Savika 🏳️‍⚧️

@boowriter.bsky.social

870 Followers 454 Following

Vampire doing her best to write, read, and draw and stuff~ 18+. No AI. https://savikawrites.carrd.co/

A tiny campus gnawing on a burrito that is, proportionally gigantic to her.
The illustrated cover for Black Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin (technically, the actually book, cause I took this photo at the library, when I found the book after I had finished Cuckoo, helluva coincidence) I think I liked Cuckoo a bit more; it scared me proper. This was dark, but it was more... Emotional pain? Not quite spine-chilling EARLY SPOILER WARNING CAUSE THIS BOOK NEEDS IT This is a very "ugly" book; not in a bad way tho. But it stands, I feel. The characters are raw and unpleasant. Almost every single one is more than a little flawed and broken on the inside. Ellen (or Benjamin) is probably one of these most sad and upsetting characters I've had the chance to read. Its heartbreaking and even frustrating in a sense, because the solution is obvious, but also not quite so, and its sad that a cursed film was needed for him (I'm going to use the pronouns set by the end for him) to find himself. Like him, everyone just feels so... so utterly exhausted and tortured. Its a truly bleak world. The book leans very heavily into the themes of Jewish people, their relations and their past and I hesitate to say very much on the subject, given as I'm not very well-versed in that specific matter. What I will say is that the book does offer moments where the themes reach through time and space and touch upon the current matters in Palestine and the actions of the people running Israel, by highlighting the harm caused during the Holocaust/Shoah and juxtaposing with the harm being done within community during the story. I'm not particularly great at parsing themes, if I'm honest, but that is part of what I gathered here. The other more explicit themes standing in personal repression and the pain it can cause, which is something I feel that I can relate to a little bit easier. Once again, I think its sad that Benjamin needed a curse for his-self and that he potentially died for it, but... alas, some people need to find their own paths, I suppose.
Couple of doodles of a silly vampire drawn on a napkin
I found Black Flame by Gretchen Martin in the library after I finished her other book, Cuckoo. Ain't that a helluva coincidence
The cover for Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin showing an egg sitting in a next with other broken eggs around it. (Like a cuckoo bird does, geddit?) When I called this book visceral I meant it. It deals with some genuinely upsetting concepts; all the phobias and isms, y'know? And I wouldn't even call it exaggerated because there's plenty of reports of it being worse. The characters are all so heartbreakingly sympathetic and sad. I can't tell you the amount of times I wanted to reach into the book and pull them out. Help them from their own story. Gretchen made them... They're us, y'know? Its hard to not see ourselves in these kids. Maybe not all of them, but if you're queer one of these kids spoke to you in some form. To watch them be so brutalized, so vilified by the ones hurting them and to be so... so torn down. Its visceral. I keep repeating myself but its so true. Gretchen has a way with words. Heavy, poetic prose that forces itself into your mouth and makes you choke and suffer, but satisfies you in a way few other writings have made me feel. I don't often compare writers; I think it devalues the uniqueness in all writing, but Gretchen has a vibe that I'd compare to Kay Atkinson; not in the way they write, but in the heavy vibes they bring. Raw, unyeilding, relentless. I'd say my only real critique was the ending. So, I'll say this, If you like horror or even just trans-lit, you need to read this. Now SPOILERRRRRR It was... genuinely heart-breaking that Abby was still suffering. And I know that like... Realistically, recovery is a slow, slow process. And I hope she'll get there someday, but that last line is... Ooof. But I suppose I know that its also a truth to be aware of. The "us" and the "them"; we see it with the LGB crowd who'd rather transes be buried and forgetten or the TERFS who'd give up their own rights to see transwomen suffer. The Cuckoo is always there. Its a terrifying thought. And as much as I dislike it, it is a fitting conclusion.
