MPRCunha

Time for a Book Review! 
          	
          	Last month, I finished reading the first book of "The Meaning of Eternity" trilogy by  @JuliaLundstrom. 
          	
          	This is the second book I've read from this author, the first one being the wonderful "How to Fall From Grace". Both books are connected through the same world as well, but while the former is a period romantasy, with a more or less equal dose of humour and drama, this one is firmly situated in the tragic horror genre. 
          	
          	The story of this trilogy follows Lucius, a character who suffers though a series of horrifying events that drag him into a desperate enough place for him to consider making a Faustian deal with a demonic-like entity of his world. It's a tale about a character seeking control over his life, in a world so adamant to strip it away from him, only to realise how much of his humanity (and soul) he has to trade away in his pursuit of power. 
          	
          	It's a tragic story, full of small moments of hope squashed under the weight of injustice, cruelty and suffering, so it's not an easy read and certainly not for the faint of heart. But it was an ultimately rewarding one for how well-written it was, and how deeply it delved into the mind of a morally complex character going through such a harrowing arc. 
          	
          	If you love tragic stories and are looking for a good trilogy to sink your teeth into, or if any of this seems right up your alley, then I heavily recommend it! Just please be aware of the content warnings (read the Author's Notes) and make sure you can handle this story's heavy subjects. 
          	
          	https://www.wattpad.com/story/49885961-the-meaning-of-eternity-tmoe-1

MPRCunha

Time for a Book Review! 
          
          Last month, I finished reading the first book of "The Meaning of Eternity" trilogy by  @JuliaLundstrom. 
          
          This is the second book I've read from this author, the first one being the wonderful "How to Fall From Grace". Both books are connected through the same world as well, but while the former is a period romantasy, with a more or less equal dose of humour and drama, this one is firmly situated in the tragic horror genre. 
          
          The story of this trilogy follows Lucius, a character who suffers though a series of horrifying events that drag him into a desperate enough place for him to consider making a Faustian deal with a demonic-like entity of his world. It's a tale about a character seeking control over his life, in a world so adamant to strip it away from him, only to realise how much of his humanity (and soul) he has to trade away in his pursuit of power. 
          
          It's a tragic story, full of small moments of hope squashed under the weight of injustice, cruelty and suffering, so it's not an easy read and certainly not for the faint of heart. But it was an ultimately rewarding one for how well-written it was, and how deeply it delved into the mind of a morally complex character going through such a harrowing arc. 
          
          If you love tragic stories and are looking for a good trilogy to sink your teeth into, or if any of this seems right up your alley, then I heavily recommend it! Just please be aware of the content warnings (read the Author's Notes) and make sure you can handle this story's heavy subjects. 
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/story/49885961-the-meaning-of-eternity-tmoe-1

MPRCunha

Happy Pride Month, everyone! <3 <3 <3 Now, more than ever, we need to celebrate and take joy in what so many still endeavour to hide or eradicate in us and in themselves. But nothing and no one can diminish the humanity that burns bright in all of us. Nothing can scrub the colours out of us, out of life itself. We'll keep on shining, always.

MPRCunha

Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate the sentiment <3 I'm sorry to hear you're going through a rough patch. I hope things get better for you and that you find the support, strength and wisdom to push through it. 
            
            In regards to the reads, I don't get much of them myself, so I'm not the best person to seek advice for that. The only thing I can think of suggesting is just that you reach out to some form of reading community, like a bookclub, or any sort of dedicated group of people that are passionate about both writing and reading. I'm in one myself (which I absolutely love) and it's been the one consistent source of reads for me, not because we do any reading exchanges, but because we genuinely want to engage with each other's works, without necessarily expecting anything in return. I also suggest that you have more books in your reading list other than your own, because a good writer also needs to be a good reader, and it might attract more readers who are also writers (the ones who tend to leave more helpful comments/feedback) to your profile/works that way. 
            
            At the moment, I'm quite busy with judging for the Pride Awards, so between that and the usual bookclub stuff, I don't have much time for a reading exchange. I also avoid doing those in general, because I'm not very comfortable with the idea of turning reading into a transactional thing. I might check out the first chapter of your book, because I am genuinely curious about how much you've changed/improved the writing on the book, but I can't promise I'll want to read further than that. By that same logic, I can't expect you to do the same, and don't want to have anyone reading my own works out of obligation either. 
            
