This book gives me that contented feeling one gets after reading a particularly well thought out book with good, solid writing and character development. The emotional investment is so easy with this book.

What a great way to start the day.

I never thought of Daine as scary. Your points are good. I've always thought of her as almost overwhelmingly intense, emotionally and physically; the eyes, the power; the absolute devotion she displays to her friends. That is very intense, but scary, too. (Spoils for future Tortall) Xvaqn yvxr Orxn. Fur'f abg cnegvphyneyl fpnel fb zhpu nf haareivat. I guess intense can be scary. (Spoilers for other Tammy) Orpnhfr jura lbh guvax nobhg vg, Gevf vf vagrafr va fvzvyne, ohg abg rknpg jnlf. Ure cbjre vf birejuryzvat. Fur unf gur culfvpny cerfrapr jura ure unve qbrf gur yvtugavat guvat. Fur vf, qrfcvgr ure orfg rssbegf, hggreyl qribgrq gb Fnaqel, Qnwn, Oevne, Ynex, Ebfrgubea, naq cebonoyl Avxb zbfg bs nyy. Naq Gevf qrsvavgryl fpnerf zr, qrfcvgr vqragvslvat jvgu ure zber guna gur bguref.

Probably should have introduced myself the other night. I was there. Kinda overwhelmed that the non-boyfriend showed up and was actually interested. So, hi (retroactively)!

They do. When she is in the grove with Numair (Wild Magic) first showing her the copper fire that is the wild magic, she she plucks a piece of grass and watches the copper fire die. She feels guilty and Numair explains the Circle of Life (cue Elton John).

Awesome. Brilliant. Love it.

I feel complete again being able to comment instead of having an insane life trying to get all my ducks in a row before going on vacation (admittedly one that was interrupted by sick and having to be a therapist, despite vacation).

Despite all this responsibility on my part, my cat spoils my awesome post with a magic tough of her paw to the F5 key. I swear she knows how to do this on purpose. "Oh, Owner-Person, you aren't petting me enough, so I shall prove to you that I am smarter than you could ever be by pressing this button here and then watching your reaction." She knows. Oh, she knows.

So, UGH. This Chapter. This Chapter (and really all subsequent chapters forever). The Badger once again makes his awesomeness known to all who read. 'Daine, you died again. I can't keep bringing you back to life. It's just inconvenient. Oh, yea, and stop putting all the life force into this weird magic. What's that you say? I didn't tell you how to use it. Poppycock. Really? I made a mistake. INCONCEIVABLE. Oh, okay. Damn. Oh, btw, Weiryn really is your pa."

The Banjiku are amazing. They have such a humble look on life that it is logical and realistic. Worshiping trapped gods so they don't think all humans are jailers? Logical. Also, Lagashui not meaning for them to be slaves. That is such an empowering statement. It swells me with feelings whenever it is made. On an aside, Lagashui makes me think of Lughnasadh. Not sure how Lagashui relates to a harvest festival, but there ya go.

Tammy does such an amazing job setting up the rest of this novel. She sets down the plot twists, turns them around, and points them somewhere. Where? We have no clue and that is the beauty! Her ammunition is fully loaded, but we have no idea where it's going. I love the tension and the build up of climax. It's like having the first hill of a roller coaster at the end of the ride.

Mountain Runner Babies checking out Badgers. Cute. When I think of these, I always think of the coelurus


Ozorne Diagnosis (because I can and I love it).

So, on to my diagnoses of characters. Seriously love how Tammy handed me an A in this class. Seriously. Thanks, Tammy. Most people chose to do antisocial or borderline. They are common, especially in fictional characters. Not many people chose the other clusters or even histrionic or narcissistic.

So, Ozorne is a classic, almost by the book, Narcissist. By the dictionary definition, absolutely. By the diagnostic criteria, also absolutely. So, you need to meet at least 5 of the conditions. Often times we look for patterns of display starting in middle adolescence. While we don't have the historical documentation for Ozorne we have enough current behaviors to create a solid diagnosis.

Lack of empathy or recognition of others' feelings? Check. Takes advantage of others to achieve his goals? Check. Excessive beliefs in self-importance and exaggeration of achievements? Yup. Unreasonable expectation for favored treatment? A bit part of being an emperor, but he takes it to the extreme. Obsessive self-interest including selfish goals? Yeah.

I argued alternative points for reactions to criticism and need for constant attention. However, on both points, I ultimately decided that he ultimately did not fill those criteria given that there is not enough supportive information in the book. We know he ignored people who are better than him and some of his reactions to things like the statue in the previous chapter. However, I would not categorize either with angry, shame, or humiliation. We simply do not know without seeing his reactions when he is alone. The need for constant attention is also questionable. He spends a fair amount of time alone with his birds. He also produces the simulacra during state events. Both point towards the lack of need. However, it could be argued that the birds provide him with unconditional love and beauty and the simulacra are used as a display of his power to whom he reveals himself.

The most telling of the criterion is obsession with fantasies of personal power, beauty, love, success, intelligence. I think his statement that if the people need someone to worship, they can worship him is so characteristic and definitive. I would stick him in this cluster at least based entirely on it.

I think there's a lot of things that are no-cow protein! Trickster Spoilers ... Tvira gung n ybg bs Gevpxfgref vf erfrzoyrf n Fbhgurnfg Nfvna/Vaqvna glcr phygher NAQ Puranby ybirf gb srrq rirelguvat gung pbzrf guebhtu gur qbbe, gurer pbhyq or n ybg sebz gurer.

I think there is enough already that we could make it for a while. It's not as if we are all going to go out and cook everything in the next month. There is a certain amount of research and experimentation that is going to go into this.

Ugh! My awesome comment didn't post. So, I agree that it should be called that or Puranby'f Xvgpura. I lean towards the second simply because I like Tortall more than Circle. We could use something like RecipesfromPierce.... for the address and just change the blog name to whatever we decide when the expectation spoiler goes is no longer a spoiler.

OR! We could set it up, post stuff and then go live with it when the time comes that the spoiler is gone.

I kinda want to make this a real thing. I wouldn't be able to do it solo. I need to recruit.

That makes sense. I do love reliving my first time through others. It's satisfying. It also makes me see things in a new light. For so many years, I have known certain things and being presented with a different take on something makes me giddy with readery delight all over again.