A screenshot from the Ghost in the Shell (2026) showing the character Motoko Kusanagi being kissed and teased by several other women
The same comic from the previous post but with all panels in one page. That's all. If you need context, you can look at those ones, but in summary, a vampire wants to extend her lease, her landlord refuses because they've already signed on someone else before her lease was even over, so she kills her landlord and prepares to look for a new place.
A comic panel showing a squishy lil' vampire going up to her landlord with her lease document and asking to extend her lease because she likes staying where she is.
The cover illustration for The Ex Wives Murder Club by Mette Ivie Harrison, showing the faces of three women each one holding a weapon; a syringe, a knife and a gun. It starts off a bit sorta dark comedy ish but it gradually shifts into more thriller romance. Some of the characters are so delightfully toxic, its wonderful. Like, Jenny. Jenny, what a woman!!! The star of the show without a doubt. Hardly without flaws but that makes her better. That being said, she does shine so bright that other characters are somewhat eclipsed by proxy. Abby, Beatrice, Gwen and even Maggie are all not quite so... potent as her. Perhaps, it could've been addressed with more story, but at the same time, the story works a bit because its not overstaying too much. We see the acts and the graphic tones but it never gets bogged down with too much. So, I don't really know what the solution is really. I will also say that the whole ex-husband thing and him being killed... Like, its not really a spoiler. its very clear its gonna happen. Maybe that could've been done in a single chapter rather than being split up over three. Pacing could've been addressed a bit. All in all, I really did enjoy it. It made me laugh on more than a few times and I only wish all our ex-wives and their business could've continued on happily, but alas. What can you do?
A retro cyberpunk illustration showing a person integrated with a massive, old-style computer system, with large heavy CRT Monitors around her and bulky processing systems around and behind her. She wears a strange sort of VR-like headset to interact with the system along with a heavy keyboard. Thick cables drop down from the ceiling and decorate the space; some emerge out from her headset while others snake down around the environment. The person looks slightly emaciated, as if being connected to such an intense system is taking a toll on her body. Presumably, the scene is some sort of surveillance system, but the actual context and details of the action are left open to the viewer. I kinda wanna incorporate this concept into my story but I also dunno how and I don't wanna force it. But if I do figure out and you read the story and recognize this scene, say something like... ummm... "Gosh, those cables look tasty!" And I'll know you're a real one ;)
The cover for The World's Greatest Detective and her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully. What to say, what to say... I'm perhaps being a bit harsh, but I just finished the book and the thoughts are fresh. I hate the characters. So many of them. The POV assistant comes off as so utterly dense and thick-headed at times and ingenious at others; its truly baffling and we never do find out why she gets hired if she's "just okay". I presume Ms. Tully intends to write more to that end, but I have no idea. The real star is the Detective herself; what a freaking tool. An aggressive pompous know-it-all with an insufferable ego. Not once in the story is she given a chance to try and humble herself. To come off as someone with a reasonable degree of personality. Is she smart? No doubt. But with the way she is, I am amazed she gets anyone to talk, let alone solves mysteries. So many other characters are just pointless to the story and exist as fluff. Not to say that every character in a story needs to be "necessary", but sometimes, you wonder why are we spending so much time on this character and on this point. And finally the ending; and here we get into spoilers potentially. It just... It rubbed me the wrong way. Spoiler again. But the murderer was in love with the victim and like, there's a whole thing about how they spent a lot of time together and they genuinely cared for each other but the victim made certain choices and spurred the killer to act and it felt very... I dunno. I dunno. Forced? Cruel? Disingenuous? Phobic? Strange considering how nice the victim had been consistently made out to be? I dunno. Whatever the case, it just made me sad. Unpleasant characters, a sad resolution to the mystery, but fluid prose with a decent mystery. Sigh. I'm being too mean, I know. I dunno, maybe I shouldn't be typing this, but no one reads this anyone so its just for me. If you're reading this, sorry for my rant. If you're reading this, lemme know. I'll be kinder.
