Poppyhawke (The Blood and Ash Series): A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Poppyhawke (Poppy and Hawke)

From: Blood and Ash Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

*** Assume spoilers for From Blood and Ash and A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire ***

Huge thank you to Jennifer L. Armentrout and her whole team for letting me be a part of the blog tour for AKOFAF! Giveaway at the end!!!

I know we still have four months left in the year, but this new JLA series is seriously going to be one of my favorite series of all year and all time. I can already call it. Why? So many reasons... so so so many reasons. One of which is this ship. I am going to apologize in advance for another really long post, but there are headings which should make it easier to navigate, and I'm talking about Poppyhawke, so it should be fun to reminisce with me and I couldn't cut more details out. :) (If there is a more official ship name for these two, please let me know! Poppyhawke seems like the most popular one on Tumblr from what I've seen...)

Also, I will definitely have a review for A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire up later this week, and if you think this is long... well, phew! You have no idea because my head is happily still spinning in circles from this book!

Last little side note: I will refer to him as Hawke for most of this post. I feel like we've gone through so much with the characters at this point we've earned the right to call him Hawke, right? 

When I Started Shipping:

Um, in the Red Pearl in book 1. Let's be real here, that was one hell of a way to introduce us to Poppy and I was so here for it. And that scene is sexy as hell, which is par for the course when thinking about the chemistry that Poppy and Hawke have. So that was definitely the starting point. Now, that's when we only knew Hawke as Hawke-the-Guard. Hawke as Hawke-the-Crown-Prince-of-Atlantia, I'm going to give them another ship moment.

After knowing Hawke was really Casteel, I revamped my shipping of Cas/Hawke and Poppy at the very end of From Blood and Ash when Hawke bites her. It was a rocky start to this second launching of the ship. The fact that I needed a second launching is a little concerning in and of itself, but it all worked out. I was really hesitant all of a sudden when Hawke randomly announced that the two of them were going to get married. And of course, that was the end end of the first book and I had to sit on that final scene for half a year before finding out what Hawke was actually planning. Turns out, it's all good. I was able to breathe again and feel confident in this ship when Hawke and Kieran kept evading Poppy's questions about being used as ransom. To me, that was all I needed. Hawke's explanation of how the marriage would lead to Poppy's free will and choice also sealed the deal.

Favorite Canon Moment:
Oh my God there are literally so many amazing scenes in these two books. I'm just going to pick three from each because they each draw out different aspects of the relationship that I love. And clearly the wedding scene takes the cake.

The Walk Back from the Duke's Library

After Hawke finds Poppy reading Lady Willa's Diary and is walking her back to her rooms, I don't just love that there is witty banter between them and teasing about the sexual content of the diary. That was all great, but what really made my heart give a sad smile was when Hawke shares that he was originally just going to ask Poppy if she wanted company. Because, remember, the whole lead up to that scene is that Poppy was in her room bored out of her mind and left through the secret door to go find the book. And no guards, not even Vikter, would ask her if she wanted to pass the time talking with somebody because she was supposed to be isolated from everyone. But Hawke knocked on her door anyway because he was concerned she was lonely. :)

The Blood Forest 

Yes, this is a favorite scene for the obvious reason. BUT, it is also a favorite for me because it's the first chance Poppy really gets to just be Poppy. She's not the Maiden on this trip and she gets to experience traveling as a normal girl would. And Hawke makes sure of that and I love how he would get so protective of her, not just physically, but psychologically protective of that mentality. No one was allowed to address Poppy as the Maiden, and he made sure of that, so then Poppy was able to ride along as Poppy only.

The Bite Scene (end of book 1)

 Mates. Soulmates. Heartmates. It's all the same to me. And this scene right here, where he bites her and damn near loses his mind over the taste of her blood, I was like, "ohhhhhh... there's something stronger there between them." I am absolute trash for the mate trope. Completely and totally. So this scene was a big moment for me because it was the sign that these two were mates and that the possibility of mates existing this this world could be a thing. Heartmates my dudes, heartmates. 1000% here for it.