            Again, I really appreciate you reaching out and engaging with my profile and works. I wish you all the best and hope you succeed in your endeavours <3
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TheSmileMaker

@MPRCunha Hey there! I just saw your Pride post and really wanted to reach out. Those words were so beautiful and resonant. When you stand with the truth, you're not just asking to be seen, you're giving others permission to step out of the shadows too. That's a quality I respect! We are not divided by our differences, we are defined by their beauty! I hope you're doing well and happy Pride month :)
            I know I’ve been pretty distant and haven't been around much. To be honest, I’ve been going through a rough patch and feeling pretty depressed. I noticed a significant drop in reads after my first chapter and it's been weighing heavily on me because I can't quite figure out the reason behind it myself. I immediately thought of you. I say this with absolute sincerity, I haven't come across a better writer and reviewer than you. I value your feedback a lot and would love to know if you'd be open to a reading exchange. I'm more than willing to read anything and everything of yours in return. I could really use your help and guidance right now. Please let me know :)
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MPRCunha

Last day to enter the Pride Awards! 
          
          Please make sure to check your entry came through in the "Accepted Entries" chapter of the contest book:
          https://www.wattpad.com/1539165411?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=postToProfile&utm_content=share_writing&wp_page=create_writer&wp_uname=FreeTheLGBT
          
          Or, if you haven't submitted yet, do so through this form:
          https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMHX-E5FAqj3rVnBvQtfFjdczsyLhVVR_7VRaQaP4r6sq41w/viewform?usp=header
          
          Please make sure your entry follows all the guidelines and meets the minimum criteria. 
          
          Good luck everyone! 
          
          Pride Awards contest book:
          https://www.wattpad.com/story/369148687

MPRCunha

Time for a Pride Awards Announcement!
          
          Only one day left for you to submit your entry for the contest. Remember, you have until the 20th of May to enter! 
          
          If you've submitted a book already, then please check the updated "Accepted Entries" chapter to ensure your form came through for the Pride Awards. 
          
          Chapter link >> https://www.wattpad.com/1539165411?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=postToProfile&utm_content=share_writing&wp_page=create_writer&wp_uname=FreeTheLGBT
          
          If you haven't submitted yet, then either use the link below to submit your book: 
          
          Entry form link >> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMHX-E5FAqj3rVnBvQtfFjdczsyLhVVR_7VRaQaP4r6sq41w/viewform?usp=header
          
          Or make an inline comment on the "Entry Form" chapter below:
          
          Chapter link >> https://www.wattpad.com/1446582272-the-pride-awards-guidelines-and-entry-form
          
          Please make sure the book you submit follows the guidelines and meets the minimum criteria for this contest (front and centre LGBTQ representation and > 15k words total) by the 20th of May deadline. 
          
          Good luck everyone! <3

MPRCunha

Time for another Book Review! 
          
          So, right at the start of this month, I finished reading the novel "The Dark Between Dreams" by @kgraves.  
          
          I honestly did not expect the journey this book would take me on. This story is definitely steeped in its dark supernatural elements (realm of the dead, ghosts, demonic-like creatures), but is actually structured more like a fantasy-adventure epic, which made it such a unique experience as far as genre conventions go. 
          
          I couldn't be more happy that it defied my expectations though, because it exceeded them tenfold! It was an amazing adventure, with fantastical world-building, epic twists and turns that constantly kept me on the edge of my seat, impactful down-right cinematic writing, as well as spine-tingling descriptions and showcasing of its horror elements. But it also more than delivered on the themes that a story about death and ghosts should touch upon (life and death, unresolved grief, guilt, fear, love, memories, loneliness, trauma, injustice) by beautifully entwining them with the emotional character-arc of its MC, but also of all the different characters that join her in or stand in the way of her journey. 
          
          If you haven't read this book and any of this intrigues you, please do yourself a favour and dive right into it, ASAP! Specially if you're a fan of either supernatural or fantasy stories, 'cause this book mixed the best of both worlds, in my opinion. It's both a fun romp, a suspenseful mystery and an emotional journey that you won't regret tagging along for <3 
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/story/257163178-the-dark-between-dreams

MPRCunha

@TheSmileMaker I also have a couple supernatural short stories in the "Ink In-Between (Dark edition)" anthology, specifically "Eight Horns", "e n d l e s s", "Angel of death", "Don't Look Away".
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MPRCunha

@TheSmileMaker Ah, I see! In that case I'd recommend Beyond the Lantern by @Justtmb, which is a short story anthology where most of the stories have a supernatural twist or vibe to them. I specially recommend "The Gravekeeper", which is the most classically supernatural of that collection.
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TheSmileMaker

@MPRCunha Thanks! I have a bit of a commitment issue when it comes to long books, so since you're an avid reader, I'd love a short story recommendation instead. I don't have a reading list to share, but the first chapter of my book has a short story vibe that should give you a good sense of what I'm looking for :)
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MPRCunha

Time for a Book Review!
          
