#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

[shaythoven]

Stupid Pellinor rant coming through cuz I'm still rereading them and I'm still in love with these books.

So when I read these as a kid, The Crow was my least favourite cuz I mean, the first two books had me fully invested in Maerad and Cadvan as characters and then suddenly it's like, "let's take a look at what's going on 1000s of miles away with these characters you haven't had time to love yet" and yeah, of course I was impatient to get back to the main story and I kinda slept on The Crow a little bit. I almost did it again with this time reading it 15 years later. I wanted so badly to just read a fucking cliff notes version of The Crow and move right on to the last book in the series and get a resolution.

But man. There's a lot about this series that I just did not get when I read it as a kid cuz i think I was too young for it. And reading about Hem, this traumatized little boy who doesn't remember a time when he's been loved, get unofficially adopted by Saliman and experience having a loving parent for the first time makes me want to sob. Like, he is constantly at least slightly doubting that Saliman actually loves him and Saliman is basically screaming "I love this little boy more than the world itself and if anything happened to him I'd kill myself immediately" to anyone that will listen.

And because he can still tell Hem doesn't fully believe him, whenever he tells Hem with words that he loves him, he tells him in a language that it's magically impossible to lie in. It makes my fucking heart hurt. And the worst part is, I never finished this series when I read it the first time, and because I kinda mentally skipped over The Crow, I don't remember if Saliman survives. If he dies in this war and leaves Hem as an orphan for the second time I'm gonna kill Alison Croggon so help me God.

[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.

[poison-ghost]

READ MONSTRUMOLOGIST BY RICK YANCY NOW!!!! THIS IS NOT A ASK IT IS A DEMAND!!!!

anyways I’m about to start reading the last book in the series. Wish me luck!! 😭✨

[starrydoglover]

read monsturmologist by rick yancey. finished it. all four books. will never recover.

[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]

April 2025 Reading Wrap Up

I read 5 books in the month of April, and wrapped up two series! Five books is a little below average for me, but I got myself in such a reading slump at the end of the month trying to read The Luminaries. It's been very slow going with this book, and while I don't want to dnf it, it's just taking me forever. Making this post today (May 4), I'm still only 1/2 way though. The first 3/4 of April was good reading, so let me dive in:

1.The Crow (The Books of Pellinor 3) by Alison Croggon, 4/5 stars. I remembered scenes from this book vividly because of the emotional damage it did to me when I was young. I know many people don't like this book as much, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the change of perspective, place, and character this book brings.

2.The Singing (The Books of Pellinor 4) by Alison Croggon, 4/5 stars. The conclusion to this series, and tbh I did not remember almost anything from when I read this years ago. It was almost like reading it new. I feel like this book is a satisfactory conclusion, the ending probably could've been written better, but it's good enough imo.

3.The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan, 4/5 stars. This is a published version of Tan's nature/birding journal, and a lovely account of the birds who visit her backyard over the course of several years. I love birds and this was a simple book, but joyful, emotional, and thoughtful. I really enjoyed reading this, and highly recommend!

4.Cybele's Secret (Wildwood Dancing 2) by Juliet Mariller, 4/5 stars. This is a companion novel to Wildwood Dancing and follows one of the sisters, Paula, as she travels with her merchant father to Instabul in search of a lost relic. I actually enjoyed this more than the first book, and it was very different from book 1. This is more of a plot driven adventure story with secret societies, scholars, ancient artifacts, trials and tests.

4.A Northern Gardener's Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators by Lorraine Johnson. As I was getting ready for spring planting, I wanted to learn more about native plants and pollinators, and how to garden with those in mind. I've always been anti-lawn and pro native gardens, and learned more from this book!

I was hoping to have The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton finished in April, but that did not happen. I'm hoping to buckle down and get this book finished soon. I am enjoying it, but it's just taking me forever to get though. Since this has put me in a reading slump, I haven't though of my May tbr very much. I didn't get to my Random TBR book for April (because reading slump), so that is a priority in May.

May tbr?:

finish The Luminaries

read April's Random TBR pick: Child of a Hidden Sea

May Random TBR pick, tbd

something shorter and easier!-- maybe The Demon King or Some Desperate Glory ?

[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...

[antropophagi]

For @professionallydeadinside, who requested Will and Kearns interacting! Couldn't help but add Warthrop in the mix, it's always more fun with him around haha

In the direct aftermath of our hunting the Antropophagi's tribe, John Kearns – or whatever his true name was – came to live, for a few days, with the monstrumologist and I. I cannot say he was a more attentive housemate than my master, for he was not: often, he would leave the house to wander on his own, in an attempt, perhaps, to liven the peaceful days he found himself trapped in. I was thankful that he did, for whenever we were in the same room, I was subjected to his confounding, and sometimes intimidating, behavior.

