Ike Ward > Recent Status Updates

Love the absolute seething hatred Rodia was able to gather and slam Luzhin with on their first meeting despite being barely functional for the last 50 pages ahaha

Finally, the pseudo-finale, here I go!

I hate the founding fathers how could they seriously believe some of the bullshit they were peddling about race my god. Vitiligo as proof black people can turn white?!? ARE YOU KIDDING!!!!

Uplift Suasion:

No matter how much racist's minds were changed by freed black people assimilating and defying stereotype, it never truly changed the racist's attitudes, just altered the still racist perceptions they held towards black people. They remained inferior in their eyes, and as soon as "good behavior" changed their minds for the better, it was just as easily changed back. Assimilation: not working even then

Look... This Severard stuff is breaking my heart! The scene where Ferro almost killed him made me emotional more than any other scene in the series somehow, and seeing Glokta, one of his only friend's who he's worked so hard for torture him like this is just... wow. I know he betrayed him but for a minute it really seemed like it was gonna be a mislead and it just had me in pieces thinking he was innocent 😭

I never know if the quotes, many from white sources supposedly documenting what was said, are wholly accurate to what these indigenous leaders really said, but they are effective at instilling such a horrible sense of loss and helplessness among individuals. No one could turn away from that, right? So many did, and thats hard to grapple with as someone living today. It gives me dread to think we are all so capable.

On that Libby grind

Great so far. I think the political criticisms certain groups have mentioned towards this book are a bit silly. When covid was in full force and everyone was locked down. It just was this prevalent in our lives. I don't think he's overdoing it, just building the setting & atmosphere for the story. Which has ALWAYS been one of my favorite features in his writing! It's nice (for me) to see that time shown in fiction.

This is so much fun

Black Kettle waving the American Flag is actually destroying me.

. I decided to stop reading for a second because I’m so afraid to read about Major Anthony and Colonel Chivington’s soldiers going to Sand Creek and wiping out the Cheyenne’s…. His blatant hatred for them is hammered home so hard, and it’s horrific. The warriors are away hunting, they were so confident in the protections Anthony had promised they didn’t even have a night watch, etc…I dont want to know.

Fun

I just like to learn

I’m just amazed that throughout the book kaywaykla speaks so respectfully of so many of the people who did so much against their cause. Him and apparently other figures in the tribes would give such benefit of the doubt to figures like Davis & Crook. It’s just sort incredible, I don’t think I could.

wait… so, their punishment was just to isolate and ignore and exclude him for the night? I was so worried they were going to do something much worse.

Ugh I actually love Holly. She was okay in The Outsider but she’s great in these. Stephen was right when he said she stole his heart she stole mine too! 😭

Also… I loved the other two books, and this one is amping up to be great so far. Can’t wait to see what happens. Probably gonna be up there w/ the Dark Tower. Imagine being 2/2 in great series you’ve written!!

Never in my life have I been happier than when I read the chapter on Lozen.
I read that she DIED in Alabama, flipped to the annotations at the end of the book, and read “Kaywaykla was mistaken” and that she lived through all the prisons, went back to the Mescalaro, and then got married and was buried there at White Trail! She lived! And even eventually hopefully found love I’m so happy for her! 😭

“Freeze! And creep.”

Life was so different here then. And only 120ish years ago. It’s so hard to imagine living a lifestyle like the ones Kaywaykla describes. But It’s not hard to believe.