Trailer Park Fae by Lilith Saintcrow

New York Times bestselling author Lilith Saintcrow returns to dark fantasy with a new series where the fairy world inhabits diners, dive bars and trailer parks.

Jeremiah Gallow is just another construction worker, and that's the way he likes it. He's left his past behind, but some things cannot be erased. Like the tattoos on his arms that transform into a weapon, or that he was once closer to the Queen of Summer than any half-human should be. Now the half-sidhe all in Summer once feared is dragged back into the world of enchantment, danger, and fickle fae—by a woman who looks uncannily like his dead wife. Her name is Robin, and her secrets are more than enough to get them both killed. A plague has come, the fullborn-fae are dying, and the dark answer to Summer's Court is breaking loose.

Be afraid, for Unwinter is riding...

This was an odd book. Not that that’s negative; in fact, I actually liked the book quite a lot. But Saintcrow has managed to write the fae so alien that I felt slightly off kilter during my entire read, and that’s an impressive feat.

The book is filled nearly to overflowing with the florid, twisted language of the fae, and even though the book is definitely written in English, the style Saintcrow uses here does much to remind the reader that these creatures are definitely not like us mere mortals. It’s a bit difficult to read–it slowed my pace considerably–but it’s not off-putting for me. I thought it was complex and beautifully done.

I didn’t feel like I got a really strong sense of who the main characters, Jeremiah Gallow and Robin Ragged, were underneath all their motives. They’re interesting characters, to be sure, and I’d like to read more about them. But they both keep things close to their chests, and that comes across in the prose as well. They are both driven by their responsibilities to people that they’ve lost, and that combined with the suspicious nature of the fae themselves, it leads to two characters who can’t connect, not yet. It was a bit frustrating but also very intriguing.

I think this is a great addition to the urban fantasy world, particularly in how it deals with fae and how bizarre they are. But… the title and the cover don’t really fit the tone of the book. When I saw Trailer Park Fae, I figured it would be of the snarky variety of UF, but nope. This is a melancholy book that takes every opportunity it can to twist the knife in the heroes’s backs. So please don’t go into this book expecting it to match the brightness of the cover or the slight awkwardness of the title. If you’re looking for dark urban fantasy with one of the best portrayals of the sidhe I’ve ever read, this is the book for you.

If you’re a fan of science-y stuff (even if you failed hard in most science classes like myself), you’ll love Probably Science. Comedians and scientists join hosts Matt Kirshen, Andy Wood, Jesse Case, and (in earlier episodes) Brooks Whelan to talk about science news each week. Because it’s been around since 2012, earlier episodes are not available through iTunes, but you can find them on their Libsyn page.

Showing a bit of bias here as I’m friends with one of the hosts, but definitely check out Paradox: The Time Travel Podcast. Co-authors Phil Hornshaw and Nick Hurwitch dissect the very convoluted timelines of our favorite time travel movies. As the art might lead you to believe, the guys have kicked off their new show by talking Back to the Future and its sequels.

Today, Fox teased a brief moment of footage from The X-Files revival series. Their official Twitter account also kicked off an episode-a-day rewatch which invites new fans and old to share their favorite moments in the lead up to the January 24, 2016 premiere. See the hashtag #TheXFiles201Days and follow @thexfilesfox.

Cue flailing.

Welcome to Beauty Geek, our new beauty product feature on TDF! We’ll review makeup, skincare and haircare products, perfumes, and other beauty products as well as share tutorials, geeky and otherwise.

Ipsy, a beauty product subscription service, is sort of hit or miss for me. Some months, my adorable little makeup bag is full of awesome new things, and other months, I get shave lotion that smells weirdly like vomit. At $10 a month with free shipping, Ipsy is definitely a great way to experiment with products you might not have found on your own, but like any service where you get random stuff each month, you’re going to get some stuff that you like and some stuff you’ll never use again.

Luckily, my May Ipsy bag was full of great products that I will definitely use a lot.

Let’s get to the reviews.

[cracks knuckles]

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil + Revolution High-Color Lipgloss

I already love Urban Decay’s eyeshadows and eyeliners, but I haven’t ventured too far into their lip products. I have been wanting to try a clear lip liner, since some of my beloved bright lipsticks really like bleeding into the fine lines around my mouth.

