Shipping Saturdays #7: Igniting the Love

The winner of last week's Shipping Saturdays was: Will Herondale!

Welcome to Shipping Saturdays! Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list.

Hello there beautiful bookworms! Today I'm talking about a ship that is very close to my heart for various reasons (not least because I love the guy to absolute bits).
It's time to talk the Shatter Me books.

In many ways, I think Aaron Warner is very similar to Damon, whom I talked about here, in that both of them are "the bad brother" (though with Warner we only find out about the brother thing on much later on) in the triangle, but ultimately they really just have massively soft hearts that have been hurt one too many times.
No, of course that doesn't excuse murder. If it did, every killer only had to plead guilty and tell the jury a sob story and they'd go off free. But I digress. Warner's tragic daddy issues don't excuse his less than stellar actions before he met Juliette, but that doesn't change the fact that he's perfect for her. In a world where it's kill or be killed for her, he brings out the strong, the confident, the side of her that can accept who and what she is, accept it fully and use it to make the world a better place; Adam accepted her and loved her as she was (which is more than can be said for Stefan), but he was also terrified of Juliette, and therefore she was terrified of herself.
It was only Warner's unwavering belief and encouragement for her to embrace her powers as part of who she was that Juliette was able to overcome her fear and control her powers, to use them for good. So no, while Warner's actions can't be excused, you'll have to present me with a very solid case to convince me that Warnette isn't one the most beautiful ships out there.

Aaron or Adam?

Adam!

Warner!

Kenji! (?)

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Shipping Saturdays #6: The Infernal Love Triangle

The winner of last week's Shipping Saturdays was: Damon Salvatore!

Welcome to Shipping Saturdays! Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list.

These three gave everyone a hell of a lot of heartache, and are, quite possibly, the only true, actual love triangle I've ever come across, because all three entities loved each other. Cassie Clare wins the cake for painful books with the heartbreaking story of Will, Tessa and Jem.

I think, though, that we can all agree that in the end, everyone had their chance at happiness, right?

With that in mind, I'm going to be very selfish and say that I am so, so happy she married Will. She's Tessa Herondale (see how that name suits her?!) now, and Jace will always have a living relative (ha!). She lived a lifetime with my baby William, and he died happy in the knowledge that he was loved by the woman he loved more than anything. It's been a year now, and they still give me a barrage of feels, just thinking about them. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled she gets to tease Jem about his backward ways as he accustoms himself to the XXI century, but I really hope she doesn't marry him. In part because it's not a necessity anymore like it was in the Victorian times, but also largely because then I can happily sleep, knowing she was Will's wife and only his. It gives me the warm and fuzzies.

But mostly I'm just glad Will got everything he deserved, because if that boy had suffered one more tiny bit, I'd very likely lose my shit. My favourite pass time is imagining his reaction if he were to find out his great-great grandson is parabatai with a Lightworm. It provides hours of entertainment. It also probably does me no favours that I've recently moved to Wales, and every time I come across the Welsh flag, I dissolve into hysterical giggles. I'm getting better with exposure, though!

Now, we're voting this week for who we prefer Tessa with, because honestly let's face, she got the cake and ate it too. So really just pick your favourite guy, even if you exclude Tessa from the equation; even if you shipped Will and Jem (I am so, so sorry if you did. Truly. Because ouch), just pick the guy you like the most ;)

Will or Jem?

Will!

Jem!

Other (do tell!)

Magnus

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Shipping Saturdays #5: The One that Introduced me to Ships

The winner of last week's Shipping Saturdays was: Dimitri Belikov

Welcome to Shipping Saturdays! Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list.

Like the title says, these three suckers (I mean that literally, but we'll get there in a minute) introduced me to the painful world of shipping, back in the day when I still wasn't quite sure what I was doing with books. Sure, I subconsciously shipped Harmony (all about that in the Shipping Saturdays #2 here) as a kid, but this trio was the first one that made me consciously stop and say 'she better end up with Damon, or so help me God'.

And I kind of let the cat out of the bag with that comment. Yeah, that's right. My first ever conscious ship was while reading The Vampire Diaries. I always feel dated when talking about these books, because these days people don't even know there are books, it's all about the TV show. But yes, I read the books first. In fact, I boycotted the TV show at first out of pure principle and in respect for all the changes they'd made. I then quit the books cold turkey when HarperTeen fired L. J. Smith (the author) and hired a ghost writer to write under Smith's name because they couldn't take the fact that she was going to make Delena endgame.

