Miriam > Recent Status Updates

So I'm only a few chapters in, but put off by the frankly sexist assumptions built into the magic system. Anybody who has read further and knows whether or not the biological binary essentialist crap continues please feel free to inform me.

So Aaron is 47 and his lust/love interest is turning 21. That's squicky.

And much was made in the first book of how Simon informed Paul that packmates would be able to smell what they'd been doing (sex) but now Aaron wonders if Simon can smell what he's been up to? What an annoying inconsistency.

I'm not worried about the lack of romance. I'm worried about the fact that it looks like Tobias/Pitch is the romance. He's terrible.

Casual cruelty to animals. Possible instances of homophobia and transphobia (and altogether very binary). Definite misogyny. People are 17-19 y/o but with the poise and competencies and responsibilities most people haven't acquired by twice that age. And I don't think I like the main male character.

I HATE Faolan. Hate him with burning heat and gritted teeth. Hate him and all those with him who treat people as objects. Die a fiery death, please.

If you'd taken an adult, injured crow home and force fed it bread and water you would just be hastening its demise.

SERIOUSLY. Please stop giving birds bread.

Gotta say. I am enormously distressed by the clever, competent, thorough and utterly detestable bad man.
If you're going to be completely contemptible and awful and all terrible things at least have the decency to be fallible.

I've just got to say, this is the opposite of getting better. Help.

So I hate whiny, entitled, jerky, completely lacking in empathy Finn. And also, is his name a pun? If so, hate that too.
Don't know if I want to continue on with this.

I don't like the power dynamic in this romance, one reigning royalty and the other an isolated, sheltered young woman with one friend in the world.

I'm sorry, author, but wind and bend don't rhyme. Neither do bent and again.

"Taking a break" (watch me never come back to this book again) at 30 percent because I am not strong enough for morally grey characters right now. I cannot with that despicable behaviour.

One does not throw flashbangs in tight quarters without first warning ones three teammates. Seriously.

So there's a fine line between plucky and too stupid to live and damned if Tori isn't swandiving gleefully over it into TSTL territory.

I took a break to do what I should've done before buying and read reviews of this and the following books.
I really liked the first 1,5 books but in my opinion Addie now is defensive, whiny, blind to consequences (a formula she concocted that somehow leaked can switch off magic in magical beings and she's like "its just extinguishing dust what's the big deal?"),making bad decisions and complaining about everything.

So. I get the distinct feeling this book is written by two completely different people. Everything except for the romance/sex is written by a clever, funny adult who know things and is funny and clever.

The romance and the sex is written by a 16 year old kid who is titillated by the word c*ck and thinks love is professing to save or protect each other in situations where it is blatantly obvious neither is possible.

Have to say, am not loving how douchey Kieran is being.

If this goes where I think its going I'm going to have to take this off my favourite series shelf.

The carrying factor for these books has been, for me, the repartee between Lexi and her wards. Which we've seen nothing of for far too long.

I just came to register my displeasure with the description of 34 years of age as decrepit.

Now I will dive back into the story.

So this author has apparently never trained in a martial art or for any kind of combat. Has no experience with weapons. Doesn't know anything about horse riding. And is either assuming I'm dumber than I am, writing characters/a plot less intelligent than they themselves are, or... Well.

I still haven't managed to get a grasp on how the Bargainer's magic works. And I'm beginning to suspect it's not on me.

This is an amazing story and I'm thoroughly invested.
Taking a break though, because I hate Niclays.
Hate him.
Hate people who use their own misery as an excuse to make others miserable.
Hate people who abandon common decency as soon as it's inconvenient.
Hate people who feel entitled to sabotage others because they haven't achieved what they hoped.
Hate him.

Repeatedly touching someone who has told you not to (for 7 years) is not my idea of a mutual joke.

Well-written and I thought the premise had promise but I lost interest, I'm afraid.

I really like Kristin Cashore, for many of the reasons that are showcased here, but this was not the storyform for me.

It reminded me of those pick-your-own adventure books (if you choose to go right, go to page 76) which may be completely intentional but caused me flashback-related distress.

I can't.
It's not Pratchett.
I can't.