LUCKY ME, I got their 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil in Ozone! It works as a liner and a primer, and it sets your lip color so it doesn’t bleed. I haven’t had a chance to try it with a lipstick yet, but I did wear one of the two gloss samples over it and until I ate lunch, the gloss didn’t budge.

Speaking of the gloss, I’m… not a fan. The color payoff on Failbait, the pink shade, was very nice, if a little lighter a pink than I’d usually wear, but after about an hour of wear, the gloss got very sticky on my lips. That’s a dealbreaker for me; I hate sticky lip gloss. I am looking forward to trying the purple shade, but I don’t think I’ll be buying the gloss. I’ll stick to my non-sticky lipsticks.

BelláPierre Cosmetics Waterproof Mineral Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Ebony

I kept seeing BelláPierre mineral cosmetics pop up in Groupon emails, so I’d heard of this brand before this eyeliner arrived in my bag. I hadn’t seen any reviews of it, though, and none of my friends had tried it. But oh my gosh, this liner. It’s what I wish the Urban Decay Velvet eyeliner had been, an inky black liner that glides on smoothly and gives a great, dramatic line. It works well as a sharp line, and it also smudges nicely so you can smoke it out. It is waterproof, so this would be a fantastic eyeliner for a sweaty day or cosplaying purposes.

And since it’s waterproof, it takes a little effort to remove it. I took off most of it using an oil-based eye makeup remover, and while it removed the bulk of the liner, it also smeared it all over my eyes. I looked like I’d been getting makeup tips from The Winter Soldier.

Actual photo of me halfway through removing this eyeliner.

I double washed with a cleansing oil and a foaming wash, then had to use a little more eye makeup remover to get off the last smudges underneath my eyes. It came off a little more easily than some waterproof liners I’ve used, but it’s still enough of an ordeal that I won’t be using it every day.

But for cosplay? YESS.

Pixi by Petra Beauty Bronzer in Summertime

I’m not much of a bronzer sort of gal. I’m pale, I’ve come to terms with it, and I embrace my pastiness for the most part. A lot of bronzers are just too dark for my skintone and end up looking muddy if I try to use them for contouring. Pixi’s Beauty Bronzer, though, is very sheer and an absolutely lovely shade. I dusted it across my cheeks and nose, and it gave my skin a really pretty glow. You can layer it on for deeper color, and it has just the slightest hint of shimmer to it. You won’t look glittery, but it definitely gives your skin a nice sheen. I think I’ll be adding this to my summer makeup regimen.

Luxie Beauty Tapered Blending Eye Brush 205

I never know how to review brushes if I like them. Like… I liked it? I don’t know what else to say if I didn’t have a problem with it, heh. Luxie Beauty’s tapered blending brush is very soft with longer, synthetic fibers, and it picked up eyeshadow fairly well. It’s not a brush that lets you load on the color in few applications, but it’s nice that the color doesn’t stick too much to the fibers. I didn’t think the shape worked too well for applying color, but for blending, it’s great. It’s soft and full enough to get a good, widespread blend going over your whole lid or crease.

Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream

I didn’t take a pic of this product because it was already down in my bathroom. Hello, I’m kinda lazy. 

As a bit of background, I have fine, curly (type 3A/3B) hair. It’s naturally medium/dark brown, but lately I’ve been coloring it copper blonde because screw you, genetics, for not giving me red hair. My hair gets pretty dry as a result, and that combined with the curls makes it a little frizzy and unmanageable, so I’m always on the lookout for a good product that will both control my frizz and not get goopy and weigh my hair down.

I love this stuff. A little goes a long way, particularly if your hair is thin or fine. I put this in my hair before my usual (lazy) routine (braiding it while damp at night, then unbraiding in the morning and enjoying nice waves), and my hair’s been absolutely great today. The curls/waves are nicely structured and I haven’t had any frizz. I may end up buying this one.

If you’re interested in joining Ipsy, you can sign up using my referral link. I get points when you join, and then when you refer friends using your own code, you get points that can be used to get extra free stuff.

So! Here are some action shots of my Ipsy bag goodies. Make way for the selfie parade!

