Book review: Cuckoo
2026-04-27 09:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rocky41_7 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fffridayAlright, I know it's Monday, but I wrapped up yet another horror novel last night, Gretchen Felker-Martin’s Cuckoo. This book is about a group of kids in 1995 who are sent to a conversion camp, experience The Horrors, and then reunite many years later to have another crack at taking The Horrors down.
First, I have to say the decision to set a horror novel in a conversion camp is kind of galaxy-brained, because it is a place that by design is traumatizing and horrifying. This book will make your skin crawl and your eyes tear up well before the monster enters the scene. There are seven protagonists and they come from all walks of life—gay kids, trans kids, kids from Christian families, kids from Jewish families, white kids, Asian kids, Latino kids, fat kids, mentally ill kids—but they all come from families who were willing to stuff them, sobbing and kicking and begging, into the back of a van and ship them off with a bunch of strangers to be “cured.”
And then there’s the monsters.
Generally I’m not a fan of “body snatcher” kind of horror stories, in the same way I’m not a fan of conspiracy theory stories, but I think it largely works here, because this is what the families want isn’t it? For their problem child to go away for a while and come back a new person, without all those icky traits mom and dad didn’t want. For the teens, watching the queer kids around them succumb to “curing” would feel like a kind of body-snatching—who are you and what have you done with the queer person I knew?
The book is also very gross, and I mean that not pejoratively, but factually. If you have a low tolerance for grossness, this one may not be for you. The monster and its ilk are nasty galore (see minor complaint below) and Felker-Martin does not pull punches about the grossness of human existence, particularly as an angry, horny, repressed teenager in a desperate situation. The characters here puke, piss, make out in public bathrooms, masturbate amidst their sleeping peers, eat pussy during menstruation, and are generally grody in the way teenagers are grody. I think grounding the book in these bodily realities works well given the nature of the horror, which is incredibly personal and physical.
I liked the teens themselves and I felt like they represented a decent spread of attitudes and behaviors from people in circumstances both similar and diverse. They exhibit many of the kinds of irritating and off-putting behaviors you’d expect from a group of young people who’ve already learned they must hide their true selves or be punished for it.
There were a couple of things that didn’t totally land for me though. First, I think the descriptions of the monster(s) are overdone sometimes. Not because it grossed me out too much but because yes okay, we get it, the thing is nasty, it’s ugly, it smells bad, it’s inchoate; can we move on? Also, I never felt like I had a real idea of what the thing(s) looked like, despite all the descriptions.
Second, the book jacket description makes it sound like the majority of the book will be the teens as adults, returning to the horrors they faced when they were young, but two thirds or more of the book is the actual events of the conversion camp. It makes the final third in their adulthood feel somewhat rushed.
However, on the whole, I liked this book and I’d be open to reading more from Felker-Martin. There are so many moments here where you want to hug these kids and take them somewhere safe, and I enjoyed the book’s balance of the power of love with the grim reality of the cost of life.
[#298 | Disappearance] Voting Post
2026-04-27 11:47 pmfanweeklymod posting in fandomweekly( List of entries )
In order to vote, please reply to this post using the form provided. All comments are screened, and entries are listed in the order they were submitted. For your vote to qualify, you must fill out your entire voting card (all three spots) in order to be counted. First place votes are worth 3 points, second place votes are worth 2 points, and third place votes are worth 1 point. Meeting the bonus goal on an entry gets an extra point for that submission.
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First Place: 61. Fic Title Here
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Third Place: 47. Finally a third fic title goes here
Please note that you cannot vote for your own entry, and that votes cannot be made anonymously. You do not have to be a member of the community in order to vote, nor have submitted an entry for this week; everyone is welcome to participate in the voting. IP addresses are logged to prevent duplicate voting.
Voting closes Wednesday, April 29, at 9:00PM EST.
Warm Heart #22 [The Fulcrum]
2026-04-27 03:10 pmparadoxcase posting in rainbowficStory: The Fulcrum
Colors: Warm Heart #22: Sorry
Styles and Supplies: None
Word Count: 530
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Setsiana, Liselye
In-Universe Date: 1912.5.4.6
Summary: Setsiana runs into Liselye.
Note: Sorry, I might need to leave off here for a bit. I wanted to get this posted, because this is the last post I need for the February-May challenge, but I'm in the middle of moving now, so I probably won't have much time for writing in the next couple weeks.
( A Failed Matchmaker )
The Fantastic Journey: Beautiful Morning [Challenge 499: Wake Up]
2026-04-27 07:13 pmbadly_knitted posting in drabble_zoneTitle: Beautiful Morning
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Scott, Fred, Varian, Liana, Willaway.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 499: Wake Up.
Setting: After the series.
Summary: Camping out most nights can be hard, but on mornings like this, hardships are easy to ignore.
Disclaimer: I don’t own The Fantastic Journey, or the characters. They belong to their creators.
A/N: Quadruple drabble.
Beautiful Morning
WIP Challenge Check-in, Day 27 -- Monday
2026-04-27 09:10 amlinaewen posting in writethisfanfic- Excellent!
- Terrible
- Somewhere in between
- Nothing doing
How much time have you spent on writing fic today, roughly?
- None
- 30 minutes or less
- 30-60 minutes
- 60-90 minutes
- More than 90 minutes
In five words or less, how do you feel about that?
[#298] AS IF I WAS NEVER THERE (VALDEMAR SERIES - MERCEDES LACKEY)
2026-04-27 09:22 amimhilien posting in fandomweeklyTitle: as if I was never there
Fandom: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: No
Word Count: 219
Summary: Even though Talia ran away, there was always a cost.
( Read more... )
FAKE: Nocturnal Noises [Challenge 499: Wake Up]
2026-04-26 07:27 pmbadly_knitted posting in drabble_zoneTitle: Nocturnal Noises
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 499: Wake Up
Setting: After the manga.
Summary: Camping can get a bit eerie at night.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
A/N: Double drabble.
Nocturnal Noises
Lesbian Visibility Day 2026
2026-04-26 05:04 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
loe_feedIn celebration of Lesbian Visibility Day, here are five real life lesbian adults who are out, proud, and living their best lives.
JADE
I never thought I would get married because I never thought I would be brave enough to tell my family I was into women. By the age of 14, I knew I was lesbian. The worries of others not accepting me meant so much because I wasn’t accepting myself. But once I started dating my wife, Christiana, I had to tell everyone! I pushed through the fears of losing people and discovered a self-love that has grown over the last 12 years.
My goal for this year has been to love and take care of myself. I have learned to tend to my inner child and give little Jade the kindness she always deserved. I say no to things I don’t want to do, take myself on long walks, and go on solo dates, all as a form of self-care.
And because of that, I notice the difference in how I show up as a wife and partner. In taking care of myself, I have become a better spouse. One that shows up for Christiana because I also show myself genuine love and care every day.
CHRISTIANA
“I picked her for you.”
These were the words I heard whispered to me as I sat praying in a quiet forest on an early morning at a youth church camp over a decade ago. I was a camp counselor in my early twenties, and I had just spent the last month falling in love with my best friend…who was a woman. These feelings were uncharted and terrifying. I had been engaged in a secret love affair and was quietly beginning to hate myself while I also felt so seen and so loved for the first time in my life. So, naturally I did what I had been taught to do all of my life; I prayed.
I asked God what was wrong with me and why I couldn’t stop myself from loving this woman. I sat in silence, heard the words “I picked her for you”, and I never looked back, only forward to the best decision I have ever made. I chose love and I chose to push into what was actually the best version of myself. The version of myself that looked fear in the eyes and decided to walk through it because I knew love and freedom would be at the other side. Today, I am a woman who pursues all interests and passions from pole dancing and roller skating to gardening, hiking, and writing. I also work full time as a school counselor who wants all of my students to be the best versions of themselves.
ARI AND AVA
We are Ari and Ava, two Australian lesbians who regularly collaborate on artistic and historical projects. Ari is a poet and artist and Ava is a historian and artist. Recently, we began a new endeavor by founding Villanelle, a lesbian literary and art magazine. We both missed the era of lesbian print magazines, so we decided to focus on something close to our hearts: art and writing. Villanelle is based in Australia, but takes submissions from lesbians all over the world, publishing two issues a year in both digital and print formats. The first issue was on the topic of nature, and we were incredibly grateful to everyone who submitted their work. Currently we are about to publish our second issue on the theme of Bridges and Boundaries. Our friend circle are all passionate about art, literature and lesbian communities, and so collectively we hope to ensure lesbian voices and experiences are visible.
ALEX
I’m an LA-based graphic designer, event organizer, and sex educator that runs my own pleasure products retail business.