The Hidden Cavern Oasis

Shifting into the second book now, I really liked the time Poppy and Hawke had together in the hidden cavern and pool. They're playing "pretend" because there is still a lot of contention between them about if they are actually emotionally attached to each other or if they are only using each other. To ignore all of that, it's almost like they're role playing who they knew each other as back in the start of book 1. It was lowkey painful to read because at this point, we all knew that they were completely and seriously in love with each other. But neither would outright say it. They couldn't just say it! It was like they were allergic to saying, "I LOVE YOU." ***SIGHS*** But in this scene the let themselves be completely gooey lovey with each other because they're "just pretending," (rolls eyes at them) and it makes the whole thing so sweet. 

The Marriage

ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING MARRIAGES I'VE EVER READ.
That's it.
Perfection.
I will admit to crying tears of happiness in this moment.

Literally Every Time They're in Battle Together

One of the things that I love in this relationship (and any relationship tbh), is how fairly and equally Hawke treats Poppy. I think this is best seen whenever they have to fight. The fights between the two of them are hysterical and adorable, but I'm talking about the battles. When they fight the craven in the woods or the vampyrs outside the town. For example, when at the start of AKOFAF Poppy tries to run away and the craven come up on her and Hawke in the woods, here's what Hawke says (page 48):

Make me feel incompetent and kill more than me, Princess.

You gotta love when the couple kills evil zombie creatures together. And even at the end when Spessa's End is under siege, there's a brief moment when it seems like Poppy is going to be sidelined, but she ends up right in the thick of things and kills the Duchess. Hawke's big thing was just to stay near her so they could keep track of each other.

Poppy:
On a rational, empathetic level, I understand Poppy's complexity and reservations with everything surrounding Hawke. However, the irrational shipping part of me wanted to shake her and get her to open her freaking eyes to know that Hawke was legit in love with her. Poppy is so strong and stubborn, but she was also always so quick to back down from the idea that Hawke was genuinely interested in her. It takes such a long time for her to truly open herself up to the idea that their relationship is legitimate, but once she does, I was so profoundly happy for her. For Poppy to have gone through such turmoil in her life and then be on the emotional roller coaster of figuring out Hawke's feelings and her own self-doubt, it was too much. She deserved that peace so much it isn't even funny.

What's great about Poppy in the relationship is that she is completely unbending toward any of Hawke's orders or actions. She wouldn't leave Spessa's End. She questioned his thought process. She just never stopped being herself and letting herself hang onto the idea of individuality and personal freedom. And she's not afraid of Hawke either, which, why would she? But on a more serious note, everyone else is afraid of Hawke on some sort of level. Poppy however was never afraid of him, or anyone else for that matter, and it matches that intensity of Hawke so well.

Somewhat random... I am so envious that the emotional taste of Hawke's love is chocolate-covered strawberries. Take a second to truly imagine that. Poppy gets to taste chocolate-covered strawberries whenever she senses Hawke's love for her. Great taste. Zero calories.

Hawke:
From the first book I have appreciated beyond measure how much support Hawke gives Poppy. Whether it be emotional, physical, or giving her a kick in the butt to motivate her, he is always looking out for her best interests. In AKOFAF, we get to see that support so much more. It's not an obvious trait necessarily, but if you look closely enough at what exactly he's saying and how he's manipulating the group's actions, you can see how he is so careful to make sure Poppy isn't trampled by the new world around her or by her own uncertainties.

Hawke is over the top in his come-ons, which is great, but I don't really think he's over the top in getting what he wants from Poppy-- the real relationship and marriage. You can tell early on that Poppy is the world to him, but he sets up the whole arrangement so that Poppy can back out when she wants to, and that makes it all the better. And it's Poppy that calls off the "pretend" bit of their relationship. He gives her that space and lets her figure out for herself what she wants and he gives her the time to trust his love for her. He never gives up or backs down, but he doesn't barrel over her either.

Poppyhawke: 
AKA, one of the top power couples of YA fantasy of all time. The chemistry and emotional bond is off the charts and my soul would be ripped in two if anything would every happen to one of them, but I have to acknowledge the end of AKOFAF. There's no way I could cover this ship and no talk about how much of a power couple they are. First, without the end, Hawke is the next King of Atlantia and Poppy glows silver and can magically heal just about anything. Like, that alone would have been bada**. But then we get the end of AKOFAF, and Poppy is descended from the king of the gods or is his daughter or something (which is yet to be determined) and the Queen hands over her crown because Poppy then is the rightful ruler.

