Status Updates From Pearl in the Void

You know, I had this going in my head as a five star book for a while, but I’m kind of too annoyed at Keshul, which I was not expecting: smart and clever for the first half, he keeps falling into silence or wussy little “I hate you“ rejoinders at the supposedly inexorable logic of Roika. Sorry guys, it’s not actually that inexorable.

Annoyed at Keshul for being at a loss in this exchange. Obviously it is possible to be better even within Roika’s fucked up system. What indicates the room has to be without any light or anything to do or any company but themselves? That’s just stupid. And I highly doubt it would breed better quality children.

Still loving the book, but I'm pretty tired of Roika the rapist. I'm willing to grant that the other characters find him charismatic, but terminal arrogance and lust on legs does not a personality bestow. "I won't pry into your life before if you don't pry into mine," but frankly, backstory is what he's missing. Maybe eventually we will get some.

This story actually threw a few plot twists at me that I was not expecting. I was expecting a twist, it just wasn’t the twist that actually came. Good stuff.

“Tell them the Fire in the Void has words for the emodo of het Narel.” Fuck yeahh!

I'm really loving this so far, more than "The Worth of a Shell" to be honest. Slow-burning social/political horror, but the main character is no fool and he is fighting NOW. Thing is, he is on the horns of a trilemma: accept brutal oppression under the Stone Moon, or fight them (and be crushed), or fight them (and succeed, thereby signing off on the death of his entire species.) There better be a way out of this.

Just noticed that the formatting on this installment is MUCH improved on the first one. Fewer of the random indents. What was up with those, anyway? I'm also enjoying these characters more, although that's just personal preference. Also early days, subject to change.

An interesting development involving a ship and a possible journey! But I'm still very curious how things are going to end.

Ouf, and just like that: terrible reversal of fortune :(

Keshul's coming into his own. Fabulous pacing--this is a really taut story.

"What this empire plans for us is slavery. It may be slavery that saves our bodies, but it will kill our hearts. And that is why it must be opposed."

"Now all I had to do was create the conditions where I was accepted as the judge... so I could find them lacking." ---Doooo iiiiit Keshul (... and yet I know things will not go the way I, or you, hope...)

Very glad to see Keshul moving against Stone Moon--cleverly, pointing out things that stir people's suspicions.

A good quote from recently:

"And I know right from wrong because I have some compassion and common sense, not because I plucked it from the Void one starless night! I am not special! And do you know why? ... "Because ... if I'm special, then you have absolved every[one] walking this World of the responsibility of judging between what is good and right... and what isn't."