The final product, glasses and all.

Another angle because why not?

And a sans-glasses shot. I love how black the eyeliner is.

A closer look at the eyeliner. I’m still trying to figure out how to get good shots of my eye makeup, heh.

The rest of my makeup:

Brows: Nyx pencil in auburn
Lids: Anastasia Beverly Hills Illumin8 eyeshadow palette #4
Lashes: Benefit’s Badgal Lash
Cheeks: Physician’s Formula Argan Wear Blush in Natural
Face: L’Oreal Paris True Match Powder in Nude Beige

And I shall leave you with a shot of my hair, nicely tamed by Caviar CC Cream:

Are you an Ipsy fan? What was in your bag this month? What other subscription services do you use? Get makeup geeky with us in the comments!

Both the U.S. and international theatrical trailers dropped today, and oh my. The U.S. trailer is an extension of the teaser we saw earlier this year.

The international trailer, on the other hand, has a lot of new footage and gives the film a very different sort of vibe.

I’m digging everything about this movie so far, and I love how creepy the trailers are. I’m about ready to go hunt down some delicious gothic romance novels to read to tide me over until October.

But now I will leave you with gifs of that scene. You know the one. Yass. Somewhat NSFW gifs below.

(gif credit)

Within These Walls by Ania Ahlborn

From indie horror author and bestselling sensation Ania Ahlborn, this brand-new supernatural thriller questions: how far would you go for success, and what would you be capable of if the promise of forever was real?

With his marriage on the rocks and his life in shambles, washed up crime writer Lucas Graham is desperate for a comeback. So when he’s promised exclusive access to notorious cult leader and death row inmate Jeffrey Halcomb, the opportunity is too good to pass up. Lucas leaves New York for the scene of the crime—a split-level farmhouse on the gray-sanded beach of Washington State—a house whose foundation is steeped in the blood of Halcomb’s diviners; runaways who, thirty years prior, were drawn to his message of family, unity, and unconditional love. Lucas wants to tell the real story of Halcomb’s faithful departed, but when Halcomb goes back on his promise of granting Lucas exclusive information on the case, he’s left to put the story together on his own. Except he is not alone. For Jeffrey Halcomb promised his devout eternal life…and within these walls, they’re far from dead.

If you’re a fan of being thoroughly creeped out, you really can’t go wrong by picking up this book. The story of a struggling true-crime writer, his disintegrating marriage, and his contentious relationship with his young teenage daughter, Within These Walls is an effective, artfully written horror novel.

Lucas Graham was once a highly successful writer, selling millions of books about mass murderers, but his career has gone off the rails, along with his marriage. When he receives a letter from notorious mass murderer and rumored cultist Jeffrey Halcomb, promising an exclusive interview so long as he moves into the house where Halcomb’s murders occurred, Lucas jumps at the opportunity to get his life back to where he thinks it should be. So he drags his sullen pre-teen daughter, Jeanie/Vee (her name is Virginia; Jeanie is her parents’ nickname for her, and Vee is how she thinks of herself, and the idea of renaming someone and changing their identiy plays a significant role in the novel as a whole) from New York to a tiny town on the Washington coast, setting up camp in the same house where ten people died at Halcomb’s influence.

The narrative structure of the novel is very effective. Ahlborn jumps between the present day story with Lucas and Vee/Jeanie and the past story with Audra/Avis, a young woman caught up in Halcomb’s net, interspersed with primary sources like newspaper articles, police reports, and investigation reports from paranormal agencies. This dual narrative drives the story forward; you start out the story knowing that something horrible happened to Audra, and so seeing her story unfold alongside Lucas and Vee’s builds up a strong sense of dread that the past wants to repeat itself.

There’s not much of an explanation of the supernatural elements (not that it particularly needs it), and some of the coincidences that happened for Halcomb’s plan to come to fruition were a little too convenient (the assumption that Lucas would bring his daughter with him in particular), but that didn’t really interfere with my reading enjoyment.