What.

I can't even fully wrap my mind around that. And Hawke is still this amazing Elemental Atlantian with the ability to compel people... friends, I love this ship. I love this ship so much and I really cannot wait to see Poppy and Hawke navigate their new marriage together and continue to support each other they way they do while also wanting to stab each other.

There were so many more moments I could have included in this, like the nightmare scene! And the scene in the mountains! And the way the Duke was killed! Jeez there are so many more things I could talk about!!! That just shows though how much there is to love about Poppyhawke and I am OBSESSED with how they will lead Atlantia and grow in their newlywed relationship.

Below is the Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway so you can win a copy of the AMAZING first book and get to see the ship for yourself!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thanks for reading!

Misc. Info:
Purchase AKOFAF!

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2FUOzZd

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-kingdom-of-flesh-and-fire/id1521193491?ls=1

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-kingdom-of-flesh-and-fire

GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jennifer_L_Armentrout_A_Kingdom_of_Flesh_and_Fire?id=itXtDwAAQBAJ&hl=en_US

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-kingdom-of-flesh-and-fire-jennifer-l-armentrout/1137264362?ean=2940162955900

Audio (out 12/1): https://amzn.to/2EsoMXw

Kaemon (The Lux Series): A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Kaemon (Katy and Daemon)

From: Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

***Assume spoilers for the entire Lux series***

For years, Kaemon has been one of my go-to favorite ships in the YA lit world. Theirs is like one of those ships that is just so inherently right; as in, I can in no way see either of them with any other character. Even if the series were attempted to be crossed-over with another JLA series or otherwise, it just wouldn't happen. The two of them are just meant to be together, not only because of circumstance (although I think that does add another dimension of depth to their relationship).


I will cop to the fact though that for the longest time I did not know what their ship name was. I read the series a bit late in the game-- I only had to wait for two publications in the series-- so I missed some of the height of figuring out the ship name and hype seeing the name online. And then in terms of fanfiction, I think it's hurting a little. Huge gratitude for those who have written Kaemon fanfics, but my heart wants more of this ship. <3<3<3 Also, it has been a long while since I've read these books, so as I make references and try to tie them down to certain books, I may be slightly off.

When I Started Shipping:
Right away. From the synopsis. I don't even care that it was slightly insta-love-y but also classic teenage angsty. They were this series's OTP and will always be this series's OTP. For me though, their relationship was set in stone (as in, through concrete scenes) when Daemon, in Obsidian, is talking to Katy about beauty and how people who are truly beautiful are beautiful on the inside. And of course he's talking about Katy in this moment so it's super adorable. But more than that, it shows his reflections and introspection on life and it matches what we as readers have seen valued by Katy by that point. It brings out that other side of Daemon in the best way and in a way that makes the partnering of him and Katy so easy to get behind.

Favorite Canon Moment:
There are so many moments where my heart and soul swoon because of these two. A lot of them hilarious, a lot of them making me want to scream, and a whole lot of them wishing I had my own Daemon carbon-copy. I'm going to cheat this section a little and pick two moments, one that brought me to tears and one that made me so incredibly happy.

German edition-- beautiful!

The first is when Katy gets captured by the DOD in Opal. My chest hurts just thinking about that moment when she is separated from everyone, especially Daemon, by only the briefest of moments and the smallest of split seconds. It's worse because we all sort of knew what was about to happen with the testing and stuff to Katy in a way, but had to use our imaginations at the same time (this was when I had to start waiting for the books to come out). Anyway, the real killer in that scene is that it is the first time Daemon every tells Katy he loves her. As she's being taken away from him for God knew what testing. After just getting his brother's girlfriend out of the system. And after three books of them getting to the point of knowing they love each other. And watching Daemon not say it for the entirety of the book. Ugh.... ***lies on floor***

The second is a much happier one, when they decide to get married. It was brilliant. And not just because there is a cameo of another ship from a different series (Kaidan and Anna from The Sweet Evil trilogy by Wendy Higgins). But because it made sense. It all clicked into place so that this spontaneous moment was earned and deserved. And then afterward it was so amazing to see the two of them be so happy together. After everything that they had gone through and despite not knowing what they were going to be facing in their future, they knew that they would always have each other, even if someone catastrophic were to happen. Reading that scene was like releasing a breath that had been building and being held since the beginning of the series.

