Since its inception, photography has wowed people all over the world. From photojournalism to high art and fashion photography, it’s a staple in artistic and self-expression. Janna Yusuf, the protagonist in Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali, is a huge fan of photography. While her favorite subject might be a bit unusual (foreheads), she does have a general appreciation for visuals and photography in general. And who can blame her? Photography is amazing! For all you current and potential shutterbugs out there, I’ve put together a list of some of the best places to check out photography around the country! Have you visited any of these? I’m jealous! Tell me about your experience in the comments!

Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco CA

This independent art gallery was founded by Jeffrey Fraenkel in 1979. Focusing on photography and how it relates to other art mediums, the Fraenkel is one of the most famous galleries in the world. A second location opened in 2016 under the name FraenkelLab.

Connersmith, Washington DC

Founded in 1999, the Connersmith is an art gallery specializing in post-war and contemporary art. Though not solely focused on photography, it has been the location for several fantastic photography exhibitions. The gallery is currently under renovation but keep an eye out for its new exhibitions starting in August of this year!

Jackson Fine Art, Atlanta GA

Founded by Jane Jackson as a gallery for 20^th century and contemporary photography, this gallery quickly became a strong voice in the south and the international art market. It routinely works with private collections and international art fairs, championing contemporary work while still exhibiting a great blend of 20^th century and vintage work.

Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago IL

As the leading photography museum in the Midwest, the Museum of Contemporary Photography is a powerful voice in the local, national, and international stage. The MoCP fights to promote a greater understanding of the art form and the political, cultural, and political implications of it in today’s society. This museum is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone else who has interest in visual media, or would simple like to spend the day viewing art.

The Light Factory, Charlotte NC

What started out as a group of photographers meeting once a week has grown to become one of the best photography galleries in the nation. Seeking to empower the community through photography education and exhibition, the Light Factory provides classes at all levels for anyone who would like to learn the art, and partners with dozens of local outreach organizations. Other than community engagement, The Light Factory exhibits contemporary photography, and is a true jewel in the crown of the Queen city.

The International Center of Photography, New York City, NY

No list of art locales would be complete without an NYC location, and this is one of the finest in the world. Founded in 1974 to preserve the legacy of “concerned photography”, the ICP is a wonderful repository of socially and politically minded photography. To date, over 700 exhibitions have been offered here, as well as classes for every expertise level.  In 2015, a new gallery and research area was opened in New Jersey, as the ICP continues to expand its archives and resources for photography enthusiasts and neophytes alike.

 Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa FL

One of the newest galleries in our lists, this museum started in 2001, providing under-served children in the Tampa area with community programs such as the free Children’s Literacy through Photography Program. In 2006, the gallery relocated to downtown Tampa, and is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary photography and continuing its history of community outreach.

Do you have any favorite photography places we may have missed? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out Boy, available as an extended excerpt until July 17th!

Summer has always been associated exciting flings, figuring yourself out, and new experiences. Sometimes these moments of self realization/discovery can also bring a heaping  dose of heartbreak. As much as we may want to tell ourselves and our loved ones that we’re completely fine, sometimes we need a little help to get through these things. In the spirit of our Summer of Self Discovery promotion, we’ve put together a list of books, movies, and podcasts that might help you get through summer fling withdrawal, or maybe just take your hopeless romantic heart on nostalgia trip.

 The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder

This is a clever ode to the realization that no matter how badly we want some relationships or friendships in our present, some of them are fated to remain in our past. Protagonist Penelope finds herself at a crossroads with her two best friends, Audrey and Eph, as things are clearly changing between them. At the same time, she struggles with her feelings towards Keats, the all-around perfect new guy. This charming story about growing up is perfect for all ages. Oh, and there’s dinosaurs. Lots and lots of dinosaurs. It’s also available as an extended excerpt until July 31st, so start reading it now!

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, art by Moira Kalman

Full disclosure, this is one of my favorite books ever. Combining Handler’s snappy storytelling with Kalman’s striking artwork, Why We Broke Up tells the story of basketball star Ed and “arty” Min (short for Minerva), two mismatched high schoolers whose love affair has come to a sudden and painful end. Told through flashbacks by Min as she goes through the spoils of their relationship, she comes to painful realizations about their time together and about herself. A gut-wrenching and often hilarious rumination on the mementos we keep and how the past shifts upon reexamination, you’ll be hard pressed not to feel a pang for the old wounds in your own past.

Annie Hall

I struggled with this choice, as (500) Days of Summer is a more contemporary take on recollections of lost love. However, I had to give it to the original. Told in a non-linear style and depicting the inception and demise of a relationship, this is one of the most iconic romantic comedies of all time. From the moment Alvy Singer and Annie Hall meet, their every interaction feels so realistic – from the most heartwarming moments (the lobster scene still makes me giddy), their arguments and bickering, and their inevitable collapse. This film does it’s best to answer the questions at the center of all failed relationships: 1) Why do we do this to ourselves? and 2) Is it all worth it?

