#also are shaman eles

[thepinkywarband]

For Kirnaash: 2, 3, (ranger) 7 and 9

2: Did they have a teacher? If so, who were they and were they good instructor?

Due to some...bizarre circumstances as a cub, I was unable to find placement in a farhar and ended up with a more practical education as a ward of the Soul warband. Almorra was responsible for my physical well-being, but there was little formal training, mostly learning by watching then doing. I learned leather craft by helping with armor repairs, and about the ways to handle weapons while I cleaned away blood from their blades.

Once I showed up with my first pet though, I found myself pushed into the field with a bow on my back alongside the band scout, Namyra Soulstrider. She was a bit of a jokester at camp, but at work it was all business. I tried to emulate her best I could - I was wowed by her ability to navigate and work wordlessly with her devourer. Runs with her are what inspired my interest in cartography. Any wrong steps I made were met with a sharp look while we were out, and a frustrated lecture on what went wrong once back at base. At the end she'd give a heavy sigh and ruffle my mane, crack some joke at my expense and everything was alright again. I don't think she ever had primus aspirations, but if she'd lived to get long in the tooth, I could see her surrounded by a group of cubs pretending to be grumpy while letting them climb all over her.

3: Have they dabbled in any other professions than the one they ended up with?

I've had a strained relationship with magic. My sire was a shaman, and I spent most of my life being warned away from or actively suppressing any fiery tendencies. When my dam was discovered in Darkrime Delve...well, there wasn't much willpower left to hold it back. I was a walking fireball for a time. Can you be considered an elementalist if you only use one element...?

Anyways, a lot of my magic got siphoned off by Aurene in the fight against the twin dragons. I spent the next year learning to balance what remained and use it in combat. I also studied the sword, partially as tribute, partially as grief work. In Cantha it turns out they have a name for the ones who use this fighting style called "willbenders". But to me it'll always be part of my memory of Almorra.

7: What’s their favorite pet and why?

Don't tell the others...but Pinky is gonna be my baby forever. Even if he is almost as big as my raptor now. He knows how to make me laugh with his silly expressionless face, and his habit of winding up in spaces I cannot conceive how he reached. I'm so glad drakes have long life spans. He deserves it for all he's been through with me. He's my original life partner. [Sorry Tek <3]

[9 was already answered]

[neechees]

Negative & racist depictions, tropes, and Stereotypes regarding Native Americans in Road to El Dorado.

Mayaincatec: The film homogenizes multiple Indigenous cultures cultures into one, specifically and mainly Maya and Nahua cultures, with the story being based on a mythical place set in Colombia.

Mighty Whitey: the basis of the film comes from the Spanish lie and myth that the Indigenous Aztec population worshipped them as gods, with the city of El Dorado doing the same with Miguel and Tulio, who use this to trick Native people to steal gold from them.

Oversexualized Native Woman: Chel’s character has overemphasis on her sex appeal and sexuality, with her character design being very revealing and exageratted on her chest, hips, and thighs. There is little to no exploration of her character outside of her sexuality and servitude towards the White characters. She does not pass the Aila Test and is a near opposite. Chel is a perfect example of how many Native female characters are sexualized

Evil Shaman: The Native religious leader Tzekel-Kan is demonized as evil & plays a heavier role as the main antagonist instead of the famed genocidal colonizer Hernan Cortez. Tzekel-Kan being enslaved by Cortez at the end is depicted as a “good ending”.

Demonized Spiritualiity: connected to the above, all scenes depicting traditional Mesoamerican spirituality/religion or practices are shown as evil, barbaric, savage, scary, and associated with the main antagonist.

White Saviors: El Dorado is saved by the main White protagonists, the idea to destroy the gates to the city is Tulio’s idea, the warriors of El Dorado are portrayed as helpless and no match for the Spanish conