Archive for December 2018

6 YA Fantasy Novels With Bisexual Protagonists

Young Adult fantasy novels with bisexual main characters

Representation is important. These six young adult fantasy and science fiction novels feature main characters who identify as bisexual.

6 YA Fantasy Novels With Bisexual Protagonists

Representation in literature is important, especially for young readers who don’t often see characters like themselves represented in the media. It is important for young readers to see characters like themselves in the books they read to feel like they aren’t alone. Seeing positive representations of characters like oneself can greatly increase the self-esteem of young readers, so it Is very important for authors to include diversity amongst the main characters in their works. Reading about relatable characters also helps to foster a life-long love of reading in teens and young adults.

Even with LGBT+ representation improving in the media, including in literature, it is still rare to see novels featuring well-written, multidimensional bisexual protagonists. Fantasy has long been a favorite genre of people who identify as bisexual. There is just something about creatures and beings that we’re told don’t exist in the real world that bisexual individuals can relate to. These six Young Adult fantasy novels feature main characters who identify as bisexual, or who are demonstratably bi in their stories. People of all ages and identities will enjoy these fantasy novels featuring bisexual characters.

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10 Reasons Why Jigglypuff Is the Ultimate Cat Pokémon

Is Jigglypuff a cat?

Jigglypuff is the ultimate cat Pokemon in the series. Here are ten reasons why.

10 Reasons Why Jigglypuff Is the Ultimate Cat Pokémon

I know what you’re thinking: “Jigglypuff is a ‘balloon Pokémon,’ not a ‘cat Pokémon!’” I, personally, don’t see why this Pokémon couldn’t be classified as both. Jigglypuff is obviously a cat. This pink puffball Pokémon perfectly exemplifies what it means to be a cat, in both looks and behavior. Allow me to explain.

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The Magical History of Garden Gnomes

The Magical History of Garden Gnomes

Garden gnomes are fun and whimsical additions to any garden, but did you know that these figurines have a rich and fascinating history?

The Magical History of Garden Gnomes

If you have a garden or front yard, you are likely familiar with the popular garden ornament known as the “garden gnome.” Though you may have never considered the origins of these whimsical little tchotchkes, these miniature statues have a long and mysterious history. Garden gnomes as we know them today have only been manufactured in the last two centuries, but earlier versions of these garden guardians have been livening up gardens for hundreds of years.

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The Selkie Wife: A Short Story Inspired by Celtic Folklore

Selkie

My short story, The Selkie Wife (originally titled The Selkie) is now available to read for free on Letterpile.com.

In this retelling of Celtic legends, a young fisherman named Conall loses his beloved wife Mairenn to the fury of the sea. In his grief, he loses his will to live until he is rescued by a mysterious woman named Moira who appears to have come from the sea itself. Ready to move forward after enduring heartbreaking tragedy, Conall builds a life with Moira. They appear to have a perfect life together, but like Conall himself, Moira seems burdened by constant longing for something she lost long ago.

This story contains seven chapters. You can access each chapter of The Selkie Wife here:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

How to Unlock Every Character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

How to Unlock Every Character in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

There are 74 characters available in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo Switch at launch, with more on the way, though only 8 are unlocked at the start. Here is how to unlock every character in the game.

How to Unlock Every Character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch really is the ultimate Super Smash Bros. experience. This latest iteration of the Super Smash Bros. series features every character who has ever appeared in the Smash series, plus plenty of new challengers, making for a total of 74 characters available in the game at launch. There will also be several more new characters released as paid DLC later on, bringing the total to 77.

When you first start up the game, only the original 8 unlocked characters who appeared in the original Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo 64 will be available. These characters include Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu. There are several different ways to unlock this massive roster of characters. The main ways to unlock the unlockable characters are by playing Vs. mode, Classic mode, and the World of Light mode. There will also be several DLC characters available to purchase in the future.

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“Pokémon Let’s Go” Review

Pokemon Let's Go review

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! and Let’s Go, Pikachu! are highly enjoyable remakes of Generation 1 for Nintendo Switch. These games are highly recommended for veteran fans of the series and newcomers alike!

“Pokémon Let’s Go” Review

Many fans were apprehensive of the new Pokémon titles for the Nintendo Switch when they were first announced. Most fans were eagerly awaiting a new main series Pokémon game when these remakes of Pokémon Yellow were announced. Further, these new games seem to add Pokémon Go game mechanics to the Pokémon Kanto storyline, a radical departure from the main series games.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee! were criticized for being too easy, catering too much to casual fans who first got into the series with the mobile app game, Pokémon Go. These games, some long-time hardcore fans claimed, were simply trying to cash in on the Pokémon Go craze. They had nothing to offer real fans of the series.

Despite these criticisms, I was excited for this new take on the Kanto region storyline. This is the first Pokémon experience for Nintendo Switch (aside from the Pokken re-release for Switch and the Switch port of the free mobile spin-off game Pokémon Quest, whatever the heck that’s supposed to be). I was excited to start capturing Pokémon and collecting gym badges on the Nintendo Switch, even if it is a watered-down version of the series. Plus, the Poké Ball Plus controller looked like a lot of fun. I couldn’t wait to return to finally return to Kanto after so many years

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What Are the Differences Between “Pokémon Let’s Go” and “Pokémon Yellow”?

Differences between Pokemon Let's Go and Pokemon Yellow

Though Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee and Pikachu are remakes of Pokemon Yellow, there are many differences between the updated version and the original.

What Are the Differences Between “Pokémon Let’s Go” and “Pokémon Yellow”?

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are essentially remakes of Pokémon Yellow, which itself was an updated version of Pokémon Red and Blue in which more closely follows the Pokémon anime series. While the overall story does remain faithful to the original Pokémon Yellow, there are a number of changes and updates present in these new versions of the first-generation Pokémon games.

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