Amanda Smith > Recent Status Updates

"It still unnerved me to find that my size stirred feelings of extreme dislike in people, even when I have given them no other cause to take offense."

So Gideon and Nona are apparently simultaneously occupying separate bodies — which blows up the "Nona is Gideon" theory entirely, or at least complicates it beyond recognition.

Wut. What?!?!????? Gideon just woke up in her body! And Nona is right there! Still there! That's not how it's supposed to work! 😠😭 The author is just fucking with us at this point!

Okay, Nona is dying because her soul isn't meant to be in this body, which is confirmed to be Harrowhark's body. So Nona is not Harrowhark. She's most likely Gideon (which makes sense, Gideon would probably have been happy and carefree if the Ninth wasn't such a harsh place to live).

That also matches the end of the last book, with Gideon in Harrowhark's body. But that does not explain the memory loss.

Nona might be Gideon, Harrowhark, Alecto, or some Steven Universe soul-mesh of two. Nona's in Harrowhark's body with Camilla. Gideon's empty body is with Ianthe. But at the end of book 2, Harrowhark was with Ianthe and Gideon was dead. So how did— you know what, I'm just going to keep reading.

The mystery of this book is, who is Nona? Is it Gideon reborn? Harrow reborn? Alecto? One of the ancient Lyctors? My money is Gideon. She's too happy and good-natured to be Harrowhark.

The sheer amount of body swapping in this series is staggering.

Finally got my hands on this book.

Again, I was afraid this would be a white savior story, but I get the feeling our protagonist just became a pawn in someone else's conflict.

I am a bit worried this is going to be a white savior story. Though with Robin Hobb, the protagonist is more likely to accidentally hurt everyone than save anyone.

A frustrating start, though deliberate by Robin Hobb. The main character, as a child, is abandoned by his caretaker yet must take responsibility for it. He witnesses a girl threatened with rape, yet his father fails to fully condemn the perpetrator.

Darn it, I wanted to go straight to Nona the Ninth, but when I went to check it out it wasn't available. Le sigh. Fortunately there is a Robin Hobb book that is available immediately.

Yes! Yes yes yes, this is what I've been wanting this whole damn book!

What. WHAT?!? Are you telling me that the bullshit second person POV, 'You do this, you do that,' was there so that we could have a sudden first personal reveal?????!??? I am infuriated and impressed. How dare you.

OOOOHHHHH. The Sleeper is rather like Pyramid Head.

Palamedes!!

Wait, there's more than one male Lyctor? I can't tell these characters apart, I assumed it was one dude.

Annabel Lee? That's an Edgar Allan Poe poem... Is this supposed to be our world?

This Nonius character is driving me nuts. First, it's who Nonius is replacing. Second, the narrator chose a heavily burdened voice for Nonius, that sounds like a dying octogenarian. It's a burden to hear, I can't stand it. Not to mention the character says he's 35 years old, so it makes no sense.

Also, astrophage can only travel 8 light years to another star before dying off. Yet getting Project Hail Mary to Tau Seti will take 12 light years. Why won't all the astrophage die before getting there?

Why do we need to breed astrophage for Hail Mary project? Why not send another rocket to the Petrova Line, and GATHER the astrophage needed? That could possibly be faster than breeding (which will take 13 months), but I don't think the idea is ever mentioned.

I may have a problem.

I may have a problem.

Harrowhark's memories of the last book are wrong. Did the Emperor mess with her mind? Or did Harrowhark?

I'm really glad we're on a bigger scale than a single planet in this book. Also, the magic system is getting really interesting.

(2/2) and the Lyctors stop the beasts? If yes, he's selfish for living forever. They say power corrupts. Jury's still out.

(1/2) I'm trying to decide if I like or trust the Emperor. He's written as a humble everyman turned God Emperor — worn out furniture, genuine concern for Harrow, more teacher than ruler. I like him. But should I? He's sending Harrow into a forever war, and it turns out his own resurrection and the Lyctors' sacrifices are what created the beasts they're fighting against. So the question becomes: would killing himself

I am not a fan of second person (or first person TBH) and am not very happy to find myself in a sequel using it. I think maybe it's being used to portray how strange and odd Harrowhark's mental state is right now. Still, no me gusta. Right now I'm invested and interested enough that I'm not dropping the book, but we'll see if that changes.

I'm getting real tired of Ianthe's voice.

AHHHHHHHHHH! I have so many theories on what may happen!