A four-armed cyberpunk-hacker/fixer/data-broker. She's surprisingly bulky for her profession but has a grimy, ugly vibe to her. Her eyes are removed, replaced by a dark, void with three solid glowing red-lights. Her name is Khali. She's abusive and cruel and loves it when people "augmented" and also when they get hurt. She will not be getting punished for her actions.
A working vampire is concerned that her pay check is much lower that she'd like. Insurance sucks and taxes... Well in theory they're good but the US kinda sucks with using them well so that's debatable too. Then there's just stuff like food and rent and damn that money vanishes fast.
A semi-real version of the astronauts from Among Us; Black and Cyan. Cyan is making Black wear a collar with a purple gem on it saying, "See, Black! I knew this collar would look good on you!" While her intentions are pure, her hands seem more than a little forceful. Meanwhile, seemingly unaware to Cyan, Black is turning into a trembling mess after being given a collar saying, "Uh... huh..." I really think they coulda been the cutest lesbians ever, if they didn't encounter imposters and if Black could get her head out of her ass. Also, I love that Cyan canonically wears trans colors. For me that makes her trans, no questions, okay? I hope they make a season 2.
The illustrated cover for A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper, showing a woman sort of melting surrounded by a yellow border. light spoilers to follow. What can I say. I did enjoy it a good bit. I do think the characters are... maybe a little abrasive, but it also feels like by design. They're all kinda wack, like, "WHY ARE YOU GETTING INVOLVED WITH SUPERNATURAL STUFF" but like, if they didn't we wouldn't have this story. I like Blanca the best; she feels like the most genuine, but she's so freaking naive in her perspectives and desire to help. Carmen is just greedy. No shade, but she is. I wonder if she actually went to therapy how much would it help her? I wonder if she really does just have depression. And Smoke. Ooof. Smoke is... honestly? An idiot. Like, she literally held the key to city and had no problem letting people in. I can't help but suspect that she is influenced by the play after having it so long. I think that's what makes it so horrifying for me, to some extent; its a story about broken people making the things around them more broken, including themselves, at the cost of everything. It hits very similar bits to a lot of modern horror films; Talk to Me, Obsession, Hereditary, Nope, Midsommar, etc, etc. This whole thing about the environment being so normal, and the "magic/weirdness" being relatively subdued. Talk to me feels the most in common, with the way both stories deal with characters being addicted to these awful magics with drastic consequences. Talk to Me is one of my favorite horror films, and A Game in Yellow hits that same itch for me. Its the kind of horror I love and never want to touch again because it eats at your soul. Its very, very, very good. If anyone loves horror and lovecraftian horror and modern-surreal-urban horror; this just feels like a no brainer. I had a wonderful time. I never wanna touch it again XD
A lil' doodle of a vampire eatin' a big strawberry (or a small vampire eatin' a regular strawberry?)
the illustrated cover for Flower of the Underworld by Cirice Gray, featuring (presumably) the character of Mada drapped in black attire with gold trimming. Her red hair bright and vivid and a cypress leaf amulet around her neck. I don't think i've read many of the GO side content tbh. I think I have Zeus constant, but I got completely distracted by other stuff. Hell, I haven't even read Persephone effect yet. I'm just all over the place. But this was a really nice one to start with and I was a little familiar with Mada since I see fan art of her everywhere and she was even in that one short story. But back to the story, its really, really nice. The drama is so... so juicy. It feels almost sinful to enjoy, y'know? I do think, if I had one critique, it would be the time-skipping stuff that happens. Like the story bounces between past and present; not a lot, but enough and I couldn't really understand the reason for it? Not saying there's no reason, but at the very least, it wasn't clear to me. And I personally just feel like it would've been nice if it was all chronological. Would've been fine, I think. Putting that one qualm aside, I had such a good time with this one. Like, I think I devoured this book in... maybe 5 days? I spent time on my breaks eating up several pages before binging the whole final two chapters last night before bed. I think Mada is a fascinating character, because she's honestly quite normal. Its more that... everything around her is constantly shifting and she gets dragged along with it. Like, she be snagging ALL the baddies XD Tho, I will say her final catch at the end (SPOILER) is maybe not going to pan out the best as per my assumption. Just doesn't feel right. I hope I'm wrong but... Well, we'll see. My favorite character has to be the Sybil. Lysippa, I think is how its spelled? Such a good mom. Does what needs to be done and I freaking RESPECT THAT SHIT. I hope Mada realizes how much the Sybil cares too. Because damn, it means a lot.
