#The Books of Pellinor

[theinquisitxor]

March 2025 Reading Wrap Up

In March I read 7 books, 1 dnf, and 1 short story, so 9 total things read. I thought it was a good reading month overall, and I read a lot of young adult-- which I don't read much of anymore. I feel like I've aged out of the genre for the most part, but there are a few books/series I still enjoy. Let's get into what I read!

1.World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, 4.5/5 stars. This is a collection of memoir essays and a love letter to nature. Aimee connects a different moment of her life to an animal or aspect of nature. I found her writing very enjoyable and a very refreshing read.

2.Oathbound (Legendborn Cycle 3) by Tracy Deonn, 4/5 stars. One of my most anticipated releases of the year, and one of the few ongoing ya-fantasy series I'm still reading. I had such a fun time reading this, and it had some tropes that I also found very fun to read. I didn't love it quite as much as books 1 and 2, buuuttt it was still solid and very good.

3.Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid, 4/5 stars. If you were like me in the early 2010s obsessed with The Hunger Games and read a lot of the other dystopian books that dominated those years, this is a solid return to that genre but with a bit more of a 2020s lens. The ending is a bit polarizing and I have mixed feelings about it though.

4. The Naming (The Books of Pellinor 1) by Alison Croggon, 5/5 stars. This was one of my favorite books of my early teen years, and one I've been wanting to reread for several years. Safe to say I still loved this book and it stands the test of time. Reading it as an adult I picked up on so much more. I highly recommend this book/series!

5. The Riddle (Pellinor 2) by Alison Croggon, 4.5/5 stars. Unlike the first book, I did not remember anything from this book before my reread. So it was almost like reading it completely new. To me this one was even more emotional and our characters go through some soul-searching. Our main character deserves nothing bad to happen to her ever.

6. Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch 1) by Ann Leckie, DNF. Unfortunately I was bored trying to read this, and I don't really care to see what happens. I first tried the audiobook, and then switched to a physical copy, but neither were able to keep my interest. It's not bad, I just personally couldn't get into it :(

7.Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention— and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari. I've felt for a little while that my attention span and ability to focus is not as good as it used to be (and that smartphones/social media/big tech is responsible) so this was very refreshing to read, affirmed my thoughts on things, and I learned quite a bit on how our collective ability to focus has been damaged. Highly recommend if you feel the same!

8. Wildwood Dancing (Wildwood 1) by Juliet Marillier, 4/5 stars. This was my Random TBR Pick for the month of March, and a book that was on my tbr since 2020. This is a ya-fairy tale retelling that was a mix of several tales set in Transylvania in some unspecified historical period. I enjoyed this and was glad to read another Juliet Marillier book!

9. The Library of Babel by Jorge Luis Borges, 4/5 stars. This is a short story by the acclaimed author, and his imaging of an infinite library containing every variation of the alphabet, and those how search through the library. This had been on my tbr since 2018, so I was glad to have finally read it!

That was all for March!

In April I'm hoping to read:

Finish Pellinor series (books 3 & 4) (prequel at some point?!)

Wildwood Dancing #2

Nonfiction -- Backyard Bird Chronicles maybe?

Random TBR Book -- Child of a Hidden Sea by AM Dellamonica

Whatever else I feel like reading! (maybe attempt The Luminaries ?)

[ftlow-writerandbinder]

First set of rebinds! This set didn't match, but now they do

[seadolph]

A pair of Pellinor siblings! Maerad and Hem 🌹🐦‍⬛

[cleanlenins]

I know there is basically no fandom on tumblr for the Books of Pellinor, but I need to say this SOMEWHERE.

In "The Crow", Hem and Zelika's relationship is basically Orpheus and Euridice. Hem's journey to find Zelika, even going all the way to the Iron Tower, very much reminds me of Orpheus's descent into the Underworld. Even the moments in The Put where he couldn't eat food without losing himself, or how the Hulls eyes on him prevented him from using any abilities because it would prove him to be an outsider and not to belong to the army/land of the Dead.