This American Life; Break Up, Episode 339

Back in 2007, This American Life produced an episode centered around the break up. Told in four acts (and the ever-present prologue) the stellar This American Life covers break ups from both hilarious and heartfelt points of view. The prologue explores the conflicting feelings that are felt by a woman who has been recently dumped, shifting between hopelessly waiting for her ex to call and never wanting to hear from him again. Act one sees Starlee Kine enlist the help of Phil Collins to write the torch song she needs to get over a relationship. Two other acts discuss divorce from outside perspectives – those of a 9-year-old writing to a politician and a dog named Puppyboy respectably, and one act covers an ex-divorce attorney’s thoughts on marriage and divorce.

If We Ever Break Up, This is My Book by Jason Logan

Though break ups may be the most common thing in the world, it constantly feels like no one is any good at actually dealing with them. Jason Logan’s clever little handbook provides a “roadmap to recovery”: a hilariously accurate depiction of life post-break up, from the awkward encounters with your ex, how to get back into the dating life, and how to do a little introspection. Need a template for Christmas cards to your once possible inlaws? A grid depicting the right level of evil to display at your ex’s wedding? A starter line for a country song? This book has you covered. Most importantly, it lets you know from the very beginning the best advice anyone going through a bad break can get – that everything is going to be okay.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This Charlie Kaufman written masterpiece follows Joel and Clementine, two ex lovers who have decided to undergo a process that will wipe their memories clean of their relationship. Just like real life, there are no villains in this love story, just realistic, flawed people. Heartbreaking and hilarious, this film forces the audience to face a bevy of existential questions – What is a memory worth? Does love survive after heartbreak? If you could completely cut someone out of your life, would you?

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

This poetry collection has been a bestseller for over a year, and once you pick it up, you’ll understand why. Running the gamut from raw and brutal to vulnerable and comforting, Rupi Kaur’s poems cover some of the most formative moments of her life. Divided into sections of her childhood, falling in love, heartbreak, and the healing, this hugely uplifting collection will get you through anything from a bad break up to a rough day at the office.

Do you have any books, movies, or podcasts that you use to help you get through break ups, or that have helped you come to mature realizations? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out the books in our Summer of Self-Discovery promotion!

What if the Harry Potter series had featured a Harriet instead? Or what if Bobby Jones and not Bridget had released their diary for the world to gawk at? These are only some of the questions I agonize over on a daily basis. Gender flipping is at times controversial, but at the very least, is always entertaining. I’ve put together a list of a few of my favorite series, reboots, or retellings of stories that have flipped the genders of protagonists or major characters from their original source material.

1. Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer

Have you ever wondered what the Twilight series would look like if the gender of every major character was flipped? Well Stephanie Meyer decided to answer these “What ifs” and created 2015’s Life and Death. Beaufort (or Beau) Swan and Edythe Cullen take the places of Bella and Edward, and small quirks are added to the story – for example, Beau moves to the town of Forks with his mother, Renee Dwyer. This is an enjoyable retread through the first Twilight book for any fans of the series.

2. Ghostbusters

This 2016 reboot of the blockbuster 1984 movie cast the fantastic all-lady quartet of Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon as the titular Ghostbusters. Like in the first movie, a group of scientists (and one transit worker), discover the existence of paranormal entities, and they join forces to keep the streets of New York safe from spectral baddies. This group strikes comedy gold, and presents a fresh, fun follow up to the classic movie that so many of us grew up watching.

3. M, James Bond Series

“M” is the code name for James Bond’s boss, usually a roll relegated to a caricature that is constantly ignored as James Bond tries to save the world. This all changed with the casting of Dame Judi Dench as the first female M. First appearing in 1995’s Goldeneye, she played the role of James Bond’s superior both with far more gravitas and grit than any of her predecessors ever mustered – the first “M” that was truly a match for Bond. Who can forget the moment she called James Bond a “sexist, misogynist, dinosaur – a relic of the cold war.” Chills. Over the course of seven films, she finally gave the series a true foil for Bond, a woman who could go toe-to-toe with pop culture’s most notorious womanizer. This gender flipped part has reversed again, with Ralph Fiennes taking over for Dame Judi Dench in the most recent Bond film. However, it is absolutely not up for debate who the best M of all time was. I recommend everyone watch Skyfall, Dench’s final performance as M and perhaps the finest Bond film ever.

4. Lock and Mori series by Heather W. Petty 

Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty have long comprised one of literary history’s most iconic rivalries. The Lock and Mori series places both of these geniuses in a contemporary London setting as they race each other to solve a murder, with the important distinction of a “Ms.” James Moriarty. The completive nature of the two protagonists is further complicated as a romance blossoms between the two. This series is great for any fans of shows like Elementary, the BBC Sherlock, or the classic mystery novels. BONUS: Lock and Mori is available as a featured free read until July 17!