Cybapunk City. Drawn loosely with sharpie on a napkin
A silly couple of sketches of a vampire. One has them laughing evilly while the other has them backing up in terror as a stake slowly floats towards them. They say "Hol up" as if trying to stop the stake.
A cyberpunk themed image of a trans woman sitting in a small, lounging chair, hooked up to a bulky helmet with several thick cables streaming out from it and their own body. Atop her floats a holographic, pink woman; her body only visible as a partial outline, shimmering and shining, gently "caressing" the woman below her. It is a pair of woman enjoying each other's company over distance through this strange technology. The concept was originally darker, something along the lines of a poor grunt who relies on their "corporate approved tech partner" who's only been approved for pride month, but like... The world is already bleak, lets not during Pride at least, right? XD maybe I'll do a story on that someday. A short story. Just for the sad horror.
A traveler in a red cloak, wandering through a dark void with a flaming torch to light their way. From behind, from within the darkness, a werewolf-like woman emerges, ready to pounce upon and grab the traveler. They're actually lovers and she's gonna kiss the traveler so this is Yuri. She's also gonna take a few bites out of the traveler (small ones) but that is also Yuri.
The cover illustration for Lo, Nuns (or By the Grace of the Saints) by Jemma Topaz, featuring several nuns of various styles and inclinations. What can I say about this one? It is good. I've read about 2-3 of Jemma's other short stories and this is about on par with them. I do love how she develops these strange, shifted worlds from our own and populates them with all these stories that intersect and overlap. I have no idea how complicated it must be. If anything, I'm actually a little sad, we don't have an index for the history of the Eighty Kingdoms as well as a Map of the regions, ala LOTR, y'know? I do feel that this series of stories is a little... tamer than the previous ones I've read? Like Brute of Greengrave had some wacky ideas with doll-ification and stuff and it was tied throughout the narratives. Lo Nuns doesn't quite have that; the focus is more on the people over anything else, which is nice, but it does make me desire certain moments a bit more. Like in the story, "Giantess and the Virgin", we get this sudden shift of "potential vore" as a concept, but it never shows up again. Neither does does the Giantess outside of a few passing mentions. Its not necessary, but it is a little sad, y'know? (Formal petition for Jemma to do more vore/cannibal stuff in future stories XD) I think that's maybe my only gripe. While the world and history and characters all tie together and overlap well, the magic doesn't quite have the same strength. It feels more... vague. Uncertain. I do like it but it does make one wish for a little bit more. Even so, its a wonderful set of stories, as always. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! God, it took me so long to get to this one. I was busy with so much stuff and I only got around to it cause I had some breaks where I needed to relax. I hope I get more time now, I really wanna read more.
A vampire getting ready for a large move. She's scared but she's also excited. Independence! It's a lot, but she's gonna put a smile on her face (metaphorically) and do her best!
A scene from the book, Unlimited Combat Dolls (written by Kay Atkinson), showing the characters, Yves and Dragonfly. The former is human with cybernetic implants and the latter is a combat robot modeled on a trans woman. The scene shows them slightly close, as Dragonfly, sheds her outfit and opens up her heat vents, and lets Yves approach to warm herself. While not a romantic scene in the book, it is, at least in my opinion, the first time, we see that the two of them could potentially get along and that a potential relationship (platonic or otherwise) could emerge between them. I do like it a lot, because while Dragonfly is still somewhat hazy on the nature of her self at this point, Yves is not and it shows her learning that Dragonfly is more than some machine; she's a person who can be kind and cruel and who's more than the sum of her parts.