The only difference is that Orpheus actually had hope of saving Euridice. Hem learns that his journey was doomed to end in failure before he ever took the first step.

And I love that about it. But DAMN does it break my heart every time.

[every-character-ever-poll]

MAERAD OF PELLINOR - The Books of Pellinor

PROPAGANDA:

Maerad is a beutifully flawed character. She makes mistakes, is in the wrong, and hurts other people. But she is filled with such compassion and love for others that she grows from this and gives everything to those she cares about.

Also, she made a grown man panic over a period and that was hilarious.

[spifflocated]

Oh dear. I’ve been rereading old favourite fantasy books as a way of dealing with The Horrors and I’ve just started The Gift by Allison Croggan. I regret to inform you that I once again massively fancy Cadvan of Lirigon.

[the-medusa-system]

Top tip: don't get re-obsessed with a book series in which the main character becomes disabled when you're currently struggling to come to terms with your own disability, especially if you have a hilariously low split tolerance.

Anywho, on a totally unrelated note, welcome to the system Maerad!

[queer-ragnelle]

contender for funniest chapter opening of any retelling. ever. step dad pelli takes a tumble. whoopsie. (the road to avalon by joan wolf)

[theinquisitxor]

On a scale of:

1. Marrying a man much older than you who is kinda a father figure to you, but you become romantically involved with at the every end of the story

2. Marrying a man who was a frog for 9 years and is also your cousin

how fucked up is your early 2000s fantasy young adult romance?

[meanderingstar]

"Will there ever be peace again?" he asked, a little sadly.

"Of course there will be. If not in my lifetime or yours, then in someone else's.”

— Alison Croggon, Books of Pellinor

[seadolph]

Stay and heal your hurt Lay down that brow of stone From this day forth my hidden heart Will be your own. from The Lay of Andomian and Beruldh

every so often I return to the Books of Pellinor...

[fantasybooktournament]

I love The Naming by Alison Croggon, but I’m honestly not surprised it didn’t make the cut. I first encountered it in my middle school library when I was desperately trying to find a book I was interested in that would be advanced enough to get my teachers off my back for “not reading books at my grade level”. Tolkien was boring and Shakespeare was not really my thing (to be fair I was only like 12 at the time and trying to read The Scottish Play… probably not my best idea).

I fell in love with the world of The Chronicles of Pellinor (the title of the series). It was amazing. Well written and is definitely one of the books (the whole series really) that has influenced me as a writer. It has many similarities to the Lord of the Rings trilogy (huge evil trying to take over the land, one person has to stop it, burdens of great power, etc.) but fewer side tracks. And the main character is a teen girl. I read the first three of the series (The Naming—sometimes known as The Gift, The Riddle, and The Crow). I will admit I didn’t like The Crow the first time I read it, but it’s grown on me.

I’ve never seen the series in another library. I thought for a while I was misremembering it even existing. Then one day in a local used book store I saw a copy of The Naming which I of course immediately got. I now have the whole series which I read about once a year. Even though I know what happens it is an amazing read each time. I don’t want to spoil the books too much, but if you like Tamora Pierce, Mercedes Lackey, then you’ll probably like this series as well. I never really got into Lord of the Rings—Tolkien’s writing style is not for me. But if you like that series you’d probably enjoy this one too.

Also if you’re a writer and you want insight on world building each book has appendixes that give more info about the world. When I was like 12/13 and first reading the books I was fully immersed in the world building the author had done. She presents the books as translated copies of an ancient story that happened a long time ago.

Anyways it’s an amazing, albeit very obscure book, that I cannot recommend enough. I’d say check your local library but it probably won’t be there. Unless you live in Australia as the author is Australian.

Thank you!!

[sugar-coated-prat-dragon]

Title: The reason Arthur wasn’t officially named the crowned prince earlier 👑

Bonus: Tristan De Bois crest was a silver eagle 🦅

Episode: "Excalibur" questions #2

Questions by @tansyuduri

Tagging: @miyriu

Books used for reference: Sword and Sorcery book, Merlin Heroes Guide and Merlin Villains Guide 📕

Question: Why was Arthur not considered crown prince already as the eldest son and only apparent heir?

