#also Asha: proceeds to only free her families

[frowerssx2]

One of the problems I personally have with Asha is that she asks Magnifico to return ALL the ungranted wishes and gets angry/upset when he refuses. But yet, at the first opportunity she had to do that herself (which is what she kinda wished to do) she only asks Star to free her Saba's and mother's wishes. She only thinks about freeing the other wishes when Magnifico gets corrupted by the evil book and begins to destroy them. So, why couldn't she and Star free all the wishes when they broke into the Wish Chamber? Why did she say she was only going back for her mother's at her house and not all of them now she knows she can free them? She even says that Star won't go back to the sky until all the wishes are free so why didn't she do it in the first place?? She had all that time Star was looking for the two wishes she specifically wanted, to free them all. So why didn't she?

[readerescape]

Obsidio (The Illuminae Files) Book Review

For starters, this will NOT be a spoiler free review. Just a warning, proceed at your own risk...

I started reading this series at the end of last year and I really wasn’t sure I was even going to like it. I didn’t, I freaking loved every moment of it. Though this is a review of the last book I will probably just go on and on about how I loved the story as a whole. Also its long...but I had a lot to say. 

CHARACTERS

Despite the incredible format and plot the best part of these books for me was the characters we follow throughout the story. It begins with Kady Grant and Ezra Mason and through every book this family gets bigger and better. I was really impressed with Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff with Obsidio. It can’t be easy to introduce two new characters, one we all thought was dead and the other a completely new addition to the group we all love so well at this point but they did it spectacularly. Even 50 pages in I was already invested in Asha and Rhys’ storyline and I was absolutely devastated when he “betrayed” her towards the climax of the book. (Full confession Kristoff and Kaufman get me every time with their plot twists and I love it every. single. time.) I was also surprised at how emotionally invested in the character of AIDAN I had gotten so much so that I actually cried when he flew the Churchill into the Kenyatta and died. I was so impressed with the arc of a the character and the frankly striking dialogue. Standing ovation for the authors on this one. Though he may be a monstrous mass-murdering AI system, he’s OUR monstrous mass-murdering AI system. I could talk for days about Kady, Ezra, Nik, Hanna, Ella and the rest, I think I’ll leave it there for now. 

PLOT

Obviously this particular book was the ending of the trilogy and those can be somewhat tricky to do, I thought the plot of this book was just as insane and complex as the other two books in the series, in the best of ways. There were a number of insane plot twists that had me all but ripping my hair out (in enjoyment of course). I could only hope that the “betrayal” of Rhys was a set up (though I was very worried for a really long time about that one) and that Ezra and Nik found a miraculous escape from death...again. Kristoff and Kaufman once again kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved every minute of this insane ride. 

FORMAT

This series was so incredibly unique in its format and I loved it for that. The format was such a risk and it paid off beautifully. Each book stepped up the format more and more and I particularly loved the “comic section” of this book. This most touching moment for me, however was at the very end of the book. The formatting of the final scene as a “regular book” format was poignant and touching on every level. I was so happy they included that section. 

CRITICISMS

I do have a hard time criticising any aspect of this book. The one thing that I wasn’t sure about was the lack of a hard hitting death at the end of the book. With such high stakes it feels like the book was missing a hard-hitting death (of central characters, unless you’re counting AIDAN which hit me pretty hard) but if I’m totally honest I was happy to see our rag-tag team of heroes come out on top and move forward with their lives. 

TOTAL RATING

5/5 Stars! I highly recommend this book! 

[anauthoroftheoldandnew]

Me Rewriting GOT some parts of Seasons 6-7 and possibly a bit of things for Season 8

Seasons 6-7

First, Varys kills Kevan Lannister, the only remaining person who actually kept the Lannister family afloat while Jaime is gone in the Riverlands. Varys loudly declares for Dany and Cersei is told about this. Her son Tommen is killed and Myrcella perhaps dies with some infection from her ear (in the books, her ear was cut off by Arianne Martell’s tactics and plots) which leads Cersei to be more insane. The Sparrows have not been dealt with yet and Cersei in her grief and rage blows up the Sept of Baelor like she does in the books.

Jaime leaves her truly because he had seen the Mad King do it. Margaery and her brother Loras still dies but the Tyrells under Willas Tyrell and his younger brother with Olenna will avenge them and joins Dany’s side. Cersei takes the Iron Throne as she does in the end of Season Six and causes a break up of the Lannister family in factions (in my idea, I want that all the Lannisters of Lannisport and Casterly Rock to at least show up) and there is a faction supporting Jaime who has been freed from his vows and Cersei who takes the throne.

