Thirdly

Dag-friggin-nabbit. I want to read more about this story's world and characters.

"The little git led us a right merry dance, and me and my droogs want a bit of payback."/"Ah well, I can't say I didn't try."/"What? You really think us fifteen are gonna be stopped by you, a lanky, goth, streak of piss, do-gooder?" - OMG, I'm so American I had to read this part some five times until I could have it "sounding" right in my head. But other than those specific lines, the rest of the entire story played so perfectly in my head, it was freaking glorious. I both love who wrote this and I hate them. I love their writing style and ideas. I hate where it ended because I want to read more about how those aves saved his behind, and where they are going, and how they could basically read his mind.

The Rainbow Unicorn was ascendant, indeed.

This is another highly recommended read from me. Much like the MC, you won't know what hit you.

Did you see that? I just dabbed on you. - Wait, people still dab these days? That phase has long past. This was a very fun read, considering we're witness to the unaliving of a person. 😂 Terrible, yes. But great.

Absolutely adored this one. Friends to lovers at its core. So lovely.

I loved this. I loved their names, I loved the Italian, I got most of it enough to tell what they were saying. Loved the ending. Love love love. 🥰

Alright, now that I'm about the halfway point of all the SA stories, I'm on a vendetta with all of you. Yes. Everyone. If you participated last year and are also participating this year, your writing's improved. If this is your first time participating, your writing is solid. If you were out to get a reaction from me, you got ALL the reactions from me. Every last one of you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to pout here in my corner like a jealous brat until I start reading the second half of the stories. *grumbling* Doggone talented individuals making me feel all the things.

How ballsy to just show them the underwear. I think we've read about 5 different Neils at this point. Neil is a popular name this time around. Anyway, I loved this. Laughed a little too hard reading about this Ben. I know another Ben that also happens to be that height.

No Doubt About it??? But I have all the doubts! Like what were the aliens even doing just before all that????

I read the summary, and the summary itself distracted me so badly that I read the first few lines without actually consuming the words while my mind was still thinking of the summary and magically landed on "Liam was leaving." first and then I had to start all over again. All the while, a cold knot of dread twisted in his gut. - Awww. Let me squish you between my boobs in sympathy. It's ok, I don't even swing that way, you're safe. He bolted. A blind, frantic sprint for the darkness at the edge of the cliff. - Good Lord! Don't go and kill yourself now. His head was crushed against a rock, his face mercifully hidden, but a thick, black pool of blood was already spreading out from under him, glistening in the unsteady beam. - Good Lord!! Neil turned, his own anger and panic muted by the alien’s overwhelming sense of responsibility. - What a nice guy? Liam stretching, his spine flexing, his stomach exposed to the light. - You were really paying attention there, huh. Liam, having to completely shave off his pubes after losing a bet. The near heart attack Neil had later when he saw Liam’s massive dick swing unashamed in all its naked glory in the shower. - Hotdamn. You really WERE paying attention. LMAO The lost bet. The shaved pubes. The one impossibly specific detail Neil had burned into his brain in the gym shower that day when he definitely “didn’t look”. - LMAO!! Goddamn it. This was so romantically beautiful. The wait to find out who wrote it is so long. 🤣

Hmm...methinks if I mark this story "World Building" we might get more of it? Maybe?

Ok, first of all, I loved the intro conversation. "Almost two! B***h, that's stretching 'almost' and you know it." (though obviously not in those exact words. “Angel, you shouldn’t tease your brother.”“But it’s fun, papa.” - PFFT! Sibs be sibs. Second of all, I freaking loved this. I don't love that Darren's parents just up and died at the same time, but I do love that Angel and Luca's parents stepped up inmediatamente to help.

This isn't Drama, this is Thriller/Suspense... though this coming from me, I'm not the best at using the correct genres.

No, battery, you can't die on me. I have to ask just how splintered is splintered! - The black shards in his head splintered Henry’s consciousness.