I found Lucas and Vee both easy to identify with; Lucas because of his past (the 90s Goth kid sometimes overwhelmed by nostalgia for how things used to be) and Vee because of her blustery emotionality (as is so typical of girls hovering on the edge of thirteen) and her obsessive imagination. Audra, too, was sympathetic because of her desperate need for acceptance, thanks to a neglectful family life. The characters drive this story more than the plot itself does. Holcomb, who appears through others’ perceptions of him, is terrifyingly charismatic in a way that I as the reader could immediately see as dangerous. But the people who fall under his spell talk themselves out of their own sense of fear and self preservation, and that’s part of why this story is so effective. The horror stems from not trusting yourself, from believing an outside influence instead of the voice in your own head.

This is the first Ahlborn novel I’ve read, and I’m thinking I should check out her previous works. I found it a quick, enjoyably creepy read.

Content/trigger warnings: [View post to see spoiler]

Welcome to Geekcrafting! Every Friday, we’ll feature a new geeky crafting project made mostly by other wonderfully crafty geeks out there and occasionally by us. If you have a geekcraft you’d like us to feature, hit the Contact link up there and send us a message with the subject “Geekcrafting.”

As you’ve probably already heard, there’s a new teaser trailer out for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. So this week’s Geekcrafting is featuring Star Wars crafts!

If you really want to do a bunch of Star Wars crafts, there’s always Bonnie Burton’s The Star Wars Craft Book, which is chock full of cute crafts for all levels of crafter, from kids to adults.

If you’re a crocheter and want to challenge yourself, Etsy shop lucyravenscar has a set of patterns for absolutely adorable amigurumi for sale.

The pattern set, with Leia, a jawa, old and young Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker in his farm boy outfit and his X-Wing pilot suit, and Admiral Ackbar.

Amigurumi Slave Leia is the cutest damn thing ever.

There are other great geeky patterns in that shop, so poke around if you’re looking for something new to crochet.

If crochet isn’t in your skill set but you still want to make something to wear, Instructables user CreativeTiffany has a tutorial for making lightsaber earrings.

Vader’s lightsaber, no less.

She gets creative with an aluminum can to make the handle! You could also use tube beads if you don’t want to cut up a can.

And if you (and your little geeklings) want something easy to do on a rainy afternoon, Chemical9 has downloadable Star Wars papercrafts. You just download the PDF file, print it on card stock, then follow the folding instructions to create big-headed paper toys!

She even has a little blaster.

Share your favorite Star Wars crafts in the comments! And have fun geekcrafting!

Monday
Jordan, Jesse, Go! – Bravey Cat with John Hodgman
John Hodgman (Judge John Hodgman) returns to the podcast to talk about the joys of hot yoga and speculate about the existence of teen girl vampires.

Some patent medicines were more successful than others. (Source: Vintage Ad Browser)

Smartest Man in the World – Hickories
Recorded in Boston, Greg Proops talks Peckinpah, the Patriots, and rampant police violence in the United States.

Nerdist – Undateable
The cast of the show Undateable joins Chris to talk standup tours, doing accents, and their new season.

Tuesday
The Dork Forest – M Dickson Goes Country
Comedian and writer, M Dickson talks with Jackie about his love of country music.

Wednesday
Sawbones – Heroes of Patent Medicine: Volume 2
In the second of their three-part series, Sydnee and Justin share more stories of patent medicines and how their purveyors tried to claim Native American or other “exotic” heritages to sell their wares.

Nerdist – Sarah Colonna
Comedian and author, Sarah Colonna talks with Chris and Jonah about Bar Rescue, her time as a secret shopper, and her new book.

Thursday
Bizarre States – Erika Lewis
Author Erika Lewis (The 49th Key) talks creepy mythology.

I was born two years after Star Wars: A New Hope came out. I grew up on Star Wars. It’s in my blood.

So I totally cried at the end of this trailer. Oh my god, I am so excited. If Leia has become a Jedi, I swear I will scream in the movie theater.

Ready to see Age of Ultron but don’t have anything to wear? TeeFury has you covered with these two exclusive Avengers t-shirt designs. Option 1 is our girl, Black Widow:

“Russian Rollette” by tomkurzanski

And option 2 is new MCU addition, Scarlet Witch:

“Spell on Wheels” by tomkurzanski

Or buy one of each, we love them both. Just buy them today or you might miss out.