Status Updates From Empire of Jackals (Chrysath...

All that for a girl

Annuweth....

Excited for this reread!

This tome is getting real now and I don't want to put it down. Naval warfare and metaphorical/literal backstabbings left, right, and centre...

Marilia and Annuweth really can't catch a break, can they? I love this whole "would any of this happened without them" thing. Fate or pure dumb luck; what's more likely to destroy a mighty empire?

Meanwhile on the Sunset Isles: the dawn is bright and... full of terrors? Sorry, can't help but draw the comparison. Persuasive witchy woman, island nation, ruler who feels hard done by, stolen son, ambitions...

Ack, 'Weth! Forbidden love, misery and betrayal themes be gettin' Shakespearian... In a New Adult sort of way. Like intelligent plots and twisty secrets that aren't blindingly obvious or out of nowhere. *These* are the GoT vibes literally every fantasy book promises these days but never actually deliver on. Fewer characters, and they tend to actually *have* morals, but the vibes...

Oh dang, you knew how Annuweth was going to take to Marilia's lies, but seeing it from his POV where everything sh'es ever done is all about hurting him? I feel both bad for him... and slightly annoyed by his "yeah I've got male privilege but-" self-centredness. But he's so miserable it's hard to be mad.

Petrea is literally so toxic for Annuweth... poor Karthtag-Kal

Annuweth is going through it right now

I'm not that far yet, but I'm not enjoying Annuweth's story as much as I enjoyed the story of Marilia.