iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

I am once more seeing a bunch of articles about "the right time to turn on your heating" and friends, assuming no financial issues, the answer is still "when you are uncomfortable despite wearing reasonable indoor clothing". Suffering is not a virtue.

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 8h

Review - After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine, vol 1, by Liu Gou Hua: finally time to post about my favourite recent danmei read! It's slow burn with some heavy stuff despite the silly title. Rating: 4/5 ("really liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/10/08/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Reposted by Eirian

bryan newbold @bnewbold.net · 07/10/2026

ah damn, RIP Margaret Hamilton. she took safety-critical software engineering seriously, and got people to the moon and back. news.mit.edu/2026/margare...

old photos of a woman (Margaret Hamilton) standing next to a tall stack of books (printouts of Apollo space mission software source code)

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

WWW Wednesday: The usual weekly update! Reporting on some novellas I've been reading, my current horror read, and what I might dip into next. breathesbooks.com/2026/10/07/www-w… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Happy Memories About Books. A lovely prompt, and one I had fun with! breathesbooks.com/2026/10/06/top-t… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Fantasy with Friends: Over the Years. This week's prompt is about changes in fantasy as a genre over the year, periods of fantasy writing you really enjoy, etc. breathesbooks.com/2026/10/05/fanta… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Review - Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs To Die, by Greer Stothers: a solid "not for me", in part due to the humour, also various things are handled badly, though possibly in a way that was well intentioned. Rating: 1/5 ("didn't like it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/10/04/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post: A quiet week for new books with just two from the library, but as always, there's also a roundup of recent posts and an update on what I've been reading and my plans for the weekend. breathesbooks.com/2026/10/03/stack… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It always feels so aggressive when people use the majority feminine spelling of the nickname based on my legal name instead of the one I preferred for the last six years. Benefit to the name Eirian: there is no misspelling that makes it more masc/femme...

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Review - Paper Planes, by Jennie Woods: this feels messy and authentic to how teenagers can be, though that's partly a dampener on my enjoyment because I did NOT enjoy my teens. Rating: 3/5 ("liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/10/03/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Book Blogger Hop: Biggest Fear. I responded to this on a couple different levels: a personal fear, a fear as a blogger, a medium-level fear... and a biggie about the impact of AI. breathesbooks.com/2026/10/02/book-… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Review - A Thousand Mornings, by Mary Oliver: this collection didn't entirely work for me and I'm not sure why. Rating: 2/5 ("it was okay"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/10/02/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

September Reading Wrap-Up: Highlighting my reading and blog stats, chatting about my month and how my reading's been going... along with some games I've enjoyed and other non-reading stuff. breathesbooks.com/2026/10/01/septe… #booksky 💙📚

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Reposted by Eirian

Ian Coldwater 🧊🚫 @lookitup.baby · 30/09/2026

BREAKING NEWS: “Do geese see God” is a palindrome

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

WWW Wednesday: My usual weekly check-in, discussing some classic mystery stories and an SF mystery, this time. breathesbooks.com/2026/09/30/www-w… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Ahaha, I'm in this video!

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall Covers. Today's prompt is a freebie themed around autumn, so I decided to look at covers again since it's been a while! breathesbooks.com/2026/09/29/top-t… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This quote was unattributed but you know what, I stand by it.

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Bath pillow broke, pouty face. Recommendations? I need it both for comfy position for my neck while reading in the bath, and because I am short and the bath is juuust too long for me. A plump pillow is thus helpful, though any pillow that gives better purchase than "the side of the bath" helps.

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Review - Rummage, by Emily Cockayne: a bit weirdly organised, and I wish it'd discussed present recycling etc more, but there were some interesting bits! Rating: 2/5 ("it was okay"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/28/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This instantly made me think of Pyre, where failing is not a game over -- it just changes who you can save, and ultimately affects how well the ending turns out. I've done runs of Pyre where I deliberately lose, because I want to find out what happens when I do.

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Fantasy with Friends: Seeing Reality Better. An interesting sort of question that I don't have an interesting answer to: has fantasy helped me see the real world better? Well. Possibly? breathesbooks.com/2026/09/28/fanta… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Review - The Rasp, by Philip MacDonald: reminded me somewhat of Sayers' work, in that the detective is a bit in the Wimsey vein, though I found him less charming for being more charming to other characters. Rating: 3/5 ("liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/27/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Book Blogger Hop: Best Blog Investment. Today's prompt is about the best investment you've made for your blog, and I have a couple of Wordpress/book blog specific $$$ thoughts... but also discuss time investments. breathesbooks.com/2026/09/25/book-… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

A while ago I linked a queer bookshop's fundraiser for getting roller shutters added after they got a window smashed in. They made their goal... but haven't been able to get the shutters fitted yet, and it's happened again. gofundme.com/f/categoryisshut…

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Review - The Wife Comes First, vol 3, by Lv Ye Qian He: a pretty good finale with some extras. It's not the best written danmei but I did have fun. Rating: 4/5 ("really liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/24/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Reposted by Eirian

Bogi Takács / WE'RE HERE ToC announced! @bogiperson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Hi everyone! You fundraised for one of my trans former students leaving Kansas - that helped and they are now safely in Colorado. I'm now asking you to help againnnnn Let's get Siobhán Kirchstein's fundraiser to goal! She is 100% a real person, I know her and just spoke to her today. Threading:

gofundme.com

Donate to Protect Siobhán from Discrimination, organized by Siobhan Kirchstein

Hello, everyone, my name is Siobhán, a 41-year-old trans woman who works as a c… Siobhan Kirchstein needs your support for Protect Siobhán from Discrimination

