already want it to end 😭

So yeah. That's it from me today. No thoughts left. Too hot 🫠

Stay hydrated, you beautiful souls! 💖

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Blurb:
It’s summer when Rem takes on a job as a high school teacher, tasked to deal with a bunch of rowdies. As things suddenly escalate, they all have to find ways to deal with what happened, while navigating their own messy lives and personal struggles. Remembering Gale is a slow paced story about life, love, and loss. About imperfect people in an overwhelming world, who slowly find themselves through the connections they make.

Genres:
Drama/Slice of Life/Romance (LGBTQ+) 16+ by @whatmaraloves

11

4

5 months ago

Heya, my lovelies 💖

#marasmixedmaychallenge by me
✨️Art✨️

In a world where more and more people start using genAI for almost everything, I decided to pick up a paintbrush again for the first time since childhood.

It's been my first time using acrylic paints with no clue whatsoever, but I had lots of fun. And I'd like to think that I did a pretty decent job. Especially since I didn't know what I wanted to paint and just... let it happen 😆

For all of you out there who don't know what to do next time you meet with your friends? Try a nice and chill paint evening! I can highly recommend it.

And to all artists out there who fight against genAI taking over: thank you! Our world is bleak enough, and with everything that's going on, we all could use more (of your) creativity 💖

So let's support real artists and tell me in the comments who your favourite artists are!

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Partners ♡
@sasamiyalover
@kati_liest_manga
@random_oldtaku by @whatmaraloves

15

2

5 months ago

Heya, you beautiful souls 💖

I wanted to get back to posting more, so I made a little last-minute challenge for May in hopes I'll actually post more again 😆

Feel free to join with a story, a post, a reel. As y'all probably know by now, I don't stick to just one form of media, so you don't have to either. Feel free to show a manga, a book, a video game, a TV series/movie, art you created, etc. Interpret the prompts however you like. Whatever feels right to you.

If you want me to share your way of participation, use the hashtag #marasmixedmaychallenge and tag me in it.

Have a wonderful evening! And stay hydrated 💖

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Partners ♡
@sasamiyalover
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@random_oldtaku by @whatmaraloves

12

2

6 months ago

Heya my beautiful souls 💖

I promise there will be more English posts in the future again. But not today, sorry 🥹

Scar-Crossed Lovers
- @sophie_edina
(Klappentext im 2. Slide)

Ein kurzer Hinweis vorweg:
Bei Scar-Crossed Lovers (SCL) handelt es sich um ein Prequel des Buches Coming of Rage (CoR). Da CoR zuerst erschienen ist, habe ich dieses zuerst gelesen, was mein Leseempfinden stark beeinflusst hat. Daher ist meine empfohlene Lesereihenfolge nach Beenden des Buches:
Erst SCL, dann CoR.

Die Geschichte wird zu ca. 80% aus Marys Perspektive erzählt & durch Jeremys POV ergänzt. Leider habe ich mich schwer getan, mich in Mary & ihr Gedankenchaos & die daraus resultierenden Handlungen hineinzuversetzen. Daher habe ich den POV-Wechseln entgegen gefiebert, denn Jeremy & seine innere Zerrissenheit konnte ich besser nachvollziehen (vermutlich wg. CoR, denn hier wird rein aus Jeremys POV erzählt).

Sophies Schreibstil mochte ich bereits in CoR echt gern & auch in SCL hat der poetisch-tragische Stil nicht enttäuscht.
Allerdings war das Buch für mich an manchen Stellen sehr langatmig. Die ausführlichen Textpassagen haben zwar gerade Marys Gefühls-/Gedankenwelt gut dargestellt, mir viel es dadurch jedoch oft schwer, der Handlung zu folgen.

Außerdem muss ich sagen, dass die Dynamik zwischen den Beiden für mich schwierig war, denn in meinen Augen war hier vieles einfach toxisch. Zu oft hatte ich den Eindruck, Mary sieht nur, was sie sehen will & ignoriert alles andere, während Jeremy Mary im Gegenzug viel zu oft nicht ernst nimmt.

Auch, wie sehr Mary immer wieder als Einzelkämpferin beschrieben wird, nur um sich dann instant in Jeremy mit Leib & Seele zu verlieben & ihr Leben dann hauptsächlich aus ihm besteht, war für mich persönlich nicht nachvollziehbar.

Die Auf-/Verarbeitung dieser Themen empfand ich als etwas aus der Zeit gefallen & hätte mir einen anderen Umgang damit gewünscht.

Fazit:
Auch wenn SCL mich nicht vollständig abholen konnte, sehe ich das Potential in der Geschichte & bin mir sicher, dass es anderen Lesenden gefällt.

[Werbung | Rezensionsexemplar] by @whatmaraloves

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8

6 months ago

Heya my lovelies 💖

Another review for a German book. So the post will be in German again, sorry about that 🥹

Fledermaussommer
- @arlo.morgenroth
(Klappentext im 3. Slide)

》Xes Anwesenheit löst keine Schmetterlinge in mir aus, sondern gibt mir das Gefühl, zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort zu sein. Und das ist eins der besten Dinge, die ich je gefühlt habe.《

In Fledermaussommer wird die Geschichte von Dani und Xe erzählt, welche aus Danis Perspektive geschrieben ist. Es geht um eine aufblühende Freundschaft, um Ängste und Hoffnung, Träume und Wünsche. Schlichtweg um das Leben selbst in all seinen Facetten.