5. Westworld TV Series

The original film (and 1980’s cult hit) follows two men who are being hunted by a robotic gunslinger inside of a malfunctioning robotic Wild West themed park. The 2016 reboot series takes the concept of the Wild West theme park and focuses on Dolores, one of the robotic “hosts” at the park. She begins to develop consciousness, and finds herself in a dangerous cat and mouse game with a brutal park guest obsessed with reaching the deepest levels of the part.  A meditation on gender, violence, storytelling, and what it means to be human, this reboot takes Michael Crichton’s original concept further than I thought possible.

6. Wrecked by Anna Davies

One of the most under represented genres for the gender flip are fairy tales. In this contemporary retelling of The Little Mermaid, our protagonist Miranda lives in Whim Island. When she is saved from a horrific boat accident by a mysterious boy, she can’t stop seeing him in her dreams. She then meets Christian, who she can’t help be feel she’s met before. I think you all see the parallels to the classic story. A timeless romance at its core with a paranormal twist, Wrecked is a fun and exciting addition to the genre.

7. Girl Meets World

Boy Meets World was one of the most formative shows for children of the 90s. The combination of comedy and the confrontation of series issues make it a popular show even today, with memes and references populating social media on a daily basis. This sequel series continues the story of Corey and Topanga, but centers on their daughter, Riley. Following a similar formula to its predecessor, the show tackles complex issues like online safety and first loves, this time through the eyes of a young girl. More than just a nostalgia trip, this reboot is worth the watch outside of its relation to the original show.

Do you have any favorite gender flipped TV shows, movies, or books? Are there any properties that you wish would reboot with a gender flip? Let us know in the comments below!

We’ve all been there, right? One day, you’re kickin’ it in the big city, enjoying life as the big cheese, and then BAM—you witness a vicious murder and are forced into witness protection in a town far, far away. It’s happened to me two or three times already so I was delighted to fine that this is exactly the predicament that Stella Gordon finds herself in in Becca Fitzpatrick’s Dangerous Lies. Her story of navigating witness protection in middle-of-nowhere Nebraska, coupled with my own vast experience, inspired me to pull together these witness protection survival tips so that if/when you fine Riveted readers wind up in a similar predicament, you’ll be a little more prepared for surviving your new life. Trust me, these tips are gold so you may want to have a pen and paper handy to jot down some notes…

Dressing Extra is your friend

This may seem counter intuitive, but think about it – if you were to encounter someone on your daily commute with a vertical pony tail, or a hilariously bad fake mustache, would you remember their face, or the shockingly out of place doohickey they’ve hung on their person? As an added bonus, you are basically creating a nickname for yourself, another layer of anonymity that will come in handy if your pursuers ever swing by. If being extra isn’t really your thing, why not take a page out of the Superman/She’s All That playbook? I’m talking about glasses. As we all know, the addition or subtraction of glasses immediately renders you a new person. Try it out!

Fall in love with a local

While you probably have a boo back home that you’re trying to make things work with, there is no better way to really experience the local flavor than to cozy up with a townie. Witness protection nights out on the plains can get mighty lonesome (and cold. No one ever warned me how cold it could be). After perfecting your costume, get out there and try and meet someone! Maybe the strong-but-silent farmer’s son. Or the quirky, trapped barista that wants to hear everything about your former city life. Don’t worry, these feelings definitely won’t complicate your double life.

Take notes

It’s your life! And now that you’re in witness protection, you’re definitely creating some memories for your tell-all memoir. Make sure to keep notes so you don’t leave out any details, particularly names, dates, and exact locations. I’ve found that Twitter works surprisingly well for this, providing you permanent, chronological list of all your activities in digestible, 140 character entries! As an added bonus, it lets the people you’re close with back home know exactly where you are at all times! That brings us to our next piece of advice…

Keep in touch with your friends back home 

It’s important to not burn bridges. You never know when you’ll need a friend back home to send you a care package of Chicago red-hots or New York bagels. Plus, when this whole thing has blown over, you want to be able to seamlessly slip back into your old life. And don’t worry about exposure – your loved ones are far too smart to end up caught by the very same people that have chased you out of town, so be sure to include as much detail as possible about your new routines.

Do absolutely nothing to fit in

For arguments sake, let’s say that you’re originally part of the New England elite, shuttled off to a place like Thunder Basin, Nebraska. Who do you think the bad guys are going to look for – the too-perfect Norman Rockwell-esque local, or the fish-out-of-water dressed like they’re about to attend a boat party at Martha’s Vineyard? Pursuers will expect you to try your hardest to fit in, so what better way to throw them off the scent than by remaining completely true to yourself? If you’re placed in Nome, Alaska, keep wearing seersucker shorts and boat shoes. Are you stationed in a beef town? Stick to your vegetarian ways and constantly remind everyone you don’t eat meat. If you get flak from your handlers, remember that you are your own boss. Uniqueness is key.