A very loose sketch drawing of a warrior held at the base of a dryad tree, bound lightly in roots, as the dryad feeds on her. In the background, a swamp, forest, and castle are visible.
The vampire exhausted from this AI nonsense thinks to herself, "Oh, if I had the chance to be truly hostile to you..."
A four panel comic showing a squishy vampire doing a job interview, through a computer, where the person on the other end, asks her, "How do you feel about A.I.? Do you use it?" The vampire does not use it, but she needs a job, so she decides to be gentle with her interviewer and says, "I don't use AI. I can do everything I need. I enjoy making things and writing." And the interviewer responds with, "Well now, I think your being to Hostile." Its not funny, its just frustrating.
A woman in a strange sort of dog suit, perched over the limp form of another woman. Blood stains flow around the second woman, implying some sort of vicious attack.
The cover illustration of Transfiguration: Collapse Disorder Part One, by Lance Harlow Moth, showing a woman, pointing a finger-gun at her head as semi-corporal bloodstains emerge from the side. I'll admit, this story isn't exactly coherent in a sense. The ending certainly confused me more than the rest of the story, but getting into that would risk spoilers and I ain't about that (not intentionally at any rate). Suffice to say this is a story that utilizes its time-loop mechanic to the most honest ends. By that, I mean it shows off how truly deranged people can be, when life is stagnant. I compare it to Deathloop (video game by Arkane studios) a lot in my head and I have a few reasons for that, although, they are by no means similar. The primary reason I think for my comparison, is that Deathloop often portrayed itself as being somewhat subversive. In its visual style, in its gameplay, in its story, etc, etc. And it completely failed to deliver on many accounts. While its visual style does evoke retro aesthetics, much of the environments are just bland rocky/snowy spaces. While its time-loop mechanic promises hedonism and adaptive story-telling, it actively shoe-horns you into a specific path, without actively embracing the wildness that comes with such a setting. Transfiguration kinda leans into the weirdness in such a good way. The way people can get off on killing. The stagnation that begets such a mentality. The slowness. The borderline insanity. There's more, but then I'd be taking away some fascinating reveals from the story. Its not perfect. Like I said, the ending kinda loses me and I would've liked maybe one more chapter to maybe develop and explain certain plot points, but I still appreciate this story more for what it does than what it doesn't. Highly recommend for anyone who just wants more WEIRD sci-fi.
A parody of the chainsaw man finale, featuring characters from the indie novel, Bloodstained Porcelain. The comic page is read right to left like a traditional manga and shows one of the characters talking to the second saying, "Thank you, Bloodstained Porcelain..." The second character seems stunned and a knife covered in blood (with a little :3 face) seems to respond within their chest. The character responds a little confused, "Bloodstained Porcelain?" The first character answers, "Because um... You're made of porcelain and you're covered in blood..." And the second character, a little deflated responds, "Oh yeah."
The illustration for Bloodstained Porcelain by Lucy Stubbs, showing a living porcelain doll covered in blood spatter and wielding a huge knife. Her eyes are wide and she has a small smirk on her face. What can I say... What can I say... If I had one issue with this story, its that I wish it lingered on the gore. But that's the horror-lover in me. I love me some splatter and body horror. The steaming viscera!! But I recognize that's not for everyone, certainly not for every author. BP is more of a fantasy-style revenge story. Honestly closer to John Wick than any sort of gore-hound flick. And it is nice, if maybe a little slow? Its definitely cathartic at any rate. Oh, to be a doll killing bigots for revenge...
A deranged looking cyberpunk-character taking a selfie with a detonator in hand, as an explosion burns behind her. She's covered in cybernetic augmentations; her arm is mechanical, as is her neck and her one visible eye. Her hair is a shocking mop of bright pink. She has a wild grin on her face and seems to be pleased with the explosion behind her.
Cover illustration for My Hunting Dog by Savika, who's me~ (illustration also by me.) The illustration shows a woman, covered in red and curled up in a oddly, brain-like position, while superimposed over a vicious looking dog-like mask. Its kinda surreal, don't ya think?
