#soulmatch

Graham, Oman and Balor’s story will soon be here along with more developments in the rebellion against the Nall and the Void. If you would like to support the Thunderclap campaign, that would be amazing! Here’s the link to lend a hand: 

I may be the odd one out on tumblr but the concept of soulmates makes me kind of uncomfortable. I’ve seen a lot of AUs where people find their soulmates from some sort of supernatural quirk like a mark on their skin or a special device and it all sounds very nice and easy until you realize that this is a world where your significant other is assigned to you based on very vague criteria along the lines of “most likely to fall in love and be super happy together”. Even if the two people don’t know each other, have never spoken and in some scenarios, actively dislike each other. Through the magic of soulmate-AU, they are now bound for life, eventually work out their differences and fall in love. Much like imprinting in Twilight, which is portrayed as romantic but for many people, borders on dystopian.

On the one hand, I know what drives stories like that. We all want security and stability in our relationships. Falling in love implies lowering your defenses, it means opening up to another human being and that’s scary. A soulmate-AU guarantees you that everything will be okay. It promises you that this one is a keeper, it tells you that you’ll be happy with this person, that the work you’ll put into this relationship will pay off. It’s very comforting in that regard.

On the other hand, it also magically eliminates the need for establishing that communication and working through those potential problems, without the dread that the other person will not reciprocate hanging over you. In a way, it undermines trust which is also the main engine behind love. You see, real trust cannot exist if the other person does not have the chance to break it. And why would they? After all, the soulmate-AU has fitted them together, like pieces of a puzzle. They are soulmates and therefore it would be unreasonable to fight it.

It also eliminates the need to put yourself out there, to talk to that cute guy or girl you like, to establish any kind of connection with another human being that may also be interested in finding a life partner. The system does all that for you. It makes something very complicated like love, frighteningly simple. One day, you’ll find the one even if you do nothing. Not to mention that it also heavily romanticizes arranged marriages and perpetuates the old, archaic notion that we are two halves of one whole and therefore are incomplete on our own. 

Rating: 1/5

Book Blurb:

In a world where past lives determine your future, a sharp-witted girl confronts a major twist of destiny, embroiling her in a high-stakes game of danger, corruption, and heartbreak in this young adult speculative romance perfect for fans of Scythe and Matched.

Two hundred years after World War III, the world is at peace, all thanks to the soul-identification system. Every eighteen-year-old must report to the government to learn about their past lives, a terrifying process known as kirling. Good souls leave the institute with their inheritance, a career path, and if they’re lucky, a soulmate. Bad souls leave in handcuffs.

It’s a nerve-wracking ordeal for Sivon, who, given her uncanny ability to win every chess match, already suspects her soul isn’t normal. Turns out, she was right to worry. Sivon’s results stun not only her, but the entire world, making her the object of public scrutiny and anonymous threats.

Saddled with an infuriating and off-limits bodyguard, Sivon is thrust into a high-stakes game where souls are pawns and rules don’t exist. As deaths mount, Sivon must decipher friend from foe while protecting her heart against impossible odds. One wrong move could destroy the future lives of everyone Sivon loves, and she can’t let that happen, even if they’ll never love her back.

Review:

What would happen if you found out your soul is not like other souls... that in a world where your past lives impact your future, her's is one of a kind... and she has no soul mate but she has free choice. The premise of this story was initially super interesting... however it kind of all fell apart for me the further along I got into the book. I really wanted to get invested in this story but found myself getting bored. I don't think the way the story was executed actually worked all that well, the flow didn't feel smooth and the protagonist just didn't hook me. I didn't care all that much for the romance and am honestly just happy I made it to the end. This unfortunately missed the mark for me and I just feel like while it was a unique premise, it didn't hit the mark in the end.

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Title: Down To Earth (The Hardest Match)

Author: sweetiejelly

Rating: Mature

Summary: Contact established with subject after Summon.

Subject even more gorgeous in person.

Subject a bit of a simpleton.

Soulmatch efforts may take a while.

Each of the guys have 9 songs that best represents either what they would listen to or their personality/vibes!

One day I'll make and release an actual Spotify playlist of songs that the boys would actually listen to (that isn't only songs from my playlist)

(you also get to see what are my music taste/songs that I like so don't judged me)

Also note: The ones that are covers (in my opinion) are better than the original/fit the vibes of the character more.

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🖤 Asher: (Chill vibes + sad boy songs)

Night Dancer: imase

Shinunoga E-Wa: Fujii Kaze

Sarushibai: natori

Overdose: natori

Telecaster Stripes: Polkadot Stingray

Lover Boy: Phum Viphurit

Glimse of Us: Joji

Slow Dancing in the Dark: Joji

She Was Mine: Aj Rafael

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🧡 Damien: (Punk/ Angry/Emo-ish songs)

Alter Ego: Chogakusei cover

Sibyl: Chogakusei cover

Shanti: Chogakusei cover

these covered by Chogakusei fit Damien better + I just love Chogakusei's covers so I'm bias

Villian: Mj Apanay

Chainsaw Blood: Vaundy

Choke: I dont know how but they found me

Teenagers: My Chemical Romance

Usseewa: Ado

Egoist: flower

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❤️ Eric: (Pop Punk/songs)

tbh it was very hard to distinct his and Damien's music taste since they are kinda similar

Matsuri: Fujii Kaze

In the Back Room: Syudou

Fleeting Lallaby: FAKE TYPE

Eureka: natori

Fake Parade: Chogakusei

Dogland: People1

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Set It Off

Odo: Ado

Portrait of a Balnk Slate: Lovejoy

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💜 Felix: (Romance + Girly pop/Girlboss songs)

Cupid: Fifty Fifty

Chu, Tayousei: ano

Loveit: biz

G4L: Giga

Ladylike: KIRA

GETCHA!: Giga, KIRA

Idol: Yoasobi

Love Trial: 40meterP

Darling: Kairiki bear

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💙 Hayden: (Asian Pop/Hype/Cheery songs)

OMG: Newjeans

Otonablue: Atarashii Gakko

Sour Grapes: Le Sserafim

the kind of songs that asian guys like on tiktok; if you know you know

Bittersweet: Panic at the Disco

Sweet Bod: Lemon Demon

Ashura-chan: Ado

Amplify: Ren Zotto

Playing with the Boys; Kenny Loggins

Lemonade - Jeremy Passion (the national anthem, jkjk)

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💚 Vincent: (Classy vibes songs)

Honeymoon Un Denx Trois: Dongdang cover

Annunobeats: Dongdang cover

or just any of Dongdang's cover tbh

Flight of the Crows: Jhariah

My time: Bo En

Duet: Omroi

Gira Gira: Ado

Love Grows: Edison Lighthouse

Loretta: Ginger Root