Sztella Tziotziosz- cover model for Katy

Katy:
As someone who reviews books and has a book blog, I relate to Katy so much it isn't even funny. But that is slightly beside the point. Looking at Katy in the relationship, I think she has such a normal reaction to everything. A little too on the skeptical and hard-to-accept side, but her reasoning is sound. Daemon was an ass to her for a good portion of the beginning. I don't blame her for throwing logic into the conversation of deciding what their relationship or lack thereof would look like. Especially because she knew herself so well that it probably would have hurt like nothing else if she had opened up to Daemon (someone she knew she was interested in at first) if only to be rejected later, or worse mocked later. And nearly all of Daemon's past behaviour to her would have suggested that he would do just that. So when later in the series she tells him she loves him, it makes the moment all the better because Daemon and the readers know it is completely authentic. From that moment on, I love that Katy had the best dedication and faith in the relationship. She was 110% on board.

Daemon:

Pepe Toth- cover model for Daemon

Lovely guy. Great being. Stupid as can be when pursuing Katy. It was so frustrating watching him try to clean the slate with Katy to the point where I would actually get a little upset with him for assuming she should be on board with the relationship sooner than when she did. I will give him credit though for showing great dedication and determination toward Katy for the rest of the series. I love that he was so caring for her and wanted her to be happy and be herself, even in the midst of all the alien craziness. And I think he does a really great job of balancing how he feels for Katy with his ideals and values that he has had for his family and race since before he met her. Yes, he would do anything for Katy and his family, but in his ideal world both and all things coexisted perfectly. And if they couldn't, then he would rearrange something as necessary to find a balance of both.

Kaemon:
As a couple, one of the best things that I loved reading them do were the witty conversations and teasing and/or flirting that they had. Some of the most funny lines from the series were from these moments. And they show how well the two of them balance each other. Where one is overly sarcastic to the point of being rude (typically Daemon), the other would pacify things. Where one is over thinking the details of things (typically Katy), the other would help them step back to take a look. The compliment each other and highlight the best features of the other.


It's been awhile since I've seen Kaemon in the limelight for anything, but let's never forget the love we have for them. As I've been writing this and the more I think about it, the more I really want to reread the series from start to finish. There are some truly painful moments where I felt my heart spiderweb and nearly be ground into powder, but I know it will be worth the ride by the end of it all.

Thanks for reading!

Feysand (A Court of Thorns and Roses): A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Feysand (Feyre and Rhysand)

From: A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

***Assume spoilers for the entire ACOTAR series***

My level of obsession with this ship is probably way too high to be healthy. But, being completely honest, I'm totally okay with that. To put it in perspective: I'm a very frugal person and don't spend money on fandom merchandise- ever. For this ship, I bought a navy sweatshirt that says "Team Rhysand" on it and I wear it proudly in public. There's just something about the equality between them and the respect that they have for each other that really just makes them work so well together. They don't always get along either, which may seem like it would work against them, but really creates a more believable relationship where they can resolve their conflicts and disagreements in a realistic and healthy way.

When I Started Shipping:

Tumblr / moonlit-sketches

Contrary to most readers of this series, I started to ship them in book 1. Yes, even with all the creepy touching and inappropriate comments and everything else that was working against Rhys at that time. I would like to point out though that in my mind, I saw his reasoning for doing those things. Maybe not all of them- the little details that he reveals later- but for the most part I got the vibe that he was doing the least that he could do to maximize Feyre's safety and health while she was in that hellhole Under the Mountain. I also did not like Tamlin because he was just pretty and sitting there, and I know he had his own circumstances of being bound by Amarantha. However, when he did break away from her, he tries to hook up with Feyre. Um....what? But yeah, I started shipping Feysand book 1. I didn't ship them as much as I do now, but I was definitely hoping she would end up with Rhys and not Tamlin. Yeah me!