Jaime finds Sansa in the Vale after defying what he did and frees all the prisoners from the Red Wedding and banishes the Freys from Riverrun and forcing justice upon them. He thensaves her from Littlefinger, with Sansa causing Littlefinger to die after she manages to say the truth about his killing of Lysa and Jon Arryn (In the books she does see Littlefinger kill Lysa as is in the show but was in the room when Lysa confessed to helping Petyr with killing her husband.)

He promises to take her to Winterfell. Cersei summons all her remaining banners and she names Qyburn as her hand and lord commander to Robert Strong or reanimated Mountain. The Westerlands pummels into chaos and Cersei has to choice but to make the streets of Lannisport and the caverns of Casterly Rock bloody.

Cersei loses against Devan Lannister, one of her cousins who is totally on Jaime’s side and manages to kick Cersei and her forces out of Lannisport and Casterly Rock.

Cersei settles in Castamere with her army barely able and also where she takes all the silvers in the mine with labors of the common folk in order to pay the debts of the Crown to Braavos and just as we have seen in the show, the Iron Bank supports her and the explanation here is that Braavos hates Dany because she is a Valyrian and most of the people in Braavos are descendants of Valyrian slaves who escaped and founded the city and hates what Dany stands for and most especially hates her dragons.

This causes problems in the Free Cities as war looms there which causes Dany’s free states there to be ruined and reestablished into the old system which Dany does not manage to replace at all.

Cersei is told by Qyburn of some of the ways the Dornish managed to repel the dragons considering they are the only part of the Seven Kingdoms that was not conquered by Aegon and his sisters. So, they start mass producing large ballistic crossbows to defend the city. Cersei allies with Euron and Victarion sides with Dany. He manages to bring damage to his brother but he is killed by Euron.

Cersei manages to borrow money from the Iron Bank and in come the sellswords and she fights off the Martells and the Tyrells, but she is just barely able to hold them off. Cersei tries to rally the Stormlords to her cause but they ignore her commands and Edric Storm is found (one of Robert’s book bastards) and is legitimised by the Stormlords as a Baratheon and raises their lands against Cersei. Dany names him Lord of Storm’s End and legitimises him fully. Dany organizes her army and incorporates it with the Reach, the Stormlands and Dorne plus her own army.

Jon Snow is revived in the North with Melisandre's help after she uses Shireen as a sacrifice after Jon wargs into Ghost and as he does, also decides to leave the Wall in order to go back to Winterfell. Davos comes to Castle Black with Rickon (He is in the books, looking for Rickon to gain Stannis the allegiance of House Manderly.) Rickon is grown and Jon and him meet for the first time in a long time. Stannis defeats Ramsey Bolton in the battle who killed his father and became Warden of the North and Lord of the Dreadfort and Winterfell.

But he also dies during a battle against the Freys and some of the other houses who are about to arrive to kill him. Yara/Asha escapes and finds out she’s pregnant (she had sex in the books.) and brings Theon with her. They find out that Victarion is dead and Euron plans to find them next.

Sansa and Jaime arrives near the North where they find the Brotherhood without Banners and saves Podrick and Brienne, where Lady Stoneheart is. Jaime is almost killed by Stoneheart for being accused of being part of the Red Wedding, Sansa saves him and tells him he had been saved by her from Littlefinger and proceeds to tell her about everything she had suffered. Stoneheart spares Jaime’s life. They all decide, along with Jaime’s Lannister host, to take back Winterfell.

Jon decides to pledges to keep his brother safe and Davos demands justice for Shireen after he finds out. Jon banishes Melisandre from the North and she flees to Dragonstone where the last remaining stronghold of Stannis exists. Bran and Meera arrive in the Wall and are reunited with Jon.

Sansa and the rest of the gang arrive at Greywater Watch where Howland Reed is and Howland lets them pass through and comes with them to the venture, knowing what he must tell Jon Snow. Jaime is questioned about his loyalties but he says he has loyalty only to restoring his honor and his good name and to do the right things from now on.

Cersei is surrounded and Dany makes certain to siege the city, with Tyrells, Martells and Baratheon forces with her own. She gives it time until she loses patience and flies over the city. Drogon is injured by the ballistic crossbows which causes Dany to be angry. Cersei sees the dragons from the Red Keep and already has a plan of escape with Qyburn. Unbeknowst to Dany, she burns the city to the ground with Drogon's fire as she burns the Red Keep not knowing the wildfyre underneath the keep. Dany is in regret and horror as she does this and Tyrion calms her down, trying to bring her back to her mission. She will still have to restore peace.

