Midlight Shard > Recent Status Updates

When I first read this book, I remember missing Gideon fiercely. Harrow remarks on how people like Gideon just didn't exist, in the Ninth at least.

Oh, also Harrow is kinda amazing. At least, in terms of like, power levels or something. She's been controlling her parents for YEARS and keeping up that pretense. Which is also--probably super traumatic and just tragic.

At first, I thought the "Body" was actually Gideon and Harrow was just vaguely remembering her. But no, the "Body" is an amalgation of--people she cared for, I think. I think the "latest" "Body" is Gideon, however. Or maybe it's the corpse she mentioned who was her first love, I don't know. Grasping at straws here.

Because of the way the story is told, I'm just confused and just barely holding on. But that's okay. Book 3 is coming out soon, I've heard, so I'm hoping to re-read books 1 and 2 again after I'm done in preparation for the 3rd, which may also be confusing given book 2.

Also, Harrow says that--uh, someone who's clearly not Gideon is her cavalier? No, he's not, Gideon is! What happened to Gideon? Does Harrow not remember her? Considering how worrying she acts around a certain greatsword, I think some part of her remembers. But she herself doesn't seem to consciously remember and oh boy. I wish I could give her a hug she definitely wouldn't like (from me, at least, hopefully).

So, what are your thoughts? Well... Harrow is a lot more messed up than I thought. Given her trauma, that shouldn't be a surprise but I also kinda do/don't remember the events of the first book.

I finished the first book + short story like 2 months back, I think. I did immediately start this book but I just could not get into. I don't seem to have that problem now, so I will be devouring this book as much as I am able while my brain is still compliant!

Also I have read the trilogy back in high school, but that was with a lot of skimming. I remember complaining about how it took Frodo like 50 years to leave the Shire and... Well, I largely don't remember the first book. I remember that I liked the second book.

I like Frodo a lot more in the books--as well as the other hobbits. I'm a little worried about losing interest in Frodo's arc in the following books, but I had zero interest in them in regards to the movies.

Nearly done with the 1st book. Sorta got past the Tom Bombadil stuff--they just left his house. As I said in my Hobbit entries, Tolkien's prose is a balm against--reality, I guess. So I'll do my best to read this intermittently in-between other books.

Actually finished this a while ago. Really liked it, enjoyed the lighthearted prose despite the heavy stuff it was narrating. I'm not in the best space right now, so the lighthearted prose was a welcome reprieve. I really liked Bilbo by the book's end. My fave scene was when he's reunited with Gandalf and he has a little talk with Bard and Thranduil. I would like to reread this in the future.

Now, my thoughts about the parts I've already read? Well, very happy to see Arwa! But also sad to see that she's suffered so much and she's so young and already so angry. She's not like Mehr in that she's brash, so I'm worried about what's to come. On the other hand, it's great to see a woman MC like this--MCs like Mehr are great but she was too perfect as the main character and that was my only issue with her, tbh.

At the start of chapter 6 and Arwa and Mehr are so similar in that they bullheadedly go STRAIGHT INTO THE FIRE! I don't know if I can do it again--following Mehr into the hell that is Maha and now following Arwa straight back into it? Nooo!

...I'll eventually go back, but I'm gonna go on a break on this book for a while.

It feels like the author has no idea what to do with her story. The MC went from living with a death sentence over their head to finally wanting to live a little, which is good, but also the MC starts to question the validity of their relationship with Felix--and how justifiable it can be, when Felix is a vampire who has to terrorize people to feed off of them. It's a just concern but the writing makes it feel forced

Promising beginning. Unfortunately, I'm at the halfway point and it feels like we aren't going anywhere.

The author inserted some philosophical musings into their writing, which I liked the first few times but after a bit it felt forced.

I like the main characters, for the most part. I do have issues with Felix, who is akin to a child psychologically speaking. I don't think the lore can justify his psychology.

Painful beginning. I'm glad that the MC has a shitload of questions, but wow does the author just not handle it well at all. Basically very awkward info dump followed by a brief break and then possibly more info dump.

I decided maybe a break would be ideal before continuing. I don't have great expectations for this so far.

I read this book a very long time ago, when I was in middle or high school. I didn't like it, because of the really creepy and sinister vibes I got from the adults in Lyra's life. Years later and it still creeps me out, but I want to read it to the end.

Doing a re-read of the dream cycle series, then the Cthulhu mythos!