A mermaid with grey blue skin approaches an emaciated person hiding in a grotto.
A silly comic
The cover illustration for Article 353 by Tanguy Viel, translated by William Rodarmor Viel is a French writer, and a lot of the story is set in France, using that sort of imagery and culture. I know nothing about it, but it is a very interesting sort of image. If I had to compare the book to something, it would be towards the crime-drama like Columbo (where you see the crime taking place and the drama emerges from how Columbo must solve the matter without our knowledge. Less of a "whodunnit" and more of a "How will they catch them") and also to the writings of Keigo Higashino (Devotion of Suspect X, Malice, Salvation of a Saint). But unlike those two, there is no actual "crime solving" here. Our main character Kermeur, has been caught and has no desire to hide his guilt. The story is simply giving us context for his actions. And indeed, its a relatable story in this modern age about the harshness of wealth and those who wield their money like a toy or even a whip, swinging it around without care of whom it may hurt in the process. I hesitate to share too much. While the story doesn't exactly break new ground with its concepts, its nonetheless a very well-written and compelling narrative, and I feel like spoiling it would be such a shame. But, let me just say that Kermeur is a very interesting character. He never once really comes off as a "pure" protagonist. If anything, he's quite pathetic and not in a good way. He's almost lazy and apathetic to a fault, but the story kind of highlights that and says, "Even if he is flawed, are his actions wrong?" and I can't disagree. Kermeur is pathetic for sure. he's such a sad sack. But in the end, he's closer to myself than the one he kills and that speaks volumes to the cruelties of capital and wealth. I don't think this is for everyone. If nothing else, the story and vibes can be a little dry and slow. Even so, I'm glad I found this book and I hope someone else will give it a shot.
A vampire wearing a very, very, very skimpy and revealing outfit. She seems shocked to see herself in it and gets a shy and flustered as a result.
A nonsensical comic in 3 panels. In panel 1, one character Wolf, looks pensive and sad commenting, "Ah, Dragonfly is dead... Beyond the veil..." however behind her the character, Dragonfly is clearly visible (with a tiny Canary on her head) screaming out, "Hey!! Fuck you Wolf!!!" Panel 2, has Wolf react silently, glancing back at an annoyed Dragonfly without saying a word. Panel 3 has Wolf return to pensive, sad pose commenting, "No talking to a ghost..." and Dragonfly, clearly peeved screaming as she pulls her gun out, "I SWEAR I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU." Just a silly comic.
A strange, silly scene of a tiny, chibi-style vampire knocking on someone's window asking to be let in. She has blood all over her hand and her mouth and her eyes are large and dark (maybe a little cute), with red-highlights. We can see a person's hand raised in slight confusion at her words. The vampire says, "Hey~ Sorry I ate your buddy. But I think I left my hat inside... Could ya lemme in so I can get it? Promise I won't eat you..."
In my mind, I titled this picture "Regret of the Dragonfly" (Dragonfly is the name of the lady falling back). The scene shows a thin, pale android/robot woman with silvery-white hair and round glasses, holding up another android/robot woman, but this one has brown skin with long straight black hair. The pale woman has a mechanical arm that's hissing with steam and a sword in the same hand with a long blade and a flat tip as well as a strange trigger on the handle. She wears a white body-suit and a torn jacket that allows her massive arm room, as well as a pair of round sunglasses that conceal her eyes partially, although they're closed in this scene. The other lady wears a greyish poncho and a neck gaiter over the lower half of her face concealing it, and a strange sort of eyeless visor over her forehead. Bright light shines overhead and the entire scene is bathed in warm tones, giving it a slightly relaxed tone and atmosphere...
A picture of a doll-combat nun, apparently praying while smoking. Her robe is quite short, only reaching hips and being supported by a long flowing piece of cloth that hangs from her belt. She also has a large cloak that presumably supports the rest of her ensemble. She has a strange halo of glowing orange eyes around her head, but seems unconcerned with them. Her hands are stained gold, and the gold seems to drip off them.