Poke as many holes in your government sponsored backstory as possible

What better way to endear yourself to the new people around you than to keep them on their toes about your stories? Maybe you’ve told your new neighbor that you’re from Savannah, Georgia, but your weak Southern drawl keeps giving way to New England twang. Or you keep bringing up your brother when you’ve told your new beau time and again that you’re an only child. The constant flip flopping and incongruities in your stories will make you seem mysterious and only add to your allure as the new person in town – and we all know that popularity is the only contest that really matters.

OK, on second thought, none of this advice seems very good. Did I mention these should only be used if you’re starring in a comedy movie? Do not ask me any more questions. Instead, check out, Dangerous Lies and our other devilishly fun Summer of Deception picks!

As the world continues to spiral into weirdness and Twilight Zone territory, I’ve become increasingly suspicious of everyone around me. In The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler (currently a featured free read until May 29th), Sebastian believes Elyse is a legendary mermaid come to life and I think he might be on to something. In a dimension where facts are relative and anything is possible, I have a sneaking suspicion that some of my coworkers may be… not quite human. Particularly, I’m starting to believe there may be mermaids lurking around the halls of this office.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “he’s lost his mind.” But there’s tons of evidence if you look for it, and I’ve decided to share this information with you, dear reader, so that you, too, may be able to identify the mermaids in your life. Remember that any single one of these do not necessarily point to your friend being a merperson, but when a few are lumped together, the truth starts to come into focus. So here we go: Diego’s checklist for investigating whether or not your coworker/friend/classmate/strange teacher is actually a merperson!

1. They Have Something to Hide

Do they always seem to be wearing loose-fitting clothing? Are they often wearing long pants and/or skirts? Sure, it could just mean that they’re cold…or it could mean that they’re covering up their merperson scales. Think about it.

2. They’re a Hydration Fanatic

Look at that picture. Why in the world would anyone need that many cups of water? And TWO water bottles? No way that’s normal. Clearly they’re not drinking it. My theory? The evaporating water saturates the air around the desk and helps the mermaid feel like they’re actually still underwater. I mean, hello, there’s even a HUMIDIFIER. I’m not 100% sure about the science behind it all, but mermaids needing water-saturated air sounds about right to me. Or maybe the cups were once filled with coffee and this person hasn’t slept in 6 months.

3. They Have Magnetic, Siren-Like Abilities

Some people just have a magnetic personality, a certain something that draws friends and admirers. We all enjoy these people. Then again, how sure are you that what is drawing you to talk to these people is their personality and not something for more sinister. Maybe that suspiciously popular person drawing people to them is like a mythical siren, daring them to crash upon the rocks. If there is a desk or office that your coworkers constantly flock to after the bell rings on a Friday instead of leaving, there’s a good chance they’re being drawn there by the merperson’s song. Or maybe you’re just jealous of your popular peer and are projecting. It’s a toss-up.

4. They’ve Got Knick Knacks and Gizmos A-plenty

Yes, this is a line from “Part of Your World,” but just because it’s a Disney movie doesn’t make the line any less reliable. In fact, I’m convinced that it’s even more reliable than something they’re spouting out on the Discovery Channel. I mean look at all this stuff:

What kind of person keeps their work space like that? A merperson, that’s who.

Need more evidence? Check out this desk!

Oh wait. That last one is my desk. Nevermind.

5. They Have Suspicious Seafood Meals

Cans of seafood have started showing up everywhere in the office. Now, if it was just tuna, I’d attribute it to coworkers looking to get out of a turkey sandwich rut. But the mermaid signs could not be denied when I found… herring fillets. NO one likes herring steaks. Period. Unless they have a deep-seeded childhood connection to them – say, growing up underwater, munching on schools of fresh herring.

Ok, so maybe the herring fillets were my snack. Whatever. Doesn’t prove there aren’t actual merfolk running around here.

6. They Have an Undeniable Clumsiness/Questionable Knowledge of Objects

This one is one of the easiest to spot. After a lifetime of swimming underwater, it can’t be easy to transition to dry land and the goods available here. Is someone around you constantly tripping over their own feet? Do they occasionally try and use objects for things outside of their intended purpose—say, paperclips as toothpicks, or Frisbees as plates? You might have a mermaid on your hands.

7. Their hair is always perfect

It feels like we’ve been cycling through seasons faster than you can say “conspiracy theory.” Do you know someone that come rain or shine or humidity nightmare, their hair always stays in place?

