Status Updates From Hal (The Duellist, #1)

I just noticed a very obvious plot solution that could probably prevent the inevitable sequels from needing to happen, but it's not exactly the most pleasant of ideas, so eh

A strapless dress? In the middle of Fantasy Scotland's winter?

As a conlang enthusiast, I can appreciate the -aec surname ending as a way to add some worldbuilding consistency, but as a reader idk which character has which surname anymore

Last I checked, one of the big rules of being incognito is to NOT give your real name away to someone you just met in the last day

There are more than a couple antagonists to dislike in this book, but I deeply hate Cara Thaec. She checks alllllll the boxes on the "How To Be A Shitty Person" list: elitist, misogynistic, murderous, greedy, racist, manipulative, and on top of all of that, a pedophile. I will be happy to be rid of her in the next 50 pages.

“Are they mad?” she whispered.
“No, they’re students,” he grinned back.
#truth

“I’m no snob,” she says as she eats compote for breakfast

I suddenly understand why her father never revealed himself before because if I were her parent, I would have died from multiple heart attacks well before this book begins

I am badly repressing the urge to make a Monty Python reference

This book is so extra and it keeps cracking me up

She finally remembered to bring a backup dagger!

“But it’s just so hypocritical. I had no idea he was a liar.”
“He’s a politician, Hal.”
(Oh, I like Lavinia)

The universe is testing my patience, I just know it

This is so very extra

Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me

Why do so many characters want to destroy perfectly good wine glasses in this book?

What’s really sad is that this isn’t even the first book I’ve read with this exact kind of scene in it. More like the 4th or so...

Once, just once, I would like arranged marriages of this particular variety to end up as happy mlm/wlw solidarity instead of marital rape. Actually, that would make a pretty hecking good writing prompt.

Aaaand that's why you always bring a back-up dagger

Hal's friends: You know, maybe instead of digging yourself into a deeper hole, you could maybe uhhh ask for help?
Hal: unrealistic, blocked

Look I'm very glad this book is defying the Useless Lesbian stereotype, but I kinda wish the protags were just a wee bit more concerned about avoiding the Bury Your Gays trope

time to bust out the popcorn 'cause shit's about to go down

You know, if I knew that one of my friends was dating someone who had an abusive, murderous POS for a parent, I probably wouldn't wait for the rumors to get back to said parent before warning them

There's a huge difference between being rebellious and having a deathwish, mmkay