Favorite Cannon Moment:
These two have a lot of really great scenes. In general, I love when they play "thought for a thought." Even the concept of this game is built on a foundation of trust. Trust that the other is being honest and trust that they won't judge you or tell another person what you said. It's completely beautiful. A specific scene though that I love (and I'll keep it PG-13 or younger) is when Feyre celebrates Starfall for the first time and she paints the star splatter on Rhys's hand. She laughs and Rhys stops still because he knows that's the first time she has done so since Under the Mountain. It kills me because Feyre is fully comfortable with Rhys and is starting to heal. And Rhys is starting to heal too and this scene shows that he really only wants Feyre to be happy and what is best for her.

Tumblr / monolime

Feyre:
Understandably, it takes Feyre a bit to be open to this relationship. She has had a hell of a time in the fey world, so it makes complete sense to me that it isn't until the end of the second book that she actually beings to accept Rhys as something other than a friend. What I really appreciate about Feyre is that she is more than just her role in the courts and with other characters. You can really see this in her passion to paint and I think it is really reflective of how her relationship with Tamlin worked versus her relationship with Rhysand works based on how she paints. After she was Under the Mountain, she couldn't paint at all. But being with Tamlin couldn't bring that back for her- she was stuck in this depressive state and Tamlin was doing nothing to help bring her out of it. Rhysand on the other hand is when she started to paint again and I think part of it is because of how Rhys helped pull her out of her depression. Feyre is able to be her whole self and feel secure enough in herself and the chance to mess up when she is with Rhys. 

Rhysand:
What a gem. My favorite thing about Rhys is that he pays attention to Feyre and communicates with her. Since they were Under the Mountain all the way through the war and into A Court of Frost and Starlight, Rhys has paid attention to Feyre to make sure she is not just okay, but the happiest that she can be and that he sets aside his own desires. The fact that he knew they were mates and was going to let her get married won him some major points in my book. It broke my heart, but it made him all the more endearing to me that he would do something like that for her. As a character alone, I also really appreciate the sass and the clever comments that come from him. The way he holds himself and acts around his family even though he has so much authority and power shows just how good of a guy that he is.

Tumblr / raconteaurwitch

Feysand:
There are a lot of reasons why I think they work really well together. One of my reasons why they're a favorite of mine- definitely one of my OTPs- is because they are so realistic as well. They argue and disagree with each other and there are still moments when they aren't on the same page, like with their views on Nesta. I don't agree with Rhys's perspective on this, but it drives home the point that these two still function even though they are different people. They respect each other's opinions and differences and will talk through things together that they need to have a mutual agreement for.

The last thing with Feysand is- I WANT A WEDDING. Yes, I know they secretly went off to get the mate bond blessed or whatever but is that the same thing as getting married?? Feyre was human; maybe there's still a part of her that wants a traditional human ceremony. If that's the case, I want to see that because we have yet to see a Sarah J. Maas wedding and it kills me... 

Thanks for reading!

MADNESS (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer): A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

MADNESS (Mara Dyer and Noah Shaw) 

From: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

***Assume spoilers for the entire Mara Dyer series***

I think this may be the coolest ship name that I have ever shipped. Let me explain it to you: take the full initials of each of their names and put them in order and you get....
Mara
Amitra
Dyer
Noah
Eliot
Simon
Shaw
......MADNESS

When I Started Shipping:
Right away. I literally mean right away- I think Noah is like either the second or third main character that we meet in the book and it's fairly early in the book too. Within the first few chapters if I remember. What really sealed the deal on this ship was when Mara and Noah were bantering about the hierarchy of asses. It wasn't just a funny moment in the book, but you can see the easiness that they're bantering with and you can tell right at that moment that they are going to be good together.

Favorite Canon Moment:
Hmmmm.... it's hard for me to say because I have one in mind that's a funny moment, and then another one that's heart wrenching and gives you all the feels. I don't know how to choose between the two of them so I think I'll just share both.

My favortite funny moment between them is when, I believe in the first book, they are in Noah's bedroom and Mara is testing Noah of his knowledge of his own bookshelf. She's just reading off titles without really looking ahead to see what they say, and one of the books puts her in a pretty awkward situation. I love how Noah handles it too. The heart breaking moment that I'm thinking of is right at the end of the series after Mara, Noah, and company are relatively safe in the house. There's just relief and they get to be together and they have each other after everything that they've gone through and have lost.