Jaime's host and Sansa arrive at near Winterfell to see that the Freys and other houses hold Winterfell. Sansa shows herself to them as Lady of Winterfell. They are shocked that Jaime is there and Lady Catelyn in such a state. Jaime defends himself and says that he has taken Sansa home in his own accord. The Freys are killed in a revengeful way outside of Winterfell. Sansa is established at Lady of Wintefell, Lady Stoneheart kills herself and is buried in crypts, Ned's bones are finally taken by Hallis Mollen into Winterfell.

Dorne is taken over by Ellaria Sand with her daughters after Trystane and Doran are killed. Arianne Martell finally decides to go home and take control, starting a civil war with Ellaria, which causes deteoration in Dany's ranks. Sam in Oldtown where he meets Sarella Sand and Marwyn the Mage and learns the ways of Maestery. There is where he discovers the tome of the Song of Ice and Fire for Sarella and learns much more from Marwyn magic from Marwyn and finds out of Jon's parentage.

Things I would have on Season 8

Arya killing Cersei in Casterly Rock to fulfill the Valonqar prophecy. Dany beginning to doubt her purpose after what she did to King's Landing. Jon Snow finding out about his parentage. The Stark children reuniting. Arya to meet Nymeria again (properly) Arya meeting Gendry again. Ser Davos finally having some peace in his life. The Red Priests. IRON BORN KICKING ASS! The Fellowship of Winter. Dany and Jon meeting. Jaime redemption arc coming to completion. Brienne and Jaime finally getting together. The Battle for the Dawn. Peace returning to Westeros.

I know that's long and it's pretty late here in Asia but shit the more I'm reading into the books, the more I wanted many things for the show.

[adodevents]

                            PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION

DATE: Spring, 305 AC TIME: Just after dusk LOCATION: The Red Keep

Where there is death—grief, anguish, heartache—there is compassion, there is a people coming together, there is celebration. They gather as the sun sets, their gowns flowing and their swords sheathed for this is a party and there will be no fighting tonight. There will be no animosity, no vengeance, no conflict. The throne room has been transformed, made into something a little less intimidating, less cold, less terrifying as you enter and your eyes land upon the dragon heads staring down at you. Balerion greets them first, as tall as the Iron Throne itself—fitting, really since the very flame that coated his throat forged the royal seat. With his mouth spread wide, a candle sits between his jaw bringing to life a beast whose long since been dead, but he welcomes them all the same. A few feet further and Vhagar comes into view, the same candle in his mouth as his head floats above the crowd. Each and every dragon to have ever flown the skies above is nailed to the wall as a token, a piece of history displayed for the world to see. Conquerers, just as their riders were, brave and fearless and ghastly. A reminder of the family who took an entire nation with one breath of fire. 

Tables line the wall, pushed back toward the entrance, made specially just for this occasion, only for this party in the name of celebration. They take their seats quickly, scooping up cups of wine from servers as they wind and weave to find their friends, families, their allies. The King watches them from the dais, from the throne—his throne—sharp and cold and utterly uncomfortable if he were to be asked. A grand table has been set up before it, seats and plate settings for each member of the royal family line the table. The Prince sits closest to him, his right hand in all but name, hands rested atop his lap, pale northern skin nearly glowing in the candlelight—yet another reminder of his heritage, of his inability to blend in within his own flesh and blood. The Queen sits to his left, lips pursed into a thin line, head held high as she gazes upon the intruders, the strangers, the vultures as they proceed into her hen house. Prince Aegon sits closest to her, a greedy smile upon his lips as he slouches in chair, but Daemon’s poise is noted, his calculated grin, the placement of his gaze—a lion on the hunt for the perfect prey. The Princess sits beside her half-brother, wild blonde curls cascading down her shoulders as she smiles like the gracious host she’s known to be. Picture perfect, each and every one of them—the way a royal family should be.

And the man of the hour, the man chosen to replace a great loss, the man for which each and every guest had traveled far and wide to see sits at a table all of his own, one strategically placed to showcase his newfound importance. Ned Stark sits beside Lady Catelyn, their children, shared since the death of his brother, of her husband surround them, on display in ways a northerner could have never expected and they look as such—out of their element, like they don’t belong. And that is surely the thought on everyone’s mind as they mingle between themselves, as they sip their wine and judge the ones fortunate enough to be royal, to serve a dynasty and receive the benefits that come along with such a sacrifice. But as quick as the poisonous whispers began, they petered out as Rhaegar rose from the Iron Throne with a glass of wine in his hand. 

“Join me, please,” and every head within the throne room turns to gaze at the King.