Under salt water and your “hair” still looks this good? I’m on to you, Ariel. Now, I may not be the world’s foremost authority on hair, but people are supposed to at least have one bad hair day once in a while, right? Maybe it’s not magic or Maybelline, but simply that what you are calling “hair” isn’t actually hair – we all know that mermaids actually grow fin extensions from their heads.

Now that the truth has been exposed, I don’t know what will happen to me. I just hope that this information can help some of you out there. Do you have any tips for uncovering the merpeople in our midst? Let us know in the comments below, and stay vigilant!

Last week marked the premiere of the new SIMON TRUE series, a non-fiction YA series easily summed up by the series tagline: “Real stories. Real teens. Real crimes.” The series launched with two titles, each equally riveting true stories: Deep Water, in which a Coronado swim team is recruited by an old coach for drug runs across the border into Mexico, and One Cut, which details the consequences of a deadly fight in California (and is also currently available here on Riveted as an extended excerpt until May 15th).

I DEVOURED these two novels and then basically found myself in somewhat of a true crime binge, reading/watching/listening to anything in the true crime genre I could get my hands on. Luckily, true crime stories have seen a real revival over the last few years (hence the creation of this new SIMON TRUE series), with popular shows on streaming services and the internet welcoming them like pop culture darlings, clamoring for more. For those of you looking for more true crime (who’ve already read the extended excerpt of One Cut, of course), I’ve put together a list of a few of my personal favorites (in no particular order) to help bring your attention to this thrilling and macabre genre.

Note that some of the listed media does feature violent content (as most true crime stories do), so keep that in mind before tuning in.

Serial Season 1: Though season 2’s analysis of the Bowe Bergdahl story is also great, I decided to go with the first season of the groundbreaking podcast. This American Life producer Sarah Koenig delves into the mysterious 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, a popular high school student in Baltimore. Her ex-boyfriend, Adnad Syed, has been convicted of her murder and has been in jail for years. Contacted by friends who still believe Adnad is innocent, Sarah Koenig explores the murky stories surrounding the murder. Incredibly powerful and likely to have you changing your opinion on whodunit from episode to episode, Serial should be required listening.

My Favorite Murder: Fans of true crime can sometimes feel a little awkward about discussing their interest in the matter. Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff started this podcast normalizing the conversation on these terrible events, and bringing people together over a shared interest in the macabre.  The podcast follows a “monster of the week” formula, with the hosts each picking one murder to discuss each week, and filling it in with “Gilmore Girl”-esque verbal banter. This relatively new entry has been hugely successful, and now boasts a massive fanbase and live shows.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson: Telling the parallel stories of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the arrival of H.H. Holmes to the city, a man who has been branded as the United States’ first serial killer. The result is a fantastic juxtaposition of the herculean effort to create a fair that would exemplify American power and progress (as well as shut up the East Coast elites that saw Chicago as nothing more than a backwater), and the sinister plots of H.H. Holmes as he uses the draw of the fair to find victims.

Bonus: if you’re interested in H.H. Holmes, for further reading, check out author Adam Selzer’s Behind the Book: Just Kill Me & H.H. Holmes post. Then if you want even more, Adam recently published a book all about H.H. Holmes: H. H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil.

Making a Murderer: This Netflix original series is very similar to Serial, detailing the possible erroneous conviction of Steven Avery. Avery was convicted of the rape and murder of Theresa Halbach, a photographer for an auto magazine he often listed cars in. Avery had already been wrongfully convicted of rape and had spent years in prison because of it. Filmmakers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos examine the evidence and weave a complex and fascinating (not to mention controversial) account of possible evidence tampering, governmental collusion, and forced confessions.

Mystery Show: Ok, so maybe “crime” is a stretch with this one, but hear me out. This podcast from This American Life contributor Starlee Kine isn’t quite a crime show but she DOES set out to solve mysteries. Her pursuits are quirky and fun, such as figuring out how tall Jake Gyllenhaal actually is (A far more complicated endeavor than I thought it would be), or whether or not a video rental store ever existed on a street in Tribeca. Though every episode is spectacular, I particularly recommend the “Belt Buckle” episode. I dare you to listen to that one without tearing up.

News of a Kidnapping by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: The late 1980s was one of the most volatile and dangerous time periods in Colombian history, with the decades-old armed conflict against communist rebel groups and the increasing power of the drug cartels pushing the nation to the brink of collapse. In News of a Kidnapping, the Nobel Prize winning author recounts one of Pablo Escobar’s most well-known crimes—the kidnapping of ten notable Colombians to use as bargaining chips with the government. Marquez’s keen journalistic eye and storytelling prowess create white-knuckle tension as you follow the ordeal of the victims, trapped in the political machinations of a man bent on subjugating a nation, and a country desperate for peace.

