Adult dark fantasy writer. !!!!!. Hype. Kitschy grunge. They/them. Cetacean needed. Reads more books than you (probably) || ICE UPON A PIER out now || THE FEALTY OF MONSTERS (March 2024)
My name is Jo, publishing as Ladz, and my pronouns are they/them. I write genre fiction, whether it's dark fantasy, horror, fantasy, or some mélange of all three. They're all intended for adult audiences, and I recommend checking out the content warnings for each before diving in.
While I do try to share updates on my writing, this tumblr is mostly a space for me to find inspiration and quotes I relate to, get excited about the media I love, and boost work from my friends.
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Learn more about my work below!
Work Available Now
Ice Upon a Pier (April 11, 2023)
A novella that's a retelling of the life and crimes of Richard Kuklinski. A lesbian contract killer indulges in an interview about the ways she's used ice magic to freeze time and get away with literal murder.
The Fealty of Monsters Volume 1 (March 12, 2024)
Art by @t-hornapple. A gothic horror political fantasy retelling of the Russian Revolution with queers and vampires. Sasza Czarnolaski serves a human court, but no one knows he's a vampire. Sasza quickly learns that he will do anything to preserve peace in the Empire–including giving in to the monstrosity he spent so many years concealing from even himself.
The Cradle of Eternal Night (October 22, 2024)
Art by @pompoison. A standalone sapphic horror romantasy in which a bard and a witch fall in love on a quest to bring the light back to their dark world. Sapphic, magical, and tense, perfect for fans of Dark Souls and grumpy x sunshine romance.
Upcoming
The Institute of Manners (The Fealty of Monsters Volume 2 (20??)
Art by @t-hornapple. The revolution is paused for now as our main cast goes to graduate school. Lessons include avoiding assassination attempts, uncovering the secrets of a despot, and staying on top of the rumors of a horror-worshipping cult and anti-imperial activities alike.
I also have a whole bevy of short stories on my itch account, which is the best place to get my work if you want to leave a tip.
My author newsletter update twice a month - on the 1st and sometime between the 13th and 18th. The first is all updates, the second usually talks about insight from writing, sales, new work, and both include a picture of my cat.
Feel free to ask me anything regarding my books, my short fiction, my self-publishing journey and anything else you'd care to know about!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
@authoralexharvey has been such a champion of my work and I was so thrilled when they read and loved my toxic yurI vampires
If you're a fan of dark academia and doomed yuri, you need to read A SHARPER, MORE LASTING PAIN. A school uninterested in accountability and losing students and staff to magic beyond understanding - this is great for enjoyers of angry queers and reality shifting as new truths come to light
OUR CRIMSON CAGE comes out August 11th and is up for eARC requests and preorders 🩸
Tonight's first writing night of the month is fanfic, and I thought I'd have it in me to work on two with a break for washing my hair
Before hair washing, I didn't quite get to where I wanted to be in terms of completion on the first one and now I need to decide if I want to finish it or pivot to another project
and well, one of the things I'm endeavoring for my mental health is rating each day on a 1-5 scale on two metrics, and they are
1) How satisfied do I feel with my day?
2) How prepared do I feel for tomorrow?
And I think to score above a 3 on the 1st one, I need to finish this fic
some of you need to realize that your faves would be having unsafe bdsm sex because they don’t actually know what bdsm sex is, they just want to fuck and also kill each other. you must understand this.
you don’t have to write safe practices and contract agreements. your audience knows not to apply any of this in their real lives, sasuke doesn’t know what a safe word is im begging you please write the toxic yaoi
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
some of you need to realize that your faves would be having unsafe bdsm sex because they don’t actually know what bdsm sex is, they just want to fuck and also kill each other. you must understand this.
you don’t have to write safe practices and contract agreements. your audience knows not to apply any of this in their real lives, sasuke doesn’t know what a safe word is im begging you please write the toxic yaoi
Genuinely curious, what makes you so interested in rot and decay? I notice it's in a lot of your art, most of your fruit people were paired with a rotting, moldy version. I think you had some mushroom people drawing like that too iirc. And your newest piece is a decaying mermaid. What draws you into those themes?
All your art is beautiful and amazing btw!
It’s kinda silly, but I had a very religious upbringing and was taught I’d live for eternity and that I must devote my life to god in order to gain a spot in heaven - which sounded like absolute purgatory to my child self. I didn’t even ask to be born, and now you’re telling me I have to keep this bit up FOREVER? A lifetime is already overwhelming, let alone eternity.
As a cope I got really into death, rot and the natural cycle of life. Let there be a conclusion to this short window of existence
Also - isn’t it kinda messed up to have kids if you believe in the concept of hell? You pull an innocent soul from the abyss, and now they run the risk of eternal damnation.
The whole “It’s our duty as gods chosen people to create families in his honor” spiel just sounds like pushing the consequences onto your offspring. Like those chain emails that say you’ll die if you don’t send it out to 5 new people.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
