Maria J. Morillo

What she means: Anastasia’s Stay, I Pray You is a remarkable, heart-wrenching piece on multiple levels. First is the fact that it is a quiet yet powerful nod to the Russian tradition of waiting by the door before a long journey; passengers are called to board the train, Vlad murmurs, “We should go,” and yet everyone pauses and looks on, off beyond the stage to the land, the home they’re leaving behind. They stand, some sit, all performing this Russian ritual of waiting before going off on their trip from which there will be no return. In the practical sense, this custom helps the traveler remember if they’ve forgotten an item they need; in this case, it lets these refugees remember their home, lest there come a day when they look back and forget even a single detail of their harsh and sweet and bitter time in Russia.

Secondly, the fact that Constantine Germanacos starts off the song (with nothing but vocals, letting his words and call for a moment be the sole focus at first); this is important because he not only plays the ill-fated Count Ipolitov but also the late Tsar Nicholas II, Anastasia’s father. In the Prologue and Once Upon a December, we see Anastasia/Anya dance with her father, and each time he bends down on one knee while she dances around him. Count Ipolitov gets down on one knee and kisses her hand. This is the prelude to Stay, I Pray You: Anya, in a way, connecting with her father from a lifetime before one final time. This introduction connects her (and us) with the past, ties together Anya’s previous life and current, before she sets out to find her future. Before they all set out to find their futures.

Thirdly is how true Stay, I Pray You is to the experience of leaving home, of leaving Russia. The entire spectrum of emotions is captured in this song. They all wonder, how could they possibly leave, how could they justify to their home that they can’t be there any longer? And so they beg for a minute- not to explain themselves, because they can’t even know where to begin; rather, they ask for a moment to do all that they can do: say goodbye. Goodbye to all of Russia, to the natural and the man-made; Russia’s native rivers and greenery, the bridges constructed to knit together a sweeping land, to a sky that should be the same everywhere but very much isn’t. They can’t ever look up at the sky the same way, because it won’t be from their native land, amongst all they’ve ever known. And though they ask how they can possibly break the tie, that’s all they do- ask, but don’t attempt it in this song, because for now all there is to do is remember and say farewell.

There was joy and sadness, as there is in life; the singers are honest, do not exclude anything negative from their experience in Russia because then they are not saying goodbye to all of Russia, all of their home. And through it all, through scars that won’t ever go away, they will bless and love and thank their home for the rest of their lives.

Anya, Dmitry, and Vlad further this trend of capturing every emotion during this farewell. Anya says “Never to return,” which we know to be a source of sadness for her not just because of the song Stay, I Pray You, but when she insists to Vlad “Russia is more beautiful” than France. She still loves it, it’s always a part of her, and to leave forever is something she has to face as one faces any other heartache. Dmitry, however, sees it as “finally breaking free,” because to him life in Russia is one of hardship; refugees can relate to this, and understand that remorse and fear of the unknown can coexist with an eagerness and readiness to flee a place. Vlad asks “how to close the door,” a nod to the lives they all had in their homeland.

Jude: *mumbles* some idiot makes me fall in love with him, MURDER!

Cardan: What?

“Yeah, that’s ten seconds of my life I’m never getting back.”

“Roofing material? Didn’t we have that for dinner last night?”

“Sorry. Must have left it in my other pants.”

“Then I accept your surrender.”

“Between you and me, the village could do with a little less feeding.”

“Are you calling your father ridiculous?” “What? No. I would never. I’m calling my chief ridiculous.”

“And make a fool out of me?!” “You don’t really need a lot of help with that, Dagur.”

Ok. I’m tired of the typical vampire, werewolf and fairy.I’m also tired of the occidental-centrism in mythology. Hence, this list. 

I tried to included as many cultural variants as I could find and think of. (Unfortunately, I was restricted by language. Some Russian creatures looked very interesting but I don’t speak Russian…) Please, add creatures from your culture when reblogguing (if not already present). It took me a while to gather all those sites but I know it could be more expansive. I intend on periodically editing this list. 