The People V. OJ Simpson/OJ: Made in America: I couldn’t make up my mind between these two absolutely spellbinding accounts of the so-called “Trial of the Century.” The People V. OJ Simpson is a dramatization of the events, its stellar cast includes Cuba Gooding Jr. as OJ Simpson, Sarah Paulson as DA Marcia Clark, and Courtney B. Vance as the electric Johnny Cochran. Made in America is an ESPN documentary charting OJ Simpson’s life from collegiate sports through the pros and the murder accusations, and even won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Paired together, they give a complex view of the social environment surrounding the case and it’s resonance with pop culture.

Do you have any favorite true crime books, documentaries, or podcasts? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out Deep Water and One Cut, on sale now!

A few days ago, I found myself exploring the bowels of our stockroom, when I came upon a forgotten promo item – Shadowhunter’s Tarot Cards! The tarot is the basis for every major card game in the world. It is comprised of 56 minor arcana (similar to the 52 cards in your typical Bicycle deck, except with the suits being swords, wands, cups and pentacles), combined with 22 major arcana – archetypal figures representing The Fool’s journey to enlightenment. Perhaps their most common use is to try and divine the future. With Clockwork Angel currently available as a free read until May 8th, I decided that my discovery was more fate than coincidence. Inspired by this find, I consulted our resident mystical/paranormal/all things uncanny expert (yes, we really have one of those but she prefers to remain anonymous) and decided to find out what the future had in store for me.

We decided to go with a Celtic cross spread; one of the most common and useful spreads. After I shuffled the cards, it was time for the question – let’s go with something broad: How positive can I expect this coming year to be?

Please note: we totally would have used the Shadowhunter Tarot cards if we had been allowed to open any of the packs. But alas, we were not. 

And now for the reveal:

1) Card 1, the signifier (this card is a general representative of the person whose cards are being read A.K.A. me). The Nine of Swords: Death, failure, deception, disappointment, despair.

Oh boy, well that’s a scary one to start off on. The nine of swords is already visually terrifying, and when drawn as the signifier it refers to someone who is heavily influenced by feelings of failure and disappointment. Maybe this question querying about a positive year was a bit more personal than I thought.

2) Card 2, the obstacles. The Five of Pentacles: Material troubles, destitution, alternatives that cannot be harmonized.

Oh. Desolation. Despair. I mean my bank account isn’t that low is it? And I’m pretty sure I paid my rent last month. Plus, what does “alternatives that cannot be harmonized” even mean? Our resident weirdness expert provides no illumination. Is the deck trying to tell me that I should have gone to law school like my father wanted?

3) Card 3, The recent past. The Three of Swords: Removal, absence, ruptures.

 
I mean this one would make a really cool album cover. No, I’m not attempting to change the subject to get away from the card’s significance (*sigh* except I totally am). So yeah, this basically means that 2016 was rough, but it was rough for everyone. You aren’t telling me anything new.

4) Card 4, the near future. The Devil: Rage, fatality, violence.

 
So apparently I’m turning into some kind of monster. And by the looks of it I’m totally chained to my bad habits. I have set back my whole “New Year, New Me” mentality for 5 months. At some point I may have to just accept that it’s just the same old me and luck is clearly not on my side.

5) Card 5, that which is above you. The Five of Cups: Loss, the remainder, bitterness, and frustration.

 
I am not a bitter person. This deck is wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Ok fine, so maybe I’m still a little bitter about Bobby Carrick in the fifth grade when he “borrowed” my favorite eraser and never gave it back. It was dinosaur shaped. Is it weird that I brought that up unprompted? The Weirdness Expert just stares at me.

 6) Card 6, Root issues. The Ten of Swords: Tears, affliction, sadness, desolation, betrayal.

I honestly don’t know why these cards are giving me such a hard time. I have never bad mouthed them. I feel targeted. It should be noted that at this point, The Weirdness Expert has stopped responding to my outbursts.

7) Card 7, attitudes on the matter. The Lovers: Attraction, beauty, trials overcome.

Finally! Some good news. Dates are fun, and I’m a classic romantic.

Oh wait… it’s upside down.

Upside-down, The Lovers can also represent foolish desires and failure. When found as the seventh card of the Celtic cross, it can point to an obsessive attitude towards foolish whims. I knew I shouldn’t have put so much time and money into recording that lullabies for dogs CD…

8) Card 8, the environment. The Two of Swords

A blindfolded kneeling figure. Apparently I’m blind and alone, and am completely incapable of letting my guard down. That is profoundly depressing.

9) Card 9, hopes, dreams, fears. The Tower – Misery, distress, ruin, disgrace.

This is perhaps the scariest card in the entire deck. A falling figure and a destroyed tower. But of course I’m terrified of failure, who isn’t! Am I climbing too close to the sun? Have all of my efforts in life added up to nothing but a proverbial tower of babel, ripe for destruction? Come on outcome; give me something I can work with!

