Line #14 Literature/LongsummerNights


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/longsummer_nights.png]]
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3	''[[https://vowtogether.itch.io/longsummer-nights Longsummer Nights]]'' is an LGBTQ+ paranormal romance anthology set in a shared urban fantasy universe, and made by a collective of writers known as VOW.
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5	[[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/longsummernights/longsummer-nights/ The Kickstarter]] for ''Longsummer Nights'' premiered in October 2021 after a month of promotional material on VOW's Twitter. In February 2022 on Valentine's Day, the backers received their copies. In May 2022, the ebook was released for purchase via itch.io and Kobo.
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7	The anthology contains fifteen stories:
8	* "Seeds of Solace" by Rien Gray
9	* "Anniversary" by A.K. Fedeau
10	* "Virgin Cocktail" by Fisher Strunc
11	* "Heart of Stone" by A. Hendricks
12	* "A Simply Miraculous Invention" by Frances Maples
13	* "Indelible and Nocturnal" by T.K. Hirst
14	* "Corylus and Stone" by Amanda Louise
15	* "Mending Ribbons" by Cyrus Adams
16	* "Ancient History for Modern Lovers" by Alix Comeau
17	* "Le Chien Noir" by Abigail Laughlin
18	* "The Antidote to Memory" by Eve Golden-Woods
19	* "Every Medicine, A Poison" by Devan Soyka
20	* "Labrys" by Cherry
21	* "What Happened at Wisteria House" by Margot Madison
22	* "Toothpick" by Arson Kidder
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24	''A Supernatural Tourist's Guide to Longsummer'' was also available as a bonus to qualifying Kickstarter backers, offering some additional details about the city of Longsummer through the eyes of its supernatural denizens.
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26	----
27	!!''Longsummer Nights'' contains examples of:
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29	* AdaptationalAlternateEnding: Alessia is implied to be one of the three gorgons from the myth of Perseus and Medusa, and one of her statues to be Perseus himself. This would mean that unlike in most versions of the story where Perseus emerges triumphant after killing Medusa, here he lost.
30	* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: In "Seeds of Solace":
31	-->… lattices of glass '''c'''lean enough to '''k'''ill a '''c'''ardinal.\
32	\
33	… the gap between '''b'''ase and '''b'''alustrade …\
34	\
35	… a fog-like swelter, soaking '''f'''lesh and '''f'''abric as they stepped out of a '''r'''ust-'''re'''d '''re'''ntal.\
36	\
37	Everything '''r'''eeked of '''r'''ot …
38	* AgeGapRomance: River, age 27, hooks up with Alessia, who is thousands of years old.
39	* BodyMotifs: In "Seeds of Solace", the manor is described like a body. Columns are likened to bones, splinters to teeth, a gap in the porch to a mouth, warped siding to cracked ribs, and a dripping hole in the roof to a wound. The door is compared to a corpse, and like a corpse, the interior is hot and humid and filled with decay.
40	* CollectorOfTheStrange: Alessia keeps a collection of people she's turned to stone.
41	* DoubleMeaning: At the end of "Seeds of Solace", River tells Alessia that they'll tend the garden to give her collection a better display area. Alessia pulls their hand over her heart and says there are a lot of things that need tending, and they assure her they can handle it. The two are not just referring to the garden, but also personal healing.
42	* ElementalEyeColors: River is a plant-person with green eyes.
43	* FantasyKitchenSink: Vampires, demigods, demons, ghosts, fae, robots, [[AllMythsAreTrue minotaurs and gorgons]] all co-exist in the various stories.
44	* GreenThumb: River's presence causes nearby plants to grow out of control. A seemingly dead lemon tree revives and becomes laden with fruit the minute they arrive, and as they lead Alessia to their room, vines and flowers fill the house.
45	* InhumanEyeConcealers: Alessia's sunglasses hide kaleidoscopic gray-silver eyes.
46	* LightEqualsHope: At the end of "Seeds of Solace", the door to River's mother's room creaks open and lets the light in, reflecting how River is beginning to heal from the grief they've been carrying around.
47	* {{Masquerade}}: While some pockets and sectors of the community live as an open secret, it's generally considered a faux pas at best to let humans know about the existence of monsters in Longsummer.
48	* {{Medusa}}: Alessia is a gorgon whose gaze turns humans to stone. She is implied to be one of the three gorgons from the myth of Perseus and Medusa.
49	* MultipleNarrativeModes: "Seeds of Solace" is mostly in third-person limited from River's PointOfView, but the very last line shifts away from their perspective to describe something happening in another room.
50	* NoEyeInMagic: Being a gorgon, Alessia's petrifying gaze works through eye contact. Her sunglasses block the effect.
51	* NoSell: River can look into Alessia's eyes without being turned to stone.
52	* ThePlace: The anthology is titled after its setting, the city of Longsummer.
53	* PlantPerson: River looks human on the surface, but underneath, they're some sort of plant creature. There are thorns under their skin, and at one point leaves sprout from their back.
54	* PosthumousCharacter: River's mother in "Seeds of Solace". She died five years ago, and the memory of her hangs over the manor.
55	* PowerIncontinence: River's presence causes nearby plants to grow wildly, and they don't have much if any control over it.
56	* PowerPerversionPotential: River's powers shred Alessia's clothing when they sleep together.
57	* RuleOfSymbolism: In "Seeds of Solace", River is carrying around guilt and grief concerning their mother, and avoids her room for this reason. At the end, the door to their mother's room creaks open seemingly on its own and [[LightEqualsHope lets the light in]], reflecting how River is beginning to heal.
58	* SettingAsACharacter: The manor that is River's childhood home in "Seeds of Solace". It's described in great detail like a once-alive thing, and in ways is an extension and reflection of River. When they return to it, the plants begin growing and Alessia describes the house as singing. At the end, the door to their mother's room creaks open seemingly on its own, symbolizing change within them.
59	* SexForSolace: River has grief buried in them and has been alone for a long time, but they find comfort in Alessia's touch and have cathartic sex with her. For both of them, it's also a relief knowing that they don't have to worry about accidentally hurting the other with their powers.
60	* TakenForGranite: Alessia's statue collection consists of people she's turned to stone.
61	* WalkingWasteland: River's presence can be destructive to organic materials -- food turning to mold, and fabric unraveling at a touch. It's why they can't work food service.

Context Literature / LongsummerNights