Publishing's twelve year-old tantrums aside, one thing that did not change from books to TV, was my love for Damon (helped along greatly on-screen by the delicious Ian Somerhalder of course). By book 3, when Elena turns into a vamp and is sired to Damon, I was cheering in my chair when she nearly kills Stefan because he hurt Damon. 

Those two are like two peas in a pod. And sure, Elena lacks Damon's penchant for cruelty (unless we're talking about Katherine. She so did not see Elena being a bitch coming), but she makes him want to be a better person, and he makes her live. With Stefan, she exists; with Damon, she lives. Plus, Stefan spent a whole season moping over the fact that she's a vampire and now he can't love her because ew she can be with me forever! Or whatever his excuse was, I don't even know. I don't think he does, either. Fact is, Damon's love for Elena is unconditional - as shown time and again when he tirelessly loves her through her various forms: human, vamp, ghost, angel-like thing and everything in between. In the books, if you're looking to read some awesome Delena goodness, dive into The Return: Midnight; it's guaranteed to leave any Delena fan in a puddle of fangirling goo on the floor. It's pure beauty.

But enough of me waffling on about how dreamy Damon is, even as he asks - nay, begs - her to be his Queen of Not-So-Dark Darkness *sigh*. You know what to do.

Stefan or Damon?

Stefan

Damon

Matt

Nope, Elena should've gone for the kitsune! (replace here by Elijah is you've only seen the TV show)

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Shipping Saturdays #4: It's a Dimka World

Last weeks' winner of Shipping Saturdays was: Sherlock Homes!

Welcome to Shipping Saturdays! Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list.

This week, in honour of Halloween next week, we're talking vampires! I may be persuaded to do one for the sparkly vamps eventually, but today is not that day. As most of you will know by now, I'm a strong Richelle Mead believer - I'll pretty much read anything she puts out, and most of the times am very happy with it.

Through her books, especially Vampire Academy, I've met four of my best friends today, so I really owe that series so much. But beyond that, it also introduced me to the fictional guy to end all fictional guys: Dimitri Belikov.

Confusingly, to me, some people don't share my love and appreciation for the Russian God of all things BAMF. I don't get it, I really don't, but some people insist that party boy Moroi Adrian Ivashkov (not-so-lovingly usually referred to me by simply Ivashkov) over Dimka.

I will admit that Ivashkov (see? It's almost ingrained in me now, I swear!) was actually a pretty cool character during Frostbite and about half of Shadow Kiss. By the end of Shadow Kiss though, I wanted to strangle him slowly, and I can't say that I was sorry to have Rose dump him (though, I will give him this much - the way she did it was shitty, and no one deserves to be cheated on). Plus, look at how cute Romitri look in the picture! Too cute!

Still, I'm unsure if Adrian fans have moved on from focusing on Rose now that he's a married man, but let me know who you think Rose should have ended up with.

Dimitri or Adrian?

Dimitri, aaaaall the way!

Nope, standing strong with Adrian.

I'm hopeless, and am clinging on to Mason :(

Other (who? Comment!)

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Shipping Saturdays #3: The Matter of John Watson

Last week's winner of Shipping Saturdays was: (quite unexpectedly, I must add) Harry Potter! Sorry, Ronald. You may have married her, but it seems your nuptials didn't go down too well with the fans!
This is a weekly addition to the blog. Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list.

This one slightly veers into the world of TV, but since it was primarily in book form, I can still write about it here: John Watson. I'll probably do one for Sherlock soon enough, but this week we're discussing the pros and cons of the good doctor's wife Mary vs his (let's face it) soulmate Sherlock.

Now for argument's sake, let's base this primarily on the BBC series, since I figure that's probably the most well-known Sherlock version out there (though honestly, the truth is universal, and Johnlock is the truth in all versions... ahem). The movies did okay, but I think Cumberbatch wins. So.

Much as I love Mary's take no shit attitude, and the fact that she pretty much insists on John going to see Sherlock, and then pretty much single-handedly gets them to make up again, and soothes Sherlock's wedding jitters... well. She's a great character, and I love what Abbington has done with her, but come on. 