Mara:
This girl's crazy. I think one of the hardest things about her character is that she has to deal with so much crap, both inside and outside her life. Yes, she is slightly psycho, but there's also legitimate dangers around her, and there is some supernatural, life/death balance stuff. She has to deal with all of this, and try to act normal in her everyday life. She fails at that of course, but she tried for a good long time. She's incredibly determined and resilient in this, and it extend to her relationship in a way that makes her fiercely loyal to Noah.

Noah:
First, I have to let the completely shallow side come through and say that Noah may be one of the best YA guys that I have ever read. He's like Will Herondale, but with more innuendoes. Thinking about it, those two would probably be the best of friends. His sass is one of my favorite things about him, plus he has an accent, which just makes it ten times better. Actually looking at who his character is as a person though is just as great. Noah, while snarky and tending to be apparently less serious, is really devoted to helping other people and putting others before himself.

MADNESS:
These two are the definition of perfect balance. Life and death, crazy and popular, serious and aloof,  I could keep going. Another reason why Mara and Noah are so great for each other is that they are both willing so much to make it work and to pull through together. Mara helps Noah come to terms with his issues and Noah helps Mara come miles along in accepting herself and helping her understand what is happening. That may be the biggest thing about this ship- they both believe each other and support each other through the seemingly impossible.


As much as I hate to say it, I think the ship is about to be rocked! Excitingly, there is going to be another book. But, of course, there is a price. Apparently there may be trouble between the two and my heart may break in the process of reading these books. Here is an article from Entertainment Weekly that announces the next book which is set to come out this summer!

Thanks for reading!

Clace (from The Mortal Instruments): A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Clace (Clary Fray and Jace Herondale)

From: The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

***Assume post has spoilers for the entire TMI series***

Alrighty, so I'm rereading the entire TMI series at the moment (that's why there's been less book reviews), and I realized that this was the perfect time for me to share why I ship and love Clace.

When I Started Shipping:
If we're being completely honest here then I started shipping them the second they meet. Yes, in Pandemonium- which is weird now that I think about it because nothing really happens in that moment. But I think it was Clary's stubbornness and grounding in reality clashing with Jace's sassy supernatural point of view that did it. As stereotypical as it is, I saw the snarky personality and was like, "Yup. Him." Totally a cliche, and I totally don't care.


Favorite Canon Moment:
OF thE enTiRe SerIEs??!! Oh boy....hm. (***sits and thinks for 20 minutes***) ONE of my favorite moments is definitely when the two of them are in the Seelie Court. I KNOW- this is probably one of the most awkward moments of the entire series because they are still siblings at this point, but the emotions running through that scene were so intense, and that's why it's one of my favorites. They get totally lost in each other! But then Jace pulls away and there's all of that tortured Herondale crap that they all have, and it made the scene so much more real; because of that, it is one of my favorites.

Jace:
Ladies and gentlemen, it is at this point that I will go into my love for the Herondales. I'm totally kidding (but I love them), this is about Jace Lightwood-Wayland-Morgenstern-Herondale. The evolution of his character is fantastic, and what's even better is that it just gets better for Clace. The same thing happens with Clary's character. But what I love about Jace is that he is so goddamn loyal to those he loves. This is such a Herondale trait and I love it. The sass- that's the other thing that I LOVE about him. He is just so sassy with everyone, everywhere, and I love it. I also kinda love his arrogance. In real life, I hate that; but in books, it seems different. I'll have to explore that phenomenon in a later post.


Clary:
Clary is like the kind of person I want to be, at least how she is toward the end of the series. She takes matters into her own hands and steps up to the plate to get shit done. PLUS, I really love how she's artistic and can create new ruins. Jace can have all the monkey jumping powers he wants, I want Clary's ruin powers. What I love about Clary's character is that it is realistic. Sometimes people give her crap because in the beginning of the series she "isn't a strong female" character. Let's be real (at least for me), if I was suddenly and violently thrust into this world of vampires and shadowhunters and demons, I would not be some automatic demon slayer. I would be like Clary, being smart about the situation, asking questions, training, learning the do's and don't's of the world. 