My mission at STRAPPED is to minimize non-reciprocal fetishization, fear, abuse, and shame around kink, and to replace those with experiences of solo and mutually beneficial fun, respect, and informed choices.
I provide access to the tools and recommended techniques so people can teach themselves (and their lovers) to figure out what works for them. I started this space to be an alternative sanctuary where people can explore pleasure without pressure.
Beyond retail, STRAPPED incorporates complimentary consultations, live chat, events, and an online community discussion board that creates space for honest questions and shared knowledge in an environment that is too often shaped by misinformation, social trends, stigma, and/or pressure from partners.
WIP Challenge Check-in, Day 26 -- Sunday
2026-04-26 08:21 amlinaewen posting in writethisfanfic- I thought about my fic once or twice
- I wrote
- I did some planning and/or outlining
- I did research and/or canon review
- I edited
- I've sent my fic off to my beta
- I posted today!
- I'm taking a break
- I did something else that I'll talk about in a comment
Sunday Discussion: It's a new writing week, and the last week of the current month. How are you doing so far with meeting writing goals for the month?
[#298] OUT OF CHARACTER (TORCHWOOD)
2026-04-26 03:50 pmm_findlow posting in fandomweeklyTitle: Out of character
Fandom: Torchwood.
Rating/Warnings: PG. Spoilers for Big Finish audioplay “Fall to Earth”.
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 1,000 words
Summary: The most reliable member of the team is absent and it’s got Gwen worried.
( Read more... )
[#298] Consternation (Ayatsuri Sakon)
2026-04-25 10:16 pmarknes posting in fandomweeklyTitle: Consternation
Fandom: Ayatsuri Sakon
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes.
WC: 997
Summary: Sakon finds Zenkichi after three years.
Notes: I'm back y'all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
( Consternation )
Day 25 check in!
2026-04-25 07:55 pmomens posting in writethisfanficHow are your projects going today?
Pretty good
1 (20.0%)
Great!
1 (20.0%)
Haven't started yet
1 (20.0%)
Not happening..
2 (40.0%)
How did your week in writing go? Mine was mid-to-not-bad, I think.
Just Create - Pattern Edition
2026-04-25 02:07 pmsilvercat17 posting in justcreateWhat are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
[#298] Baited Trap (The Fantastic Journey)
2026-04-25 09:30 pmbadly_knitted posting in fandomweeklyTheme Prompt: #298 – Disappearance
Title: Baited Trap
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 1000
Summary: When Scott vanishes in the funhouse, the rest of the travellers split up to search for him.
Azul #8 [Starfall]
2026-04-25 08:37 pmthisbluespirit posting in rainbowficStory: Starfall
Colors: Azul #8 (Oath)
Supplies and Styles: Silhouette
Word Count: 1035
Rating: PG
Warnings: Discussion of arranged marriage.
Notes: Portcallan, 1313; Viyony Eseray, Imoren Fioris. Follows on directly after Picnic in Ruins.
Summary: Viyony's betrothed is finally here.
( Promises Kept )
Challenge # 499: Wake Up
2026-04-25 06:26 pmbadly_knitted posting in drabble_zoneThis week's challenge is:
Reminder of Rules
Entries should be 100, 200, or 300 words exactly, excluding titles and headers.
Please place the body of your entry behind a cut.
Tag with the appropriate Challenge, Fandom, Type, and Ratings tags. If a tag for your fandom doesn't exist, leave a request on the Tag Request post and I'll create the tags you need. You can request as many fandom tags as you want.
You don't need to use the challenge word or phrase in your drabble, though you can if you like.
Each challenge ends when the new challenge is posted, but if you're a few days late that's still fine.
NEW RULE: DOUBLE AND TRIPLE DRABBLES ARE ALSO ACCEPTED ;)
Have fun!
[#298] Disappearance (Generation X, X-Men Comicverse)
2026-04-25 07:23 pmsoricel posting in fandomweeklyTitle: She Bit Me and It Felt Like a Kiss
Fandom: Generation X, X-Men (Comicverse)
Rating/Warnings: T
Bonus: No
Word Count: 477
Notes: Kinda loose interpretation of the prompt--hope it's okay! Set after Generation X: Volume 2.
( Read more... )
[Challenge #491: Pun] Original Fiction: 'Cut It Out!'
2026-04-24 07:23 pmbut_can_i_be_trusted posting in 100words