Of note: I did not include specific legendary creatures (Merlin, Pegasus, ect), gods/goddesses/deities and heroes.

Dragons

The Chinese Dragon

The Japanese Dragon

The Korean Dragon

The Vietnamese Dragon

The Greek Dragon

The Indian Dragon

The Polish Dragon

The Austrian Dragon

The British Dragon

The Ancient Dragon (Egypt, Babylon and Sumer)

The Spanish Basque Dragon

Of the Cockatrice (creature with the body of a dragon)

Alphabetical List of Dragons Across Myths (Great way to start)

Little creatures (without wings)

The Legend of the Leprechauns, The Leprechaun

Chanaque /Alux (the equivalent of leprechauns in Aztec/Mayan folklore)

Elves

Elves in Mythology and Fantasy

Elves in Germanic Mythology

Kabeiroi or Cabeiri (Dwarf-like minor gods in Greek mythology)

Norse Dwarves

The Myth of Loki and the Dwarves

Ten Types of Goblins

Goblins

Tengu: Japanese Goblins

Gnomes 

More on Gnomes

Pooka: an Irish phantom

Creatures with wings (except dragons)

Fairies

All sorts of Cultural Fairies

Fairies in Old French Mythology 

A Fairy List

Bendith Y Mamau (Welsh fairies)

Welsh Fairies

Peri (Persian fairies)

Yü Nü (Chinese fairies)

The Celtic Pixie

Angels in Judaism

Angels in Christianity

Hierarchy of Angels

Angels in Islam

Irish Sylph

Garuda (Bird-like creature in Hindu and Buddhist myths)

Bean Nighe (a Scottish fairy; the equivalent of a banshee in Celtic mythology)

Harpies

Spirited Creatures

Druids

Jinn (Genies in Arabic folklore)

Types of Djinns

Aisha Qandisha and Djinn in Moroccan Folklore

Oni (demons in Japanese folklore)

Nymphs

Spirits in Asturian Mythology

Valkyries

Lesovik

Boggarts: The British Poltergeist

Phantom black dogs (the Grim)

Demons in Babylonian and Assyrian Mythology (list)

Demons in the Americas (list)

European Demons (list)

Middle-East and Asia Demons (list)

Judeo-Christian Demons (list)

Nephilim, more on Nephilim

Mahaha (a demon in Inuit mythology)

Flying Head (a demon in Iroquois mythology)

Ghosts

Toyol (a dead baby ghost in Malay folklore)

Malay Ghosts

Yuki-onna (a ghost in Japanese folklore)

The Pontianak (a ghost in Malay mythology)

Funayurei (a ghost in Japanese folklore)

Zagaz (ghosts in Moroccan folklore)

Japanese Ghosts

Mexican Ghosts

Horse-like mythical creatures

Chinese Unicorns

Unicorns

The Kelpie (Could have also fitted in the sea creatures category)

The Centaur

The Female Centaur

Hippocamps (sea horses in Greek mythology)

Horse-like creatures (a list)

Karkadann, more on the Karkadann (a persian unicorn)

Ceffyl Dwfr (fairy-like water horse creatures in Cymric mythology)

Undead creatures

The Melanesian Vampire 

The Ewe Myth : Vampires

The Germanic Alp

The Indonesian Vampire

Asanbosam and Sasabonsam (Vampires from West Africa)

The Aswang: The Filipino Vampire

Folklore Vampires Versus Literary Vampires

Callicantzaros: The Greek Vampire

Vampires in Malaysia

Loogaroo/Socouyant: The Haitian Vampire

Incubi and Sucubi Across Cultures

Varacolaci: The Romanian Vampire

Brahmaparusha: The Indian Vampire

Genesis of the Word “Vampire”

The Ghoul in Middle East Mythology

Slavic Vampires

Vampires A-Z

The Medical Truth Behind the Vampire Myths

Zombies in Haitian Culture

Shape-shifters and half-human creatures (except mermaids) 

