KyliaSkydancer

KyliaSkydancer

25p

15 comments posted · 2 followers · following 0

8 years ago @ Mark Watches - Mark Watches 'Leverage... · 0 replies · +2 points

I have recently headcanoned that Ezekiel Jones from the Librarians is actually the adopted son of Parker and Hardison. Because, cmon, he's basically the culmination of all their best skills. Master hacker AND master thief.

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Confirmed Books for th... · 0 replies · +1 points

I definitely agree with this. Bujold has the kind of writing that makes your soul sing and makes you reconsider the way you think about religion and life.

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Battle Mag... · 1 reply · +5 points

I think it's also important to recognize that the types of ambient magic aren't spread evenly. We learn in Cold Fire that there are gobs of people with cooking and carpentry magic and that the term "stitch witch" is known and used, yet we know that people with ambient weather magic are more rare, especially ones who survive to adulthood, and Frostpine has waited a very long time to find someone he can share his particular affinity with.

While the common people often don't know about ambient magic, it's never implied that mages are unaware of it. They simply underestimate it and therefore often don't bother to learn about it.

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Battle Mag... · 0 replies · +1 points

On a tangent from strictly books, I would recommend WATCHING The Shannara Chronicles. The show is about five episodes in and I'm really enjoying it.

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Battle Mag... · 0 replies · +1 points

Another book where I like how Religion is handled is "The Lions of AL Rassan" by Guy Gavriel Kay. The three main characters all come from different religions and it's interesting to see how this affects their interactions and the way the world treats them.

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Battle Mag... · 0 replies · +1 points

I too would love Mark to read the Chalion series. I think the Vorkosigan Saga would be a little WAY too triggery to handle here but the three Chalion books would be perfect!

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Battle Mag... · 0 replies · +2 points

I feel like the portrayal of Berenene vs. Weishu (and also Ozorne) is gendered in a way. The male ruler displays his power and control by showing off his armies, something that was done by both W and O. However, despite the fact that I feel like B is an Emelan analogue for O in Tortall, she never makes this move, even though it is mentioned that Namorn's armies are a match for Yanjing and just as expansionist. She chooses instead to be subtle in her displays of power; although she is just as controlling and her subjects are just as fearful of her, she uses her power indirectly on the four by controlling her subjects into doing her work for her instead of directly displaying it. And it just feels really gendered to me. As a woman, Berenene spent the time before she was Empress manipulating rather than overtly attacking. Weishu most likely was able to be more direct in his methods.

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Battle Mag... · 0 replies · +4 points

This is definitely another point at which we can compare Weishu and Berenene. W has beautiful gardens and thinks of himself as a gardener. However, he actually knows nothing about plants and is simply taking credit for the work of underlings. When Briar goes to Namorn and is offered a tour of the gardens, he accepts politely but it's clear that he expects B to be the same, to take credit for the work of her gardeners but know nothing of it herself. He's shocked and impressed when he sees her getting dirty and realizes she is actually knowledgeable.

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Battle Mag... · 0 replies · +4 points

I feel like this book gives a completely different context to how Briar treats the Empress in Will. He instantly recognizes how dangerous she is and I think we definitely lose that by not reading in chronological order.

8 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Melting St... · 0 replies · +3 points

This scene at the start is exactly why Melting Stones is my least favourite of all the books. Rosethorn's reaction stays with me long after I've finished the book and poisons the entire thing for me.

It is NOT Evvy's fault that a SIX YEAR OLD who she knew only peripherally made a bad decision and ran away. And implying it is...is cruel. And, coming out of Rosethorn's mouth, the entire thing is hypocritical. Briar is known for being rude. Tris is known for having a sharp tongue. Rosethorn... Rosethorn is worse than the both of them combined. What Evvy said was really mild, most of the actions Evvy has been chastised for in this book are really mild. Evvy is not on a destroyer path because she was cranky to a little girl when the world was on the line, the entire idea is ridiculous. Especially when Evvy was unavailable for the THREE HOURS after.

Oswin...at least Oswin does the right thing. He knows that it's not Evvy's fault and assures her of this LIKE AN ACTUAL ADULT.