#SWAN ISLAND

[this-is-not-a-slow-burn]

Saw them open for Gossip at the Wonder Ballroom and was absolutely blown away.

The album is good, but they were insanely good live.

[999pinkprincess]

i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school i cant go to school

[a-crack-in-the-universe]

My thoughts about the Warrior Bards trilogy

I finished reading the Warrior Bard trilogy a couple days ago, and I have some thoughts that I want to share about the books.

I'm putting this under a read-more because spoilers.

What I liked:

The spy missions. I really enjoyed seeing the Swan Island teams in action and the suspense of not knowing whether they were going to be found out.

Brocc being forced to create a Crow Folk army for Sciath, and his secret plan to deceive her and help the Crow Folk fly home instead. Also Brocc fixing the Crow Folk problem by trying to communicate with and understand the Crow Folk. It reminds me of Finbar's words in Daughter of the Forest, about how they should seek to understand their enemy instead of always fighting them. I do think Finbar would be proud of Brocc and what he achieved.

Brocc and Eirne's baby Niamh, and how much Brocc loves her. :') Also love Conmael's reaction to seeing Niamh (who is potentially his granddaughter) for the first time.

The Sevenwaters references -- I love that Inis Eala is still going strong. I love how Bran's Blade is a thing and how Bran is revered as a strong and compassionate leader long after his death. Also Brocc going into the seer's cave and seeing a reflection that's not his in the water is also a reference that I really love. :')

One thing I thought was strange though was that there was no reference to the Sevenwaters family or the Sevenwaters forest. I get that Juliet Marillier probably wanted Blackthorn and Grim and Warrior Bards to be its own thing separate from the Sevenwaters series, but it's weird that these two trilogies are set in the same world as Sevenwaters and yet Sevenwaters is never mentioned.

What I didn't like:

After book 1, it felt like Liobhan was less proactive in the main plot. Book 2 had her just acting as a bondservant and Dau's personal nurse, and in Book 3 she stays on Swan Island until she and Elka saw that vision in the seer's cave and Liobhan decided to 'break the rules' to rescue Brocc. It was disappointing -- I really liked Liobhan's central role in Book 1 and I'd hoped that she would be given similar focus in the other two books.

There are no lasting consequences. Dau loses his eyesight in Book 2? Don't worry, he gets it back via magic cure by the end of the novel and gets to go back to Swan Island with Liobhan. Liobhan doesn't have to complete the year of bondservice she agreed to because Dau is no longer blind. Liobhan breaks the rules again in Book 3? Don't worry, she's not kicked off the Island because she's too valuable to Swan Island (though she does get a slap on the wrist).

Swan Island's rules. I hate how restrictive they are, and how they limited Liobhan and Dau's potential as characters. Especially the "you must exercise restraint" rule. There were many times in Books 2 and 3 when I wished Liobhan would act out and stop restraining herself so much. Also I wished Liobhan and Dau would leave Swan Island by the end of the trilogy because of the rules and was disappointed when they stayed there.

I hated Eirne a lot. She was such a bitch and treated Brocc badly and it's sad that it took so long for Brocc to see how awful she was. I was so happy when he finally left Eirne's Realm.

Questions I have:

What happened to Sevenwaters? Is the family and keep still around or were they destroyed at some point?

Do the Swan Island community remember Liadan? She isn't mentioned at all when Liobhan is thinking about the history of Bran's Blade and how Swan Island was founded.

When exactly are these books (and the Blackthorn and Grim books) set? How many centuries after the Sevenwaters series? I've tried to come up with a rough timeline based on the kingdoms shown in the books but I haven't been able to figure it out yet.

[blackbeautyxoxo]

american made ౨ৎ

[dumpster2001]

a Barbie legacy 🩷

[littlemissmessymess]

vanilla,pretty little liars,lace ribbons and all things pretty and pink !🦢

[joandearcss]

girls in their rooms

[eleanorgrootch]

My current collection of Barbie movie prints based off of the original movies from the 2000's! A few more may be added later on (I know I'm missing 12 dancing princesses and Magic of Pegasus) But, it's nice to see them all together in once place. ^^

[ilvcilla]

I love lana stan usernames like yes, hello trailerparksparklejumpropequeendietcoke!!

[flonflonflon]

Wanted to drop a few of my classic Barbie pieces here as well because I really liked them compiled! Currently obsessed with jjba but my tumblr account is a mess and maybe I'll drop some fanart pieces I did and gathered over the years.

[999pinkprincess]

my favourite type of penetration is a bullet penetrating through my frontal lobe

[a-crack-in-the-universe]

I’ve just started reading A Dance With Fate and I love the references to the Sevenwaters books! :D First Swan Island, and now Bran’s Blade! :’) also great to know that some of Bran and Liadan’s descendants still live in Inis Eala.

I do however hate the Swan Island leadership at the moment (though that may change), because of something they did in the beginning of the novel.

[blackbeautyxoxo]

deranged & insane ౨ৎ

[dk-thrive]

Cygnet @ Daybreak. 65° F. 6:35 am. August 6, 2023. Stamford, CT. (@dkct25)

[littlemissmessymess]

I’m the happiest girl ever in fall ♥︎🦢🍂🧥

[joandearcss]

it’s murder on the dance floor