“Today has been filled with grief—with death, but tonight,” he paused, raising his glass in the direction of Ned Stark and his family, “tonight we honor a great man.” Applause sounded almost immediately as the wolf rose from his chair, bowing his head slowly before returning back to his chair. “We may have lost Lord Arryn, but we are gaining Lord Stark and the realm will be better with his counsel.” He gives the northerner a gracious smile before bringing his cup to his lips for a small sip. 

“To Ned Stark, Hand of the King!” his voice booms throughout the room, bouncing off the banner-lined pillars and swirling through the crowd, uplifting the spirits of even the saddest noble. They drink to him. They sip their wine and gobble up their meat, suckle on their potatoes and feast in the name of peace, of prosperity, of an alliance long overdue for these are monumental times, but perhaps there’s a reason a northerner has never ventured this far south. The wolf and the dragon; shall we see who’s the greater beast?

“Let the celebration begin!”

Dinner is served immediately following the King’s speech. Troves of wine line the cups of the most respected nobles throughout Westeros as they dance and mingle and celebrate the appointment of Lord Eddard Stark. 

RHAELLA TARGARYEN keeps close to her family, wine in hand as she seeks out her son KING RHAEGAR, offering him kind words and approval of his great speech.

LORAS TYRELL is seen mingling throughout the crowd, dancing here and here with ladies of the court until finally settling into a deep conversation with none other than TORRHEN STARK.

THE HOUND, with a grimace on his face—his disdain for such events prevalent in each step he takes—keeps to the edges of the throne room, tucked away from the excitement as he glowers at WILLAS TYRELL.

SANSA STARK looks a dream tonight, dressed from head to toe in a gown of her own making, a talent she seems hellbent on sharing with every other lady in waiting, most notably SHIERA LANNISTER. 

QUEEN CERSEI peels herself away from the King as quickly as possible, wine practically sewn into the palm of her hand, the cup leaving her lips for only a few moments throughout the night, eyes narrowed upon her son AEGON TARGARYEN as he approaches.

ALYSANDRA ARRYN, perhaps the most bereaved of the evening besides the King, finds herself deep in conversation with the somewhat soft spoken KYRA LANNISTER, the looks of a budding friendship arising between the two, though looks can be quite deceiving.

ASHA GREYJOY, usually an outsider to such events finds herself in the company of the rambunctious SERENA STARK, but perhaps the two will find common ground for the ocean which they love so much is large enough for the both of them.

JOANNA LANNISTER with a coy smile upon her lips, she holds the young rose delicately between her fingers, careful not to prick her finger as MARGAERY TYRELL offers her friendship.

RENLY BARATHEON, sips generously at his wine as he keeps a close eye on the one who matters most to him, but from a distance, of course, taking MELARA LANNISTER up on her offer for company as a welcome distraction. 

KIYANA, the infamous Braavosi sellsword and new personal guard to the King’s own sister keeps to herself for the most part, choosing silence over conversation, though she seems quite interested in what CLETUS YRONWOOD has to say.

JYNESSA BLACKMONT finds comfort in the wise words of OLENNA TYRELL, a genius in her own renown, as the two browse the crowds and exchange pleasantries before diving into more meaningful matters.

DAENERYS TARGARYEN finds herself accompanied by her only niece RHAENA TARGARYEN, the two catching up on lost time for they have not seen each other in years. 

NYMELLA TOLAND, by far the furthest traveller for the occasion, finds herself on the receiving end of the sliver-tongued LITTLEFINGER, a man she’s never met but finds quite intriguing. 

SUMMARY: Who doesn’t love a good party? We certainly do! We hope you’ve enjoyed the conclusion of our first event. Feel free to continue your past threads as there are no expiration dates on events and multiple threads are highly encouraged! Listed above you will find each and every character paired together for our second task: the option to write out these interactions! These are just jumping off points and you are free to take your thread in whatever direction you and your partner see fit, but if you do choose to participate, please tag your thread with #adodtask*. You may also continue any threads from the previous event as there is no expiration on events and you are free to participate in past threads as well if agreed upon between players!

The party began at around 7 PM and will continue until around 12 AM in game, but feel free to also create threads days after the party or even include your character’s travel plans back to their home. Threads at House specific castles throughout Westeros may also begin now and we welcome letter writing between characters as threads as well! During this event, there will be many, many locations available to your characters, so feel free to explore the Red Keep as much as you wish within your threads. You can find a detailed location map here. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to message the main!

We hope you’ve enjoyed the first event!

*(any members who are unable to complete their task with their assigned partner, are free to message any admin and we will be happy to take the place of an absent player)