An image of a robot girl, mirrored upon itself, where the top and bottom show her in basically the same position but separated by time and space. On the top image, we see her looking slightly happy, if even a little silly. She wears a light brown vest covered in a number of colorful pins. Her hair is a vivid neon pink and she clutches between her hands a cute little stuffed bear. The environment behind her is desolate and dry, with some ominous pyramid like structure in the far distance, but overall, she seems at peace. The image below shows the same girl, but inverted and much more ragged. Her smile is gone and she has a faint scar over her face as well as over other parts of her body. She's covered in bandages and dirt and has even lost one of her pins. The environment is more claustrophobic and dingy. In one open palm a fire burns and the silhouette of the bear is visible within the fire as she cries silently. The text is visible beside both versions of her "Despite everything... Its still You.", (yes, taken from undertale, no I haven't played it, but its very fitting here) implying that despite her pain and suffering, she's not a different person.
The cover page for Appetite by M. Zakharuk. I wish this one was longer, but that's the case for most novellas and short stories I read, if I'm honest XD But this one felt a little more so, if I'm honest. Olya and Jamie are such an interesting pair. I hesitate to say there's a romance between them by the end, so much as a begrudging friendship that's emerged as a result of circumstance. And the snippets we get of Olya's past imply so much. Not just her messy attraction to others, but like... so much nuance to her character; the nature of how immortality can stagnate and the drive to find something to go on for. Its honestly quite deep, if you try to parse the themes, and it gets deeper when you realize the story implies a world where vampirism is not unknown, but is more of a... sort of vague, underlying threat. There's so much to examine and love. I feel like, if you really liked Imago (Zakharuk's previous work), you might not necessarily like this. The two works are very, very different, in so many ways, but I personally really love both in their own different ways. Where Imago was dense and raw, Appetite comes off as snappy and sharp. They really can't be compared, outside of the fact that they're by the same writer, really. What else can I say? Its just a really, really wonderful story about vampires and you know I'm all about that. Honestly, if anything, I feel quite motivated to maybe write more about vampires myself soon XD maybe after my current piece is done, I'll think of something.
A very crude, very old drawing of an elf with a lot of tattoos. Drawn with ballpoint pen on paper
The cover illustration of Unlimited Combat Dolls by Kay Atkinson, showcasing a woman, wearing a full body suit and holding a large futuristic looking rifle. As I said, this story is DARK. If you've read Fleet and Fabricants, think that but on steroids. SPOILERS for UCD now. Characters go through a LOT in this. Not just killing and being hurt, but emotional pain as well. The lack of autonomy they have. The lengths they must go to. The abuse they suffer. Its... Its a lot. I would've appreciated a content warning but... I dunno, I dunno. MORE SPOILERS Some of the characters are frustrating, but its by design I think. They can be very... tedious. Some characters do things that are sorta outta place that can make you annoyed for a bit, but it rarely lasts. Overall, they all are likeable in some way or the other, even if they have their down-moments. The writing is good tho. Kay has clearly gotten better from F&F, where her writing was dense and heavy. Even a little hard to navigate. UCD is similarly dense, but far, far, far easier to parse and digest. It took me 4 days for this where an F&F book might've taken a week and a half. Its very nice to see. Although, I will add that some plot elements feel weird and under baked. I know they'll be explored in Part 2, but they way they're set up and never expanded upon in this one feels... weird, ngl. Overall, its another strong entry from Kay. But I do believe that this one is not for everyone. Its very, very, very grim at the best of times and when it descends into its darkest pits, the light doesn't shine at all. I like this sort of material and even I found it hard to keep going at times. I was only held in place because the story is just that good. Expect fan art from me sooner or later XD Also, I really love Canary. Kay if you're reading this, please, please, please don't kill her. I'll do anything you want. Just... Please. Please, let survive. I don't think I could take it. (ToT)