''It is because he is British. That, and his immense lack of empathy,'' my master said when I interrogated him on the subject. Warthrop was elbows deep into a dissection, bent over the table, strands of hair falling upon his forehead. He clicked his tongue and I, the trained apprentice, reached over to smooth his hair back. ''You cannot expect Kearns of all men to behave in a sensible way. I have found, over the years, that he is of the sort to choose chaos over anything else.''

''Chaos?''

He nodded. ''Some men, Will Henry, despise the conventionality of moral. We ought also to be able to stand above morality, he told me once, as though I had never read Nietzsche before. Kearns will never abide by such laws, either moral or legal. Therefore, he exists in another plane of existence, one where the strong crushes the weak and the weak covets what the strong possesses.''

It was evident, in the monstrumologist's tone, that he thought poorly of those ideas.

''Isn't it better, though, sir?'' I asked. His eyes snapped to me so suddenly I added clumsily, ''Conventions don't help with monstrumology. And, when facing an Antropophagus, it is the strong against the weak. Morality isn't going to save us in that case.''

''Evidently, not,'' he said slowly, dropping his scalpel onto the table. ''Having a gun saved your life that night. However, pray tell me, Will Henry, what is it you felt when the woman Kearns brought as a bait awoke from her drug-induced slumber?''

I looked down at my shoes. ''I felt horrified, sir.''

''And what it is you felt when Malachi died?''

''Sadness, sir.''

''Last question. You pestered me once, perhaps rightfully, about asking for the constable's help with the infestation. Why did you?''

''Because it was the right thing to do, sir. Because I didn't want anyone to suffer Mr. Gray's end.''

''Indeed,'' he said. I raised my eyes to find him staring down at me, his dissection abandoned. ''Wouldn't you say that morality would have saved some lives? That it did save lives? We helped the woman because it was the right thing to do and she survived. Malachi sacrificed himself to save you, which, in turn, made you that much more capable of killing the creature that ended his life. If it were not for morality, for empathy, we would have stayed in Harrington Lane, that night, Will Henry, and then who might tell how many lives would have been lost?''

We remained quiet for a moment, as I pondered over his words. Finally, he turned back to his dissecting table, dismissing me with a quiet, ''Avoid Kearns as much as you can. He is no good for you.''

In my defense, I did try to steer clear of Kearns. However, not only did we live in the same house, although temporarily, but Kearns had also taken a shine on me. Remarkable snooper, with a distinctive taste for the dramatics, he would find me, even in my most secret spots – I liked the end corner of the garden, where grew the rose bushes I took care of – and drag me into incomprehensible conversations on the meaning of existence (''Life is not a God given gift, master Henry, but simply the lucky combination of biology and chemistry, therefore making it entirely meaningless.'') or on the monstrumologist's life (''Has he ever told you of our first meeting in London? Quite the funny story there.'').

Once, upon learning I used to be a fervent player of stickball, Kearns managed to cajole me into playing with him. Despite my protests – I had, after all, an injured arm –, he pulled me after him into an empty clearing, near Harrington Lane, where he insisted on me teaching him stickball.

''It is not a played sport in London,'' he explained, smiling down at me. He rolled his sleeves up, discarded his vest and stretched. ''I was always more of a tennis man myself. Nothing like swinging your arm to get the blood pumping.''

I shifted on my heels, anxiously looking in the direction of the house. Where was my master when I so desperately needed him?

''Oh, do not look so stricken, Will!'' His warm smile was beginning to veer into satisfaction, as though my anxiety pleased him to no end. ''I bet Pellinore never lets you play. It's always work with him, isn't it? Considering how heroic you've been the past few days, I wouldn't begrudge you a brief moment of pleasure if I were him.''

''Perhaps he might need me, sir,'' I said weakly.

Kearns snorted. ''Need you? Why, then, does he leave you alone all day while he tinker with his precious specimens? According to me, if he really needed you, I wouldn't have been able to sneak you out of the house.''

I stared down at the broom handle and the ball he had made me take, vainly trying to swallow the wave of shame washing over me. Naively, I had thought Kearns' surgical barbs would only be reserved for the monstrumologist. They had a strange relationship, made of esteem and disdain in equal measure, therefore Warthrop was a much more worthy target, in my opinion. What was the pleasure in taking down a child?