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Review - Cat + Gamer, vol 7, by Wataru Nadatani: this feels very pandemic-coded, with Riko working from home and distracted by the cats -- but there's no overt reference, it stays very cute and silly. Rating: 3/5 ("liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/23/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

WWW Wednesday: The usual weekly check-in about what I've been reading, with my usual weird juxtapositions of genre and tone... breathesbooks.com/2026/09/23/www-w… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Review - A Short History of the World in 50 Lies, by Natasha Tidd: I wasn't impressed with this on several levels. It's fine as a light read, but I have questions about the research. Rating: 2/5 ("it was okay"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/23/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall 2026 TBR. What it says on the tin! With some spoopy/seasonal books this time, to theme with a readathon in October. breathesbooks.com/2026/09/22/top-t… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Review - Beyond Belief, by Helen Pearson: a fascinating and readable account of evidence-based practices across a number of fields. Alas, quite unsceptical about LLMs, however. Rating: 4/5 ("really liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/22/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Just in case this helps smooth a process with getting my virtual address set up with my preferred names, here's a recent photo of me... y'all can just ignore this post.

Image of a person with slightly curly short brown hair, smiling brightly. They're wearing glasses, a floral top and a bee necklace.

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Fantasy with Friends: Worldbuilding. Discussing Le Guin's method of "imitating Tolkien"! I had some thoughts since I've studied Tolkien's work and love Le Guin's. breathesbooks.com/2026/09/21/fanta… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Review - Tenant for Death, by Cyril Hare: I didn't enjoy this quite as much as the other book by Hare I read, but it's a solid mystery with just enough characterisation for me to care about them. Rating: 4/5 ("really liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/20/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Review - The Poet Empress, by Shen Tao: I was scared by the warnings that this is dark, and... it is, but somehow that didn't stop it being really compulsive reading. And it surprised me in a couple ways! Rating: 5/5 ("loved it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/19/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post: A couple of new books, and the usual roundup of what I've been posting on the blog and what I'm reading! A good week, more like my usual. breathesbooks.com/2026/09/19/stack… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Review - Love Sonnets and Elegies, by Louise Labé: I was fascinated to learn about Labé's life, and enjoyed quite a few of the poems! Rating: 3/5 ("liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/19/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Book Blogger Hop: Overlooked Book. In which I talk about E.C.R. Lorac! Of course. breathesbooks.com/2026/09/18/book-… #booksky 💙📚

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Reposted by Eirian

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Okay so @defector.com has had an odd glitch since the site redesign a couple of weeks back where the wrong photo and headline are often put together on the main page and I was going to ask them about fixing it but this just happened and as far as I'm concerned they have to leave it as is.

Screenshot for a Defector podcast episode with the headline "Consider the Emotional Lives of Scallops" only the accompanying photo is a white gormless stubbled red-headed UK singer of recent notoriety giving a flat smile to the camera while wearing a washed out peach top as beige as he is against a flat background. So, actually, probably a scallop anyway.

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Review - Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint (manhwa), vol 2, by Sleepy-C, Umi and singNsong: I'm enjoying this adaptation of the novels and the slightly different perspective you get from the change of medium. Rating: 4/5 ("really liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/17/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The number of people who have immediately changed the subject to be about them when I announced my name change in any given group is astounding and is why this process is exhausting and I'm probably not gonna change it everywhere. Also, hi, I'm mostly Eirian now, I might change my name here soon.

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Review - Twelve Caesars, by Mary Beard: fascinating! Not so much about the Caesars themselves, but about portrayals of them, and the whole concept of "Twelve Caesars". Rating: 4/5 ("really liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/17/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

WWW Wednesday: The usual weekly update on my reading; a bit of a random selection, this week! As ever, I guess. breathesbooks.com/2026/09/16/www-w… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I regret looking at social media today, I can feel myself absorbing all the bad feelings on a day that was mostly going well. Time to get back to my chores and stuff and read a little. Take care, folks. 💙

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Review - Suicide Excepted, by Cyril Hare: some clever misdirection. I felt sorry for one character who got caught in the middle and maybe suspected both her brother and fiancé... they treated her badly. Rating: 4/5 ("really liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/15/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I've Met. This week's prompt gave me a chance to reminisce a bit! breathesbooks.com/2026/09/15/top-t… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Review - Brimstone Slipstream, by Matt Weber: a short story which sets the scene for a larger world, but offers a reasonably good story of its own. I enjoyed the concept and the worldbuilding! Rating: 3/5 ("liked it"). Full review: breathesbooks.com/2026/09/14/revie… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Fantasy with Friends: Fantasy and Tech. This week's prompt is about whether you can mix fantasy and technology elements, and my predictably loosey-goosey attitude of "yeah? if you can make it work, why not?" breathesbooks.com/2026/09/14/fanta… #booksky 💙📚

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Eirian @shanaqui.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Since the patch, sometimes when I start the game, it doesn't recognise my controller properly and pressing my controller's buttons randomly inputs text into the chat window. Restarting my PC fixes it; restarting the game doesn't. Any ideas? Wired PS5 controller, non-Steam Windows version. #FFXIV

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