His first bite of his sandwich was interrupted when his phone rang. - Oh no! That's already a travesty. I haven't eaten ham in months and my mouth was watering, and here Jules wasn't even able to get a good bite. Daywalkers, they call them, and they look human, just stronger and stuff. And they hunt their own kind. - Ah, so that's what they're called. Though they think Ross is one, I think Jules is. This was an intriguing read. I'll have to wait until after the event for the next part to come out. I hope there is a next part.

How do I explain how much you don't want to miss out on reading this without spoiling the everloving sh*t out of it? *thinking face* Got it. I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU to read this one. *winks*

Football players. Upperclassmen I barely talked to. Guys I hadn’t thought of in years leaving casual, almost friendly remarks. As if I had belonged more than I ever realized. - My heart! It's melting! 🫠 “Don’t get used to that feeling. Nobody likes a guy who’s always right.” - Either he was jealous or crushing hard. I had a few of those, both types, too. I blushed so easily and had such an expressive face, people really loved teasing me. Thinking back, I understand and can laugh about it. But at the time it just made me such an awkward mess. *slaps cheeks* But enough of getting lost in my memories, it's Jacob's memories we're reading about. “Derek,” I said, managing to keep my tone even. Cool. Just barely. - Why am I so proud of a fictional character. Whoever wrote this (if it isn't already me, as I don't mind shamelessly claiming this one): amazing job. I hesitated, my voice tightening. “I was hurt because I liked you. And I wanted you to like me back.” - My heart! It can't melt anymore; it was a puddle long before this. Awww I loved this one so much! 🥰

I'm giving this one a re-read after this year's event. There's a beginning, middle, and happy ending. Just try not to read too fast or you'll start seeing things that didn't really happen.

Ok, I think it's because I've been trying to speed read between workloads at my day job. But for the smallest of moments, I was worried this was going to be a wild AF incest mix up kind of story. Glad it wasn't. And I still would have totally read it because I don't start things I don't finish. So, to the person who wrote this: I'm sorry my mind is that perverted. This sweet story does not deserve my naughty brain's distortion. And I loved it.

Not gonna lie, I already lost track of which story I left off on. Blasted busy season at my job. Anyway, I love the details here- Her long, carefully braided, blond hair stood in stark contrast to the expression of disgust that was etched on her now red face. The gemstones interwoven in her blue dress shone in the morning light. Calmly, Tomas said, “The difference, Cousin, is that I don’t love. I fuck. As you well know.” He grinned as he trailed his left forefinger along Jonah's jaw. - Well, then...not me getting attached to Tomas even though he's kind of a jerk. Tristan walked over to the bodies and ran his sword through their throats to be sure they were dead. - Hot damn! All that effort to get that teleportation spell for nothing??? Wait, is Tomas still alive? 👀

Loved it. The Phantom of the Opera's "Masquerade" song kept fluttering in my head every time someone mentioned masks. Flash of mauve, splash of puce, Fool and king, Ghoul and goose, Green and black, Queen and priest, Trace of rouge, Face of beast, Faaaaaaaaaaaaces~

Wait, wait, wait, is there a past love triangle implied here? - Though her eyes were hazel and not green, she looked remarkably like an Indian version of his sister. One twin liked one sibling and the other twin liked the other? Either that or the last story has me reading between the lines a little too hard. 😂

I rarely disagree with Bennie, but I read Lucas fairly clearly. This story has so many layers, it IS a painting on a canvas to me, meant to be interpreted differently by whoever is reading. While I personally dislike reading stories that force you to think a little too hard, I have to give this story it's dues.

The theme here is pretty clear, Lucas gradually sheds his inhibitions until only shame is left and then with Morris's help, he eventually lets go of the shame, as well. Focus on Lucas, and you see a teen that's so desperate to accept himself, he latches onto the only similar-natured adult he's come across. Focus too hard on Morris, and it feels like grooming behavior, even if nothing blatantly non-consensual is happening. Quite the fine line this story treads on.