          A while back, I finished reading another book from @Justtmb, called “Beyond the Lantern”.
          
          It’s a lovely collection, and a personal one as well, as it's loosely based on stories told by the author's grandmother. And you can really feel that in the writing itself, not just in the fable-like quality and structure of these stories, but also in the heartfelt messages embedded in them. 
          
          There are 8 short stories in total (so far) in this collection. Almost all of them have an eerie undercurrent to them, either due to their supernatural elements or the fact that they deal with the darkness that lies in some of its characters. But there’s also always a strong sense of hope and humanity in them, a bright spot of light to huddle around in the dark (like a lantern). Because of this, they almost feel cozy, in a way. Like a story you’d tell over a crackling campfire. 
          
          It’s a very different style of writing and feel than what I usually go for with my own short stories, so it made for a very interesting and rewarding reading experience. My personal favourites were “The Gravekeeper” and “Hunter, Huntee”, which also happen to be the first and last stories of the collection, coincidentally enough.
          
          If you’re looking for a nice anthology filled with some eerie, fable-like stories that have beautiful, hopeful messages at their core, then this book might just be for you! <3
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/story/403320778-beyond-the-lantern

MPRCunha

@TheSmileMaker Ah, yes, you beat me to it XD This should be perfect for what you're looking for.
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TheSmileMaker

@MPRCunha I'll check this one instead. Exactly the type I'm searching for. Thanks! 
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MPRCunha

Contest Announcement! 
          
          I'm happy to announce that The Pride Awards are here (Hooray!) and that I will once again be judging for them! :D 
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/1446582272-the-pride-awards-guidelines-and-submission-form
          
          Submissions for this year's edition are officially open! You will find an active link for the entry form in the "Free the LGBT" bio, here:
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/user/FreeTheLGBT/conversations#2095020778
          
          Submissions will be open from today till 20th of May, so if you have any book with clear queer representation or narratives, then don't miss this opportunity to proudly showcase it. It can be any genre and it can be an original work or fan fiction, as long as it has a minimum word count of 15k words by the time submissions close (please read the guidelines chapter for more details on eligibility). 
          
          Wether you participate or not, The Pride Awards is also a perfect way to find some incredible queer books to read, so follow the contest and stay tuned for some great LGBT recs!
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/story/369148687-the-pride-awards

creatorofthechaos

OMGGGGGGGGGG i really loved your interviewwww it was sooo gooddd (⛩⏢⛩) ❤️❤️❤️❤️✨✨
          Also congrats ✨✨✨

creatorofthechaos

@MPRCunha omgggggg highfoive
            All about experimenting!!!!
            My book is basically a collection of experiments 
            Also YESSSS it was the best advice 
            And omggggggg 'unique'!!!! Thank youuuuuu sooooo muchhhh 
            I'm so glad that my book is seen as something very different 
            Also thanks a lotttt for adding my book to your reading list :D❤️❤️❤️✨✨✨
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MPRCunha

@creatorofthechaos Thank you! I feel like that was the most fitting advice, considering how that's exactly what got me to write the collection in the first place >_< And yes! Of course. I'm all about experimenting, and a whole collection based entirely on identifying with objects/concepts in a 'what if I was' framing sounds so unique!
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creatorofthechaos

@MPRCunha really??? U nailed it gurrlll 
            Also the part where u give advice to try breaking the rules here and there❤️✨✨✨ chef's kiss
            
            Alsoooo 'so interesting'???? omggggg thankyouuuu sooo muchhhh (⛩⏢⛩) ❤️✨✨✨
            Love yaaa❤️✨✨✨
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MPRCunha

Time for a Book Review!
          
          Just finished reading "Descension" by the wonderful and lovely @Justtmb <3
          
          This is a 25 chapter novella in the folklore/mythical fantasy genre, about a small island, the mysterious disappearance of one of its inhabitants and the subsequence search by her sibling, their best friend and their recently arrived childhood friend. 
          
          The plot is tight, focused and well paced. It has an incredibly well executed set up and narrative structure that pulls you in immediately to its mystery, the main trio of characters and its strong themes of colonialism, mental health, grief, love and forgiveness. The scope of the mystery at the center of its plot is small, personal and tightly woven into the character's emotional arcs, and that's what made it such a compelling read for me. 
          
          If any of this picks your interest, then I highly recommend it! 
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/story/400716865-descension

TheSmileMaker

@MPRCunha Oh, great! Looking forward to read it soon :)
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