Status Updates From Those Beyond the Wall

“The city only exists in peace with itself. Peace will only come when we stop being us, and they can pretend we’re just like them. Your peace is genocide.” (...) "This is Ashtown’s irreconcilable difference: to assimilate and reduce suffering, or to remain ourselves and stay a target. We are standing on two sides of an issue that can never be resolved, and it’s a shame because it’s a fight we didn’t start."

Really digging the romantic dynamic in this one too. As long as Mr. Scales doesn't become monogamous by the end for this person. But the way she's built as a character, it would not make sense! That would sour me a little, though, I get too little of well done non-monogamy in books in general!

"I’ve been gone long enough to have forgotten how hard up the city is about genders. They want gender like a border, something fixed, something to be defended from trespass. We like genders like landmasses here, like puddles that congregate, evaporate, and re-form. Even at the House, you choose each day which stage you want to dance on, and only then have you announced what space you’re occupying."

OK, I've seen everything now. Like being deeply moved and crying at someone poignantly beating on someone, and then someone else comforting the beater by offering a fight. It's like... Incredibly emotionally intense and I would not have seen my reaction coming wtf.

It's amazing how much this caters to my tastes and likes, I can't even 😅