Sammie > Recent Status Updates

FINAL THOUGHTS:

✦ I'm not crying, you're crying. Okay, we're both crying. 😭
✦ My heart breaks for the Thunderhead. Can I just ... I need to give it a hug, please.
✦ That ending. OMG that ending. My heart wasn't ready.
✦ I need all the chocolate.
✦ I can't even.

This plan is 100% crazy and things are exploding and my nerves are frayed all to pieces and I don't have any fingernails left to bite at this point. It's too early in the morning for all these emotions, but I sure as heck am NOT putting this book down now. 😱

Advanced Technology 101:

It's always a bad sign when your artificial intelligence system says, "We need to talk." *Always*

"He had few visitors. When people showed up at his door, he usually gleaned them. A fitting fate for those who would have the audacity to bother him."

This man is my spirit animal! Fear the wrath of the introverts!

Oh, look, there's Citra just doing her thing, being a BAMF, like she does. Gosh, I'm so glad she's back, because I missed her so much.

*clings to Citra's legs* Please, never leave us again. 😭

"You are a terrible person. [...] You are a wonderful person."
"Well, which is it?"
"Why can't you see that the answer is both?"

- This is probably the most romantic thing I've read, and it wasn't even said in a romantic way. Quick, someone write a romance around this!

I did say no spoilers, but this chapter was ... man. Okay, in emojis:

🤔👨‍🚒🚒🍴🔔💥😱🔥💀💥😍🗡️😵😱

If you can sort out my emotions, let me know, because I'm at a loss. All I know is that we don't stop on this chapter tonight, darn it!

Man, that was cold. I'd love to say that I'm surprised, but ... I'm not really. I knew *something* was going to happen, just not what exactly it would be. And this, ladies and gentleman, is the natural life cycle of a zealot. It sure can be pretty to look at, but man is it nasty.

1. Jericho is a fabulous name. More people should name their kids this.

2. I think I may be just a teensy bit in love. 💜

3. I predict this character will disappointment, because THEY ALWAYS DO. I no longer trust characters I like, because obviously I have poor judgment.

Can I just say how perfect Rowan is? He walks that fine line where he'd make the absolutely perfect villain (who I absolutely have and would root for), but also a compelling hero. An anti-hero? Whatever it is, it works, and I love him. 😍 More Rowan snark, please.

OMG please let it not be true. 😱 It was just a throw-away comment ... and I've learned to never take anything in this series on face value ... but still. I can't decide whether to throw the book or refuse to put it down until I know the truth.

"One could say, Ayn, that he has cast himself as Atlas. Which means the slightest shrug can shake the world."

So much Ayn Rand channeled into one quote that I don't even know what to do with myself, except maybe squeel with fangirlish delight?

PROOF THE THUNDERHEAD IS JUST A TIRED PARENT:

✦ Employs the sink or swim methodology.
✦ Is tired of putting up with children's BS.
✦ Loves them anyway.
✦ Uses "This'll hurt me more than it hurts you" line.
✦ "It's for your own good" and "Because I said so," but paraphrased.

🚨MINOR SPOILER🚨
(same as above)

"And so, with his legend growing, Greyson Tolliver spent his days [...] passing along wise advice from the Thunderhead.
Except, of course, when he made shit up."

Am I able to nominate Greyson for all the awards? I just love him so.💜

🚨MINOR SPOILER🚨
(though, it should be obvious from Thunderhead and the blurb)

I want a novel solely about Grayson Tolliver, with his day-to-day coping with suddenly being a religious savior and messiah. I'm sure it'd be hilarious. Someone should write this. Maybe a fanfiction?

I thought I knew the sort of "leader" High Blade Goddard would be, but ... wow, no, see, I underestimated him. I didn't even think that was possible, given that I fully understood the depth of his depravity. Especially after Thunderhead. Or because of it. But he surprises me.

Is that ... romance, I smell? I mean, it's flirting. I think we can all agree on that one. But ... could it be more? Hmmm. I have to say, while unexpected, I'm not necessarily opposed to this ...

The Thunderhead just low-key finding loopholes and ways to break regulation on technicalities reminds me, yet again, why it is one of my favorite AIs of all time. Also my idol.

"At last all was well.
Until the moment that it wasn't."

I feel like this is less foreshadowing and more of a mood for the entire book. What have I gotten myself into?! Pray for my feels and my poor, fragile heart.

"Some things simply made a person feel feminine; other things made a person feel masculine. Wasn't that true of everyone regardless of gender? Or did binaries deny themselves the things that didn't fit that mold?"

"Silence was all it took to turn servitude into superiority. The servant became the master."

This seems to be the theme of this book (as expected from the ending of Thunderhead) and I am LOVING it. 😍 What happens to a utopia when you disrupt the status quo, hmm?

"In the best of worlds, this operation would have happened a long time ago."
"In case you haven't noticed, this is no longer the best of worlds."

THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is not only an obvious understatement, but also what I live for: that moment when a utopia dies.

8.167, 167.733.

I know it's been a year since I read Thunderhead, but these numbers are obviously significant, and I HAVE THEORIES ALREADY.

Opening line: "It is with abiding humility that I accept the position of High Blade of MidMerica."

First ... Goddard with humility? I'm sorry, what? Sorry, I can't breathe, I'm laughing too hard.

Welp, there goes the neighborhood. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Starting with ... the quote on the back. Okay, I'm scared. 100% confirmed my feels will be frayed and broken by the end of this book. This almost sounds like Goddard. I'm placing my bets on that, because only Goddard could be so awesomely dramatic and extra.