On the BBC, in the movies, in the gender-inverted version Elementary, even in the books and stories based off Sherlock (The Mentalist, I'm looking at you), John and Sherlock have so much chemistry, it's ridiculous. Obviously, Doyle would hate my guts for even writing this post, since it pretty much highlights the fact that Sherlock Holmes became very famous, and obviously in his time, homosexuality was heavily frowned upon, but come on. Is it actually possible to look at these characters and see anything other than Johnlock?

You tell me! And don't worry, I don't judge (and the poll doesn't tell me who you are, so vote away), so do vote for what you believe in :)

It's elementary, my dear Watson!

Sherlock, duh!

Mary Morstan-Watson the whole way!

Other (really? Please tell me, cause I want to know!)

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Shipping Saturdays #2: Why Poke a Sleeping Dragon?

Last weeks' winner of Shipping Saturdays was: Dorian Havilliard!
This will be a weekly addition to the blog. Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list.

This is a controversial one, and it's rather a divider one, too. I'm tackling the big guns today, poking a sleeping dragon and talking Harry Potter. Keeping in mind that I started Potter when I was 6, and thought boys had cooties, let's dive in.

I've always, always, always been a devoted Harmony (Harry/Hermione) fan. I can see you pulling a disgusted face in the background. Yes, I know. Trust me, I know. But, to a six-year old, when a girl hugs a boy, she has got to want to marry him, because ew.

So, at age 7 (when the Chamber of Secrets movie came out), Hermione ran and hugged Harry. Ergo, they were going to get married. And that just sort of sat in the back of my mind since then, with me subconsciously rejecting the idea of Ginny/Harry and Ron/Hermione out of principle.

As an adult, I realise that Ron and Hermione's relationship is one of the best things of the series, because for once the hero doesn't end up with the sidekick. But, I also know that in all my similarities with Hermione, I'd kill Ron within a week of being married, so who knows.

So, yes, while I now recognise that there had been hints of Romione throughout the series, I also hold steadfast to my childhood belief that Harry and Hermione would have had a much happier marriage (plus, their couple name is Harmony. It says it all, really!).

Funnily enough, the fighting seems to mostly take place between Harmony and Romione, though I've seen some bizarre pairings out there - Draco, Snape, Dumbledore... 

Vote and let me know which category you fit in, and feel free to drop a comment to defend your team!

The moment of truth: Harry or Ron?

Ron, of course!

Harry

What? Neither, Hermione belongs with Draco!

Other (comment and let me know!)

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Shipping Saturdays #1

This will be a weekly addition to the blog. Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list. 
Weekly poll winners will be announced in the next Shipping Saturdays post.

This week, the spotlight is on Celeana Sardothien and her veritable harem of men. May contain spoilers for Heir of Fire; definite spoilers for the first two books.

So I've always been an avid Doraena (Dorian x Celaena) shipper. He gets her in a way that Chaol never could, because he too knows what it's like to have to hide part of yourself, out of fear and protection. This quote from Heir of Fire, when Dorian tells Chaol that he 'can't pick and choose which parts of her to love' really touched me, and reminded me why I shipped them so hard back in Throne of Glass.
Also, by the end of Crown of Midnight, I was all but convinced she'd have to marry him to help seal the peace between Terrasen and Adarlan. And they could have a plethora of royal babies. And while that's still definitely a scenario I'd be happy to see, Heir of Fire introduced another contender - Rowan.
And I know, chances are it will never be more than platonic because of his mate way back when, but a girl can dream, right? I mean, can you imagine the badassedness that would be a marriage between those two? And the same reasoning applies here - this wedding could also help seal peace between Terrasen and the Fae kingdom, since I'm sure Auntie Dearest will declare war soon enough.

My friend Kim disagrees and tells me I'm insane for shipping anything other than Chaolena, and how dare I. It's weird, cause it's one of the few times we've disagreed on a ship, so Aelin should feel special - she's one of two to divide me and my bookworm friends!

But you tell me now, through comments or just by voting: who do you think Celaena should end up with? (taking into consideration, there are still 3 more books to come, so don't rule out any characters as of yet!)

Who do you ship Celaena with?

Chaol

Dorian

Rowan

Aedion

Other (including Sam. Comment & let me know)

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