Rowena > Recent Status Updates

Apparently sitting in a restaurant facing the window is "unfeminine". Now that one's a thinker. I took a break because the "of the times" racism, sexism and homophobia was getting to me; The Lost Mine was truly awful. There are some delightful stories in this collection however, so I continue.

My interest waned quickly. Maybe I would've found it funny if I read it as a preteen in the eighties... Maybe. A difference in humour preference, perhaps.

There is a languorous feel to the prose that reminds me of The Changeling Sea, like watching an ancient fairy tale come to life.

There's both a dreamlike quality and a matter-of-factness about the writing; it's quite curious and reminds me of old fairy tales.

Dragging myself apathetically through this book, then chapter fourteen happened. My heart ran cold, my eyes filled until the words blurred on the page, and horror prickled across my skin. Where the fuck did that come from!

I mean, it's fine. Except there are way too many instances of the reader being cut out of certain details so that a character can reveal 'how it was done' later. This doesn't work well in a book written in first person.

A character who really should know better just got played despite it being really obvious. Sometimes Bardugo can't decide whether the crew is ridiculously skilled or a bunch of inexperienced teenagers.
I'm a bit meh on Jesper and Wylan in general. Sure, sometimes Jesper says something funny but neither of them can stand up to the rest of the crew in regards to being interesting.

Feels like a sudden leap in quality at this point but may just be pay-off from earlier set-up (specifically the Kaz and Inej chapters). Jesper and Wylan seem underdeveloped in comparison to the other four.

Malkieri gender customs: so gross. I no longer want that place restored!

I'm having a cozy time

I'm pleased this is an enjoyable read so far. Usually, the books are better than the adaptation so it's not unsurprising but this genre is often a toss-up. There have been some lovely turns of phrase.

I liked the bit with the tree, it was whimsical. Tristran is not a compelling protagonist but he did finally manage a spot of character development.

Despite the whimsical faerie aspects, it's not grabbing me. Honestly, I thought it would be funnier - or funny at all.

I was not prepared for the adult nature of this book, it actually made me uncomfortable. A large part of me wanted the film in book form, enhanced, something delightful to read. We'll see...

I took a break and it helped; the frustrations of the earlier parts were softened and I became more immersed. Now I find myself afraid for Rand...

There are some flickers here and there where I get pulled in; I wonder if those are Jordan's parts.

Please, *stop* with the battle tactics. Please. The crescendo of the entire series and most of it reads like a military manual.

It's actually amusing. I wish I'd known from the start; I would've approached it from a different mind set.

Literally stating, in the form of a joke, the tragedy that will occur feels very clichéd. Was it so in Christie's time or just 'one the nose'?

Wtf happened to Egwene? In one chapter she went from annoyingly self-righteous but doing her best to downright insufferable, even unpleasant! Condescending, rude and arrogant toward Rand; patronising and petty toward Elayne; childish and blind regarding Berelain... Antagonistic instead of diplomatic. I am shocked at how unlikeable she became.
Also, where is Loial?

Even at this late date, we have protagonists totally sure that they're right despite asking no questions and considering no other viewpoints; it makes me pissed off with them, to be honest.
Still, not going to let that detract from one of the biggest happenings in the series - "yay!" I cried out loud, as if I hadn't read it before. My partner gave me a sideways glance and wisely said nothing.

Can someone tell me how one curtseys from horseback. Do you just kind of slouch? For that matter, wouldn't bowing make you headbutt your horse?

Just swinging by with these pearls of wisdom: the Seanchan Imperial family make me feel sick and now that Faile is bearable, I seem to be able to loathe Tuon even more.

I could read about Rand busting Darkfriends for an entire chapter. I could read no other viewpoint for the rest of the series and be content. I'm not even going to complain about Lan, Gawyn, Mat or Perrin... It's just too enjoyable to read him this way.

Wow, Rand found his way before Perrin did - talk about drawn-out storylines. When is this dude going to stop blaming wolves for being a berserker? When is Sanderson going to stop abusing italics? All this over-emphasis is starting to feel like a YA novel.
But yay, Rand! He makes me smile now. What a relief.

The writing has been clunky here and there, plus a fair amount of clichéd phrasings - one might call some of Jordan's style quaint nowadays but this is taking it a bit far. Still, I can't imagine the difficulty of writing the ending of another author's years-long vision, trying to avoid mimicry without losing the soul of the story, and Sanderson is mostly holding it together. So impressive.

Perrin still manages to brood, Faile still annoys and Gawyn makes me roll my eyes. Tuon is tedious and disgusts me. Sanderson struggles with Mat, as we all know, but I also felt Aviendha was a bit wonky too. Who knows if Min will ever be independent again. Yet Rand is interesting once more and the plot continues to move at a good clip. Sanderson is a master at weaving impending doom into his narrative.

Perrin's creeping me out. But damn, Jordan, where was all this fire when you were writing CoT?

Good start! I feel much more engaged and the narrative seems more dynamic than CoT. I particularly like how the very Pattern is trying to make the ta'veren communicate now; Tarmon Gai'don round the corner and our protagonists still insist on going their own way.