10) Card 10, the outcome. Death

I’m done. Forget this.

Ok, so I’m exaggerating. It’s important to note that every card has both a positive and a negative interpretation. So if you’re trying (and quite possibly failing) to write a semi-funny article about messing around with the tarot, you may want to see doom and gloom in your reading. Take Death for example. Sure, the totemic image of a skeletal knight on horseback is pretty bleak, and pop culture always seems to present it as the ultimate evil card. But Death also represents new beginnings, fresh starts, and the natural path of all life. Winter has to happen for spring to arrive, doesn’t it? Maybe we should give this reading a second pass, with a slightly more positive slant. While I’m doing that, check out the full read of Clockwork Angel, available on Riveted until May 8th!

Possibly the worst part of being an adult is the constant hassle of doing things you have absolutely no interest in doing. Like today, I absolutely did not want to get out of bed and be a functional human, but hey—I have to pay my rent somehow. But what if the consequences of not complying with your responsibilities could mean death for you or your loved ones? In this week’s free read, Delilah S. Dawson’s Hit, protagonist Patsy is confronted with a choice: either become a bounty hunter for Valor Savings Bank (the defacto ruler of everything in her society) or watch helplessly as they kill her mother for not paying her bills. The rules are simple: find the ten delinquent account holders on her list and either make them pay up, join Valor as bounty hunters, or terminate them (and you thought your job was rough!). In honor of Hit, I’ve put together a list of other media that features protagonists pushed to the edge by circumstances, shady corporations, or society itself.

1) Repo Men

Repossession is always a messy situation. It’s infinitely messier if you’re repossessing someone’s liver. Jude Law and Forest Whittaker play Remy and Jake, the titular repo men in this 2010 action flick. In their world, organ donation is no longer an issue, as artificial organs have been perfected by a shadowy organization called The Union. However, these organs are wildly expensive, and when people inevitably default on payments, well, they better hope they don’t need that artificial heart to survive. When a repo job goes horribly wrong and Remy ends up with an artificial heart, he becomes a wanted man when he can’t fork over the payments for his new heart. Though not necessarily a classic, Repo Men provides an intriguing premise and is worth checking out for fans of dystopian sci-fi.

2) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Yes, I know, the brand is totally played out now. But that doesn’t mean that this series doesn’t fit snuggly into this category, or that it isn’t a massive amount of fun. Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute to protect her younger sister from being pulled into the Hunger Games—an annual tournament where one boy and one girl from each of the 12 districts are forced to fight to the death. While Katniss’ motives for volunteering for the Hunger Games are good, that doesn’t stop the fact that while participating in the games (and while not participating in the games), Katniss becomes responsible for several deaths. Meaning she isn’t all innocent. Though the premise is similar to things like The Running Man and Battle Royale, the popularity of individual characters like Katniss truly helps the series stand out. This series has garnered massive acclaim, adapted into 4 feature films and were some of the driving forces behind the dystopian YA craze.

3) Scythe by Neil Shusterman

Rowan and Citra live in a world with no disease, no hunger, and no death, controlled completely by a powerful AI called the Thunderhead. In this Utopian society, the only way to die is to be selected and culled by a Scythe—grim reapers who work to keep the population under control. To be selected as an apprentice Scythe is a massive honor, and it also bestows immunity to your family if you are able to complete your training. When they are both picked to be apprentice Scythes, Rowan and Citra learn about the complicated politics of being a Scythe—some of them choosing their victims based on statistics, others because they truly enjoy having the power to foist death onto others. And the entire time, they know that at the end of their training, one of them must kill the other. This is a clever meditation on morality, duty, and rebellion, sure to entertain and foster hours of discussions among friends and colleagues.

4) Bioshock Infinite

Yes, I know this isn’t the first time I’ve included this one in a round up—I’m a fanboy, sue me. (Note: actually, please don’t do that. I don’t have a lawyer and I don’t think the company will foot the bill for one). Here, the troubled Booker DeWitt is presented with a perplexing offer from a mysterious pair: “Bring us the girl, wipe away the debt.” This seemingly simple task is proven to be a tall order, as the girl in question, Elizabeth, is held on a floating city ruled by a tyrannical prophet, and protected by a colossal monstrosity called the Songbird (not to mention a bevy of steampunk androids and human soldiers). The latest installment of the Bioshock series features a great combination of action, intriguing backstories, and plot twists—definitely one to check out if you haven’t already.