He exists in another plane of existence, one where the strong crushes the weak.

''Come on, little Will, teach me the art of stickball before your dear old master takes us back to that dreary house by the gruff of our necks,'' Kearns said, loudly clasping his hands.

Surprisingly, Kearns proved himself to be an exemplary listener. His athletic build allowed him to master the concept of stickball quickly. Soon, we were both running around, breathless and cheerful, cheeks red from the exertion. Above us, the sun looked down indulgently. I could not let myself forget that the man I was playing with had literally thrown me into a monsters' den, but it was easy to feel swept up in the game. Ghosts of playmates pressed against me as I swung until my wounded arm ached; there, in that golden afternoon, I felt myself again, playing with my chums, dreading the moment our headmaster would call us back into school.

''Ah! Another victory for me,'' Kearns crowed, swinging his broom handle as though it were a sword. ''Mr. Henry, you might be a masterful assistant-apprentice, but your technique here simply lacks finesse.''

''You are much more athletic than me, sir,'' I pointed out, breathing heavily.

He raised one eyebrow, in mock-confusion. ''So? The fact that I am a grown adult competing against a malnourished and injured child means nothing here. I am simply the better player.''

Kearns went on, giving me unsollicited advice on my posture, my gestures until the shrill voice of my master interrupted us. We turned to see him walking towards us, scowling.

''Oh, well, it was amusing while it lasted,'' Kearns told me, winking. ''Remember me after your master buries me alive. If you wish to flower my grave, please avoid chrysanthemums. I am deathly allergic to them.''

''John,'' Warthrop said stiffly when he arrived at our level, eyeing Kearns with what appeared to be suspicion. ''I believe I specifically told you not to bother Will Henry during his chores.''

''My apologies, Pellinore, I thought I should save Will from drowning into your laundry. Poor child was about to get swallowed whole by one of your shirt before I intervened. You see, this is why you should give him more food.''

I could pratically feel the exasperation rolling off of the monstrumologist. ''Will Henry has everything he requires.''

Kearns studied me, then smiled ironically. ''He looks like he will drop dead if the wind happens to be too strong.''

''Enough,'' Warthrop growled. He dropped a hand on my shoulder and squeezed harshly. ''You, Will Henry, will come back home and finish what needs to be finished.'' Softly, he pushed me forward, away from Kearns. ''And you,'' he said, pointing at the man, ''will leave Harrington Lane as soon as humanly possible.''

''Are you telling me I am overstaying my welcome?'' Kearns asked, in a dramatic tone more befitting a lover's tragic soliloquy.

The monstrumologist, forcing me to walk away, snapped back, ''Yes, you are.''

Kearns followed us quietly, although I could hear the amusement in his lively steps. The doctor, whose hand would simply not leave my shoulder, grumbled all the way back, sporadically tightening his hold, as though afraid I would slip away from his grasp to run away with Kearns. The idea itself seemed preposterous; I shifted to chance a glance at Warthrop's face, only to be met by his furious eyes.

When we finally reached the house, Warthrop dragged me into the basement, leaving Kearns to amuse himself on his own. There, he sat me down on a stool and barked, ''Show me your arm, you silly child.''

I did, rolling my sleeve to reveal my aching arm. The doctor examined it, sighing and muttering to himself, though his fingers remained delicate in their probing.

''I am sorry, sir,'' I ventured to say.

Warthrop raised his eyes to me. ''When I say you should avoid Kearns, I mean it, Will Henry.''

''I did not dare tell him no, sir. I am sorry.''

''Well, I suppose it is indeed difficult to refuse Kearns something,'' he said, carefully refastening the dressing on my arm. ''Thankfully, your wound doesn't seem to have worsened. How does it feel?''

I moved my arm. ''Fine, sir.''

''Good. Now, look at me, Will Henry,'' he said, inching his face closer to mine. His hands found my shoulders again and squeezed. ''For as long as Kearns will stay here, you shall remain with me at all time. Do you understand?''

I nodded. His gravity surprised me. Did he truly think Kearns so dangerous for me? Now that we were not surrounded by Antropophagi, I could not imagine what Kearns could do to endanger me, let alone hurt me. I couldn't understand, at so young an age, that what frightened Warthrop lay in Kearns' cold, dead eyes. The Oculus Dei, Kearns would later call them, eyes that we would both share, although I would not inherit them from him.

Everything I ever inherited came from the monstrumologist.

And so it was that, not for the first time, Pellinore Warthrop tried to protect me from a danger that came not from the outside, but from the very depths of his soul.

[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