Clace:
THEY WORK SO WELL TOGETHER!!! Jace is sassy and arrogant by nature, and Clary just has none of it. They grow together through the series and help even each other out. Jace helps Clary be confident about her abilities and Clary helps Jace put things into perspective and humble him. And together, obviously, they were able to save the world along with the rest of the gang. They have been through so much, more than so many other ships that I know of, and they are still doing fantastic. If this changes in Lord of Shadows I might lock myself in a room and cry for days. Clace is one of my all-time ships, and I think this is true for quite a few people, making it like a classic ship in current YA literature.

I can't wait to see what happens for this ship in the future!!

Thanks for reading!

Nikki x Cole (Everneath Series): A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Nikki x Cole

From: Everneath Series by Brodi Ashton

***I am not sure what/if I will be spoiling in this post. Assume the entire post has spoilers.***

So this post may not be as detailed as the other ships I have in my fleet. I read these books years ago, so the details on the things are slightly fuzzy. But I asked for a hard copy of the series for Christmas and my mind has gone back into Everneath mode!! 'Tis truly a fantastic thing. I highly recommend this series to everyone, not just for the ship. ;)

When I Started Shipping:
I pretty much started shipping these guys as soon as they had both been introduced. I believe Cole isn't introduced until later, but right from is description, I was on his side. It's killing me that I can't remember how they meet in the first book.... I can remember how they met in their stories and what happened.... but how did they meet in book 1....? Probably a concert. Yeah? Either way, as soon as the descriptions were finished, I thought they would be great together.

Nikki x Cole:
Is there a ship name for them that I do not know of? I would really love a good ship name for them... Nole? Possible...

This next paragraph is going to be super opinionated, but so it this blog. What on Earth was wrong with Nikki??? Why the hell did they not end up together??!??!! When I reread this, I am going to re-do this post with much more detail (like how I usually do these posts). I will explain this rant in more detail as well, because I did not appreciate her ending up with the other guy! I don't even totally remember his name- John? Jake? Jack? I think I was Jack. It definitely started with a J though. But she chooses him! Over Cole!!! AHHHHARARRGHH!!!! FRUSTRATION!!!!

I have almost come to terms with the fact that this ship has sunk. It has actually been on the bottom of the ocean for awhile now, but it doesn't make me want it any less. It is still a part of my fleet, and will remain a part of my fleet, even though it is no longer able to function. I will reread, and I will repost this one too. :)

Thanks for reading!!

Rowaelin (Throne of Glass): A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Rowaelin (Rowan x Aelin)

From: Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

***I am not sure what I will be spoiling and/or from which books they could be from. Assume this whole post has spoilers***

I may or ay not have shared my excitement for this ship and the new release of Empire of Storms (book 5) that is coming out next week. But I have loved this ship since before they even tolerated each other in Heir of Fire. Damn, Sarah, such great ships..... great ships..... Rowan and Aelin are one of the most perfect relationships that I think I have ever read and will ever read. I don't know if this helps put it in perspective, but my Throne of Glass Pinterest board mostly revolves around these two characters. In book 3, they hate each other and then grow to be a completely badass duo in fighting. And in book 4, that badassness grows by about a gagillion levels and then they both start to realize, gasp, they have feelings for each other!!! But then Rowan is a butt for a while about it, and then s*** goes down and they don't get to have their moment until the end of the huge book that is Queen of Shadows. I can't wait to see what happens in Empire of Storms!!! ONE WEEK!!!!!!!!

When I Started Shipping:
Like I said already, I really started shipping these two way before I probably should have (who am I kidding- I am so proud that I called this a thing so soon).  Way back in Heir of Fire, when these two first meet, they pretty much hate each other's guts. Aelin is depressed and not herself + Rowan still closed off to all things since Lyria died + almost zero proper communication between the two + two really short tempers = the first half of Heir of Fire. I still shipped it. There was something about them, that I can't really put name to. And even before this book, I didn't really ship Aelin/Celaena with anyone. It just didn't seem right. But this does. :)

Favorite Canon Moment:
Oh there are so many at this point I don't even know where to choose. For example, there's the moment when at the end of Heir of Fire Rowan throws Aelin into water and then jumps in after her. So cute. I think... I'm going to say... that ONE of my favorite moments was when Rowan first comes to Rifthold in Queen of Shadows and shows up out of nowhere. They just embrace each other and take in the smell and feel of the other and it is such a great adorable moment. There are so many moments....