5) Shut Up and Dance: Black Mirror

Black Mirror has proven itself to be one of the most heart-wrenching shows currently playing. Following the monster-of-the-week formula of classics like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, each episode examines the far reach of technology in contemporary and futuristic settings. We all have secrets. Some are bigger than others. In this episode of the third season, we are introduced to Kenny, a teenager who is recorded through his webcam in a… compromising situation. He then receives a message from a mysterious entity threatening to expose the video (and by association, his darkest secret) to the world if he does not comply completely with a list of demands. As the demands escalate from the bizarre and quirky (like delivering a cake to a hotel room) to the more and more violent and potentially life-threatening, Kenny is forced to make choices we all hope to never have to make. Then again, the viewer is forced to question what secret could possibly be worth so much to keep quiet? This episode is a white-knuckle ride, and an absolute must-see for fans of thrillers.

6) Teen Titans “The Apprentice” story arc

Ah, Teen Titans, we barely knew ye. This under-appreciated animated series ended with a whimper back in 2006, but throughout its all too short five-seasons-and-a-movie life span provided Cartoon Network viewers with some of the best superhero depictions of the time. Its blockbuster first season concluded with “The Apprentice” story arc, where the Teen Titans main antagonist, Slade, coerces Robin into becoming his apprentice by revealing a startling secret: Slade has infected all of Robin’s teammates with deadly nanobots. If Robin wants to keep his friends from an excruciating death, he must take up the mantle of Slade’s apprentice, become a super villain, and turn his back on his teammates. Packed with action and a surprising amount of heart, you’ll probably find yourself binging the rest of the series fairly quickly.

Do you have any favorite media where a character is coerced into action? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out Hit, available as a free read until 4/24/2017!

Shaun David Hutchinson’s latest, At the Edge of the Universe, just went on sale today so you should definitely stop whatever you’re doing and start reading the extended excerpt we’re featuring!

Ok, did you read it? So AWESOME, right?!

Wait…you DIDN’T read it yet? What’re you waiting for?! Oh, you need some convincing, is that it? Well, I LOVED this book so here are a nine reasons why I think everyone who reads it will love it too!

1) Unforgettable Intro:

The first few pages of At the Edge of the Universe grab you immediately with an explosive introduction that will leave you slack-jawed and ravenous for the rest of the story. I don’t want to give away too much, but I can guarantee that even the most reluctant reader will be hooked within the first ten pages.

2) Re-read Value:

Throughout the book, we are treated to asides that document the life that Ozzie remembers with his boyfriend, Tommy. As the story speeds to its conclusion, these scenes are rife with hints of Tommy’s whereabouts. Upon finishing the book, you’ll eagerly go back through the book and see if you can discover the subtle hints that may (or may not) explain the mysteries that Ozzie has been living with.

3) Inclusivity:

From LGBTQIA characters, characters of different ethnic backgrounds, and even different economic strata, the level of diversity of characters in the book is impressive. Difference is not treated exotically or in a cartoon-ey way, but in an honest sympathetic way that makes every character feel real, and not an archetype copy-and pasted in for diversity’s sake.

4) Engrossing Mystery:

As the universe continues to shrink around Ozzie in his quest to discover what happened to his boyfriend, the reader is confronted with a plethora of other questions. Is Ozzie a reliable narrator? Why does no other character seem to remember anything? Is our narrator being gaslighted? Unraveling these complicated threads adds to the fun of this book.

5) Being a Teenager Bites:

We can all admit it. Growing up is insanely hard. You lack perspective. Every negative experience, from fighting with your best friend to unrequited crushes can be physically and emotionally crushing. Your hormones are driving you crazy, and society just decides you should makes all these decisions about the rest of your life while they don’t even trust you to go to the bathroom without permission. Shaun David Hutchinson crafts a world that combines both the mundane disasters and misadventures of everyday adolescence with a sci-fi twist that’s perfect for anyone who is or ever was a teenager.

6) Confronting Tough Issues:

At the Edge of the Universe does not shy away from discussing painful topics like divorce, family bankruptcy, abuse, assault, and trauma. Any fans of Ellen Hopkins, Jason Reynolds, and Tommy Wallach will want to check this one out.

7) Absurdist Humor:

This is not just a book that pounds the reader with “tough stuff” until they fall over from sympathy overload. Despite the serious topics dealt with the book, humor is also injected in, reminding the reader that even in the harshest situations, there are bright spots. I mean – a character cycling through therapists like chewing gum. Friends whose banter is on par with Gilmore Girls in terms of quickness. The odd couple pairing of the brooding, quiet heartthrob Calvin and obsessive Ozzie as they work on an eccentric school project. Even if you were tragically born without a sense of humor, you’ll get a quiet chuckle or two.

8) Shaun David Hutchinson is on fire:

Ok, so maybe this one is cheating, but Shaun David Hutchinson’s fantastic credits include We Are the Ants, Violent Ends, and The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley. He’s a growing author and a worthy addition to any personal library.

9) Twist Ending:

As can probably be expected from a Shaun David Hutchinson entry, this quirky story features an ending that, if you’re like me, you will not see coming. Enjoy the ride, and then be sure to come back and let me know what you think in the comments!