Es ist keine Liebesgeschichte und dennoch empfand ich die Verbindung, die sich zwischen Dani und Xe entwickelt, so viel stärker als manch andere in Romance Büchern.

Arlo schreibt auf eine so sanfte und doch starke Weise wie ich es bisher wenig gelesen habe. Manche Momente schleichen sich unfassbar leise an, nur um dann mit voller Wucht zuzuschlagen.

Für mich ist Fledermaussommer nicht nur inhaltlich ein Highlight, ich hatte in so vielen Aspekten das Gefühl, in einen Spiegel zu blicken. Ich glaube gerade deshalb fällt es mir extrem schwer in Worte zu fassen, was dieses Buch mit mir gemacht, was es in mir ausgelöst hat.

Ich würde euch gern so viel mehr zu diesem Buch erzählen, so viel mehr Momente und Zitate nennen, die mich berührt oder zum Nachdenken angeregt haben. Aber es wäre nur eine verwaschene Version von Arlos Werk. Und dafür ist diese Geschichte in meinen Augen zu wertvoll. Alles was mir also noch übrig bleibt ist folgendes: Fledermaussommer ist eine Herzensempfehlung von mir. Vor allem für Menschen, die sich ein klein wenig verloren fühlen in dieser Welt.

[Werbung | Rezensionsexemplar] by @whatmaraloves

15

2

7 months ago

Heya my lovelies 🌻

Long time no see. I know I've been inactive for a while now and even when I was posting it's very inconsistent. Unfortunately, I'll be posting in german today, since I'm talking about a German book. Sorry to all my non-german speakers 🥹

Was passiert, wenn man Jujutsu Kaisen, Skulduggery Pleasant und eine Prise Queerness in einen Topf gibt und kräftig rührt? Richtig. Man erhält Band 1 der Arcyrion Akten.
(Klappentext findet ihr im 2. Slide)

Die Arcyrion Akten - Fall 1: Die Straße im Nichts
- @evelyne_aschwanden

》Also sind Sie kein wirklicher Ermittler.《
Draven lachte. 》Ich löse Rätsel und helfe Menschen. Wenn das nicht die Arbeit eines Ermittlers ist, dann habe ich die Definition wohl missverstanden.《

Wir folgen Kiara Brocks auf ihrem Weg in eine Welt, die unserer gar nicht so unähnlich ist. Allerdings gibt es etwas, das verdächtig nach Magie aussieht, auch wenn die Anwender (oder zumindest einer davon) überhaupt nicht begeistert von dem Wort sind und es lieber Wissenschaft nennen. Und Vampire. Oh. Und Daemonen, vor denen die Welt beschützt werden muss, während all das natürlich im Verborgenen bleiben muss.

Für Kiara ist alles genauso neu wie für die Leser*innen und so werden wir liebevoll Schritt für Schritt an das Setting und die verschiedenen Begriffe heran geführt, lernen quasi mit Kiara all die phantastischen Elemente kennen um uns in dieser Urban Fantasy zurecht zu finden. Und wer gerne alles noch einmal gesammelt nachlesen möchte, findet am Ende des Buchs sogar ein Glossar 🤭

Evelynes Schreibstil fand ich herrlich angenehm, ich bin nur so durch die Seiten geflogen. Der Humor ist on point, ich liebe alles daran. Die Charaktere haben aber auch Tiefe, die Story ist mehr als einfach nur Fantasy mit Witz (Krimi/Mystery Elemente sind hier stark vertreten) und ich habe sogar beim Lesen das ein oder andere Tränchen verdrückt.

Für mich war der erste Band der 5-teiligen Reihe ein klasse Auftakt und ich bin sehr gespannt, wie es weiter geht. Denn endlich habe ich eine Reihe gefunden, die tatsächlich für mich mit Skulduggery Pleasant mithalten kann 💖

[unbezahlte Werbung | selbst gekauft] by @whatmaraloves

18

5

7 months ago

#randomspooktober
by @random_oldtaku
🍂 Cozy 🍂

Getting cosy on the couch with a cup of tea and a good book (or three) is just so rewarding after a stressful and exhausting week at work. And of course, the floof has to be there, too. No cosy evening is complete without cuddles 🤭

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Partners ♡
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22

8

a year ago

#randomspooktober
by @random_oldtaku
🍂 Mythical Creature 🍂

》 Eyes of an eagle, roar of a lion. But maybe the heart of a halla. 《

What better prompt for another Dragon Age post than this? 🤭

And yes, I know. Dragons would've been a formidable way to talk about DRAGON Age again, but... I wanted to do something different this time.

After all, with Dragon Age The Veilguard, we met griffons for the very first time *alive* ingame. And what can I say? Assan's my son now, and I will fight everyone over him.
(Along with Manfred, but this is about griffons not about whisps with a skeleton body. Although, I *do* love their interactions 🥹)

In "Dragon Age: Last Flight" by Liane Merciel, we dive deeper into the history of the Grey Wardens and their heroic companions, the griffons. Especially the 4th blight where the griffons went extinct.

I haven't read the book yet. But, the story of Isseya gets picked up in Veilguard again, so I definitely wanna read it soon for another deep-dive into Dragon Age Lore.

But for today, that's it. I'm sorry for not diving too deep into anything when posting atm, but there's a lot going on, and usually, my brain's mush when I finally have time for IG 🥹

Have a wonderful early weekend, my lovelys 💖🍂

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Partners ♡
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15

7

a year ago