Satyrs (half-man, half-goat)

Sirens in Greek Mythology (half-woman and half-bird creatures)

The Original Werewolf in Greek Mythology

Werewolves Across Cultures

Werewolf Syndrome: A Medical Explanation to the Myth

Nagas Across Cultures

The Kumiho (half fox and half woman creatures)

The Sphinx

Criosphinx

Scorpion Men (warriors from Babylonian mythology)

Pooka: an Irish changelings

Domovoi (a shape-shifter in Russian folklore)

Aatxe (Basque mythology; red bull that can shift in a human)

Yech (Native American folklore)

Ijiraat (shapeshifters in Inuit mythology)

Sea creatures

Selkies (Norse mermaids)

Mermaids in many cultures

More about mermaids

Mermen

The Kraken (a sea monster)

Nuckelavee (a Scottish elf who mainly lives in the sea)

Lamiak (sea nymphs in Basque mythology)

Bunyip (sea monster in Aboriginal mythology)

Apkallu/abgal (Sumerian mermen)

An assemblage of myths and legends on water and water creatures

Slavic Water Creatures

The Encantado (water spirits in Ancient Amazon River mythology)

Zin (water spirit in Nigerian folklore)

Qallupilluk (sea creatures in Inuit mythology)

Monsters That Don’t Fit in Any Other Category

Aigamuxa, more details on Aigamuxa

Amphisabaena

Abere

Bonnacon

Myrmidons (ant warriors)

Troll, More on Trolls

Golems 

Golems in Judaism

Giants: The Mystery and the Myth (50 min long documentary)

Inupasugjuk (giants in Inuit mythology)

Fomorians (an Irish divine race of giants)

The Minotaur

The Manticore, The Manticore and The Leucrouta

The Ogre

The Orthus (two-headed serpent-tailed dog)

The Windigo

The Windigo Psychosis

Rakshasa (humanoids in Hindu and Buddhist mythology)

Yakshas (warriors in Hindu mythology)

Taqriaqsuit (“Shadow people” in Inuit mythology)

References on Folklore and Mythology Across the Globe

Creatures of Irish Folklore 

Folklore and Fairytales

An Overview of Persian Folklore

Filipino Folklore

Myths, Creatures and Folklore

Alaska Folklore

Spanish (Spain) Mythology

Mythical Archive

Mythology Dictionary

List of Medieval and Ancient Monsters

Native American Animals of Myth and Legends

Native American Myths

Bestiary of Ancient Greek Mythology

Mythology, Legend, Folklore and Ghosts

Angels and Demons

List of Sea Creatures

Yoruba Mythology

Ghosts Around the World, Ghosts From A to Z

Strange (Fantastic) Animals of Ancient Egypt

Egyptian Mythology

Creatures from West Africa

On the Legendary Creatures of Africa

Myths, Creatures and Folklore

References on writing a myth or mythical creatures

Writing a MYTHology in your novel?

How to Write a Myth

10 Steps to Creating Realistic Fantasy Creatures

Creating Fantasy Creatures or Alien Species

Legendary Creature Generator

Book Recommendations With Underrated Mythical Creatures

If you had any of the following phones as a teenager you’re a millennial. If you started teenage years with an iPhone you’re gen z.

Hello again! Yesterday, we posted about our writing tips but today, it’s all about editing! Check out some of our tips below!

How to Edit (Via an Editor’s POV)

Line Edits

First Draft Revisions

Second + Third Draft Revisions

How to Edit (Via a Writer’s POV)

Editing Process I

Editing Process II

Editing Process III

Editing Process IV

Editing Process V

Different Genres, Different Approaches

Horror

Fantasy

Miscellaneous

How to Proofread/Revise

Proofreading/Revising Process I

Proofreading/Revising Process II

Aelin has risked everything to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day…

With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last line of defense to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet they soon realize that the many allies they’ve gathered to battle Erawan’s hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation―and a better world.

And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen―before she is lost to him forever.