Rowan:
Damn. Rowan is one of those characters that, damn. Damn he is great. I love the moodiness and the darker history. And he is an ass to Aelin at first. Really, actually, an ass. But then he finds out about her past and he just feels horrible and ever since really sees her and now that they are like an actual thing he still balances her out. He is the (mostly) even-tempered one that makes Aelin think things through. Plus I found the whole, "I can't be with her she deserves better", thing a little endearing. Plus he's fae. Automatically great.

Aelin:
Like above, Aelin is there to balance out Rowan and is the one who helps convince him that he is worthy and that he is not an awful person/fae. I think the biggest thing with Aelin, is that with Rowan she has found an equal as Aelin. Not as Celaena (Sam), or Lilian (Dorian), or Elentiya (Chaol), but AELIN!!! The best of her and her character is brought out because Rowan shows her that he deserves happiness and can be who she is destined to be. He makes sure she accepts herself- all of herself- and believe that she isn't essentially an evil bitch.

Rowaelin:
THEYARE AMAZING TOGETHER!!!! They are the balance to each other that they had both so desperately needed for the longest time. Not only do they grow and come out to accept themselves because of each other, but they are both so much more motivated now to be the best that they can be, which is, I think, one of the best things that can happen in a successful relationship.

These guys have come so far in two books and there are TWO MORE COMING!!!!! AND ONE OF THOSE TWO COMES OUT NEXT WEEK!!!!!! Holy shit holy shit holy shit it is finally upon us: the release of Empire of Storms. Let's hope for lost of great Rowaelin moments. Shippers of Aelin with someone else, we are going to have to agree to disagree, but I'm almost 94% positive that this is endgame. We're done bouncing around from ship to ship at this point. Rowaelin or bust.

Thanks for reading!!

Paul x Sarah (Saul?) from Orphan Black: A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Saul (Paul x Sarah)

From: Orphan Black
***Season 1 spoilers are very possible. Read at your own risk***

I don't actually have much evidence to support this ship. I just do.... 

I started watching Orphan Black from BBC America recently and I totally get why there is so much hype about it. Oh. My. Goodness. Freaking amazingness- that's what this show is made of. I've only seen season one so far, but even now, I am totally shipping Paul and Sarah. Luckily, I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen in later seasons, so I can just watch through them and fully experience the episodes provided I don't get spoiled by anyone. 

When I started shipping:

To be completely honest, I think I  started shipping them when Paul came to the precinct to pick up "Beth"/"Sarah" but it was really Helena that made the call. I'm just realizing now that this post may get difficult to follow. Anyway, I loved how he balanced being supportive and concerned in that moment. 

Favorite Cannon Moment:

Of all the moments that these two shared in this season, I think my favorite would be when Paul is tied up in the basement of the Neolution club and Sarah goes to rescue him. He just leans his head on her arm because he can't do anything else and it was just a really awesome moment. It was like they were drawing support from each other and it was also a really defining moment in their relationship in that Paul proves his loyalty to Sarah and places his trust in her.

Sarah:

Sarah may be one of my favorite fictional characters of all time, across all books, movies, and TV shows, I think she is one of the most impressive. Since the first episode, she has had to make impossible decisions, think on her feet, and act a thousand different parts and roles. She is incredibly smart and strong. 

Paul:

He's a bit of a mystery for a while. But then, learning of his past by the end of the season and seeing throughout the season how he proves himself to Sarah through his actions makes him super interesting and I can't wait to see more of him in the next season. What I find super interesting is that he didn't love Beth. But I feel like he's falling for Sarah.

Saul:

I actually have no clue if they have a ship name... because Saul is an actual name in itself. Parah? Either way, I think they should end up together. I feel like they're already drifting in that direction, but mostly just on Paul's part. Sarah is sort of busy at the moment and has bigger priorities that she needs to straighten out. But she can trust Paul! I want her to trust Paul more and let him in!!!!

Again, this is all based on season 1, but I cannot wait to watch the other seasons and see how this progresses. 

Thanks for reading!