My answer: That’s a REALLY good question.

Thankfully, I have the answer. 👌

Arthur’s official crowning ceremony was not only to celebrate his coming of age, but to show that should it become necessary; he could rule the kingdom with no need for advisers or guardians.

Book description:

Arthur had come of age now; should it become necessary, he could rule the kingdom with no need for advisers or guardians.

His coming of age was marked by the ceremony naming him Crown Prince of Camelot.

Question: So apparently throwing down a gauntlet was supposed to be a huge insult?

My answer: Correct.

In the book, it mentions that even Merlin had been with Arthur long enough to know that the knight's code did not allow such a challenge to be ignored.

Book description:

The knight pulled off one black metal gauntlet and flung it to the floor - the knightly way of issuing a challenge to combat.

Merlin had been with Arthur long enough to know that the knight's code did not allow such a challenge to be ignored.

Question: It’s interesting that Sir Owain picked up the gauntlet, because in the legend, he was one of the last to die at the battle of Camlann?

My answer: Unfortunately, Sir Owain didn’t last nearly long to enough to participate in the battle of Camlann, but according to his ‘Hero Rating’ in the Heroes Guide book, he had a weapon prowess of 4 stars (⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️).

The book admits that the deaths of Sir Owain and Sir Pellinor robbed Camelot of two of its bravest defenders.

That’s quite a compliment.

Book description: HERO RATING

Bravery: 大大大

Magical power: 0

Weapon prowess: 大大大大

Selflessness: 大大大

NOBLE KNIGHTS OF CAMELOT: Arthur went to pick it up but Sir Owain took it first, eager to prove himself and face an enemy on behalf of his king.

Even when the Black Knight announced that the fight would be to the death, Owain showed no fear.

Owain bravely and confidently went into the arena.

He dealt a deadly blow to the Black Knight, but the wraith could not be killed by a mortal weapon.

- The magic of the wraith robbed Camelot of two of its bravest defenders.

Question: I find it interesting that Tristan uses his own personal crest and not his family crest?

Geoffrey: “It is the crest of Tristan De Bois.”

Gaius: “And he is the only knight ever to have carried such a crest”.

My answer: It’s certainly possible that was his personal crest, but I personally, don’t think that is what that sentence implies.

They pointedly said Tristan De Bois was the only “knight” (🛡️) to bear the crest.

Which honestly would make s lot of sense given how Ygraine was obviously not a knight and I very much doubt Agravaine (coward 😒) was one either.

Despite the fact, the knights of Medhir lived three centuries before Uther’s reign (so there were in fact knights in the past).

We also know that Camelot’s first knights were formed by Uther himself, when he took the throne.

So the De Bois line (Ygraine’s family) most likely had no knights that bore their family crest before or after Tristan’s death.

Gaius: ‘Uther created the knights to protect this kingdom from those who wished to destroy it.”

Book description:

DEATHLY KNIGHTS: Three centuries before Uther's reign, seven noble knights were seduced by a sorcerer and became a terrible force that swept through the land, bringing death and destruction.

Question: It looks like the symbol on Tristan De Bois’s crest is an eagle?

So Tristan was likely a strong man and military leader, who was sincere and constant in his personality?

My answer:

1. The crest was definitely an eagle. 🦅 A silver eagle on a black background.

2. However, I don’t think it was Tristan’s “personal” crest (I don’t even think they even chose their own crests at all).

More likely, it was the crest of the De Bois family and since they were a noble family, they probably had that crest for many generations of their family tree.

It’s just that none of that family tree happened to be knights and therefore no one ever bore that symbol on a sheild.

Book description: Sir Tristan's crest was a silver eagle on a black background.

[rosesntea2]

So I finished reading The curse of the wendigo and idk how I didn't fall in love with this series when I first read it it's so good

I got my Dr Warthrop design and then yknow the silliest moment ever from the 2nd book

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

The Sword in the Stone (1963, Wolfgang Reitherman)

14/09/2024