to-read
(7349)
currently-reading (6)
read (871)
thrill-reads (174)
horrorfest (165)
to-be-released (124)
jul-sept-2023 (67)
may-jun-2023-reads (60)
oct-nov-2023-reads (56)
nov-dec-jan-2023-reads (33)
apr-aug-2023-reads (29)
splatterpunk-tbr (29)
currently-reading (6)
read (871)
thrill-reads (174)
horrorfest (165)
to-be-released (124)
jul-sept-2023 (67)
may-jun-2023-reads (60)
oct-nov-2023-reads (56)
nov-dec-jan-2023-reads (33)
apr-aug-2023-reads (29)
splatterpunk-tbr (29)
mythic-retelling
(22)
april-may-2023-reads (18)
dnf (7)
kids (1)
reviewed-reads (321)
soon-to-must-read (260)
favorites-sci-fi (130)
favorites-of-all-time (103)
favorites-fantasy (92)
2025 (74)
favorites-litrpg (37)
december-reads (24)
april-may-2023-reads (18)
dnf (7)
kids (1)
reviewed-reads (321)
soon-to-must-read (260)
favorites-sci-fi (130)
favorites-of-all-time (103)
favorites-fantasy (92)
2025 (74)
favorites-litrpg (37)
december-reads (24)
favorites-shorts
(24)
dec-apr-2023-reads (23)
my-favorites-non-fiction (23)
july-2024-read (22)
favs-cultivation-progression-litrpg (21)
jan-2025-reads (19)
november-2024-reads (19)
september-2024 (19)
august-2024-reads (18)
october-2024-reads (16)
favorites-horror (15)
september-2024-reads (15)
dec-apr-2023-reads (23)
my-favorites-non-fiction (23)
july-2024-read (22)
favs-cultivation-progression-litrpg (21)
jan-2025-reads (19)
november-2024-reads (19)
september-2024 (19)
august-2024-reads (18)
october-2024-reads (16)
favorites-horror (15)
september-2024-reads (15)
favorites-thriller
(11)
favorites-literary-fiction (10)
favorites-spirituality (9)
weird-but-compelling-dnfs (8)
favorites-post-apocalyptic (6)
favorites-splatterpunk (6)
favorites-ya-sci-fi (6)
june-2024-reads (6)
2026 (4)
fav-retellings-historical-mythology (3)
favorites-cyberpunk (3)
favorites-occult-esoteric (3)
favorites-literary-fiction (10)
favorites-spirituality (9)
weird-but-compelling-dnfs (8)
favorites-post-apocalyptic (6)
favorites-splatterpunk (6)
favorites-ya-sci-fi (6)
june-2024-reads (6)
2026 (4)
fav-retellings-historical-mythology (3)
favorites-cyberpunk (3)
favorites-occult-esoteric (3)
“I asked him for it.
For the blood, for the rust,
for the sin.
I didn’t want the pearls other girls talked about,
or the fine marble of palaces,
or even the roses in the mouth of servants.
I wanted pomegranates—
I wanted darkness,
I wanted him.
So I grabbed my king and ran away
to a land of death,
where I reigned and people whispered
that I’d been dragged.
I’ll tell you I’ve changed. I’ll tell you,
the red on my lips isn’t wine.
I hope you’ve heard of horns,
but that isn’t half of it. Out of an entire kingdom
he kneels only to me,
calls me Queen, calls me Mercy.
Mama, Mama, I hope you get this.
Know the bed is warm and our hearts are cold,
know never have I been better
than when I am here.
Do not send flowers,
we’ll throw them in the river.
‘Flowers are for the dead’, ‘least that’s what
the mortals say.
I’ll come back when he bores me,
but Mama,
not today.”
―
For the blood, for the rust,
for the sin.
I didn’t want the pearls other girls talked about,
or the fine marble of palaces,
or even the roses in the mouth of servants.
I wanted pomegranates—
I wanted darkness,
I wanted him.
So I grabbed my king and ran away
to a land of death,
where I reigned and people whispered
that I’d been dragged.
I’ll tell you I’ve changed. I’ll tell you,
the red on my lips isn’t wine.
I hope you’ve heard of horns,
but that isn’t half of it. Out of an entire kingdom
he kneels only to me,
calls me Queen, calls me Mercy.
Mama, Mama, I hope you get this.
Know the bed is warm and our hearts are cold,
know never have I been better
than when I am here.
Do not send flowers,
we’ll throw them in the river.
‘Flowers are for the dead’, ‘least that’s what
the mortals say.
I’ll come back when he bores me,
but Mama,
not today.”
―
“The world lit up with questions, and questions generated questions. It’s an exhilarating and terrifying experience to walk the road of your ignorance. Learning, you learn, is not really a process of expanding your mind, but of watching it shrink against all there is to know.”
― Escape into Meaning: Essays on Superman, Public Benches, and Other Obsessions
― Escape into Meaning: Essays on Superman, Public Benches, and Other Obsessions
“Before there is science, there are stories to explain the world. They make it happier somehow.”
― American Girl: Memories That Made Me
― American Girl: Memories That Made Me
“Men endured so much for war, but for peace they dared nothing.”
― The Seed and the Flower
― The Seed and the Flower
✧˚ · .The Crystal Café✧˚ · .
— 690 members
— last activity Jan 09, 2026 08:11AM
`✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ Welcome to The Crystal Café, your cozy corner for comfort and connection! This is a space to share warm drinks, delightful treats, and frien ...more
Khalid’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Khalid’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Khalid
Lists liked by Khalid















































