Catching back up with Ava's Demon after years and rediscovering the magnum opus of a lifetime. A monument of dedication and creativity.
Here's hoping for a future printing of the latter books to immortalize this series on my shelves.

THE PURPOSE OF A SYSTEM IS WHAT IT DOES

A3-NA's got it good. Beloved assistant to an eccentric professor, friend and lover to a woman who loves her back. It's a life most androids would dream of, and it's hers.

Until one day, it isn't.

archiveofourown.org/works/75661176

The Backwater Swordsman gets a 👍. The slow and deliberate combat was the highlight for me. There're no abstract spikes of speed, or powers, nor any literary surprises. Each soldier plays to their own unique skillset. Battles are decided by anticipation, not plot armor
mangadex.org/chapter/8ab8...

For Her — Chapter 2

An aging handler grappled with the lives she destroyed, and the one she "saved". And she decided to give up.

She accepted what she is.
She gave in to the worst of herself.
She doesn't feel guilty anymore.
She's finally happy.

Right?

archiveofourown.org/works/710461...

My contribution to the #mechsplomicrojam25

The story is about a girl reshaping her life and home around the memories of her hound days.

Beta'd by @azuresmansion.bsky.social and @dailygrowl.life

archiveofourown.org/works/75149801

This one was sold to me as 'everything is sex except sex itself'. It is passion at a cost, sensuality that turns as addicting as it is actualizing. The sensations gradually heighten to a point you constantly need more while at the same time feeling less. Very bittersweet.
x.com/nyetalia/sta...

Codependent pillbug with a dash of mind control, albeit very light. The story would play out the same without it, if only because Taylor is very good at repression her emotions. Cute and toxic in a wholesome way. Complete Worm AU.
forums.spacebattles.com/threads/love...

Binged this fic in a day. It lures you in with softer Handler/hound dynamics and a dash of romance, then pulls the rug from under you by shattering all the characters to pieces. Lots more story to come as well, with the authors being nowhere done with the setting.
archiveofourown.org/works/539318...

New Life As A Max Level Archmage just wrapped up its first book. I've been religiously following it for months, and the chapters are always the highlight of my day.

Incredible execution on a genre that's often felt stale and uninspired lately. Exceptionally good!
www.royalroad.com/fiction/1188...

Regression vengeance story that concluded it's 2nd season. Spends a bit of time on petty academy squabbles, yet you can't help but feel for Nerys's trauma. Politics are going full tilt post-timeskip though, with a dash of romance, and I'm here for it. www.webtoons.com/en/drama/the...

Got absolutely demolished by this fic. How does a hound heal away from their handler? The answering machine format left so much room for dread of the unsaid, while leaving plenty for character growth. And that ending! Can't recommend enough.
@vhsdogs.bsky.social
archiveofourown.org/collections/...

A little sometime of mine. A love letter to MTG, written a while back at a time where the hobby felt welcoming and rich. Felt relevant to dig it up to distract from Universes Beyond and to reminisce of simpler times.

archiveofourown.org/works/717510...

"hard power." - a commission for @cecylene.bsky.social.

archiveofourown.org/works/71656306

A Dollmistress is a position not meant for the faint of heart.

Whenever I think I have a grasp on the mechsplo genre, I get blown away by vivid what-ifs fleshing out untouched concepts.

From the detailed intrusive thoughts as she breaks down everyone she comes across to the internal recriminations upturning every moral pretense, hypocrisy never tasted so sweet

Found my daily dose of dread butterflies melting my insides in Carcinisation by @oblativelamb.bsky.social

Body horror wrapped in psychological abuse. Or how to give your girl body euphoria by plucking her nervous system out and tucking it in a box. Taking notes.

archiveofourown.org/works/63478729

Lovely set of microfics by @lewdiejadie.bsky.social exploring the emotional weight of love between Hound and Handler, and what it costs the latter to fall. It's succinct and poignant, and makes you feel for awful characters regardless of what the tags might say.
archiveofourown.org/series/4839841

Been following this anime religiously every week. Wholesome yuri where people actually communicate, characters progress meaningfully in and out of the relationships, and with compersion all around and no jealousy in sight? A true gem.

Ajisai is best girl.
gogoanime.by/series/watas...

Excellent read, tight story and deep character study. By being confronted with the shallowness of her own delusions paired with the growing feelings she can't deny, Bibi became so much more than yet another yandere. And Amy, oh Amy! I wanna hug her so bad.
mangadex.org/title/52ab10...

Solid magical girl setting with lots of worldbuilding and machinations. Only gripe is the number of POVs drown the narrative to a crawl at times. The MC is merely the eyes we see the story through while other people with more power and agency drive of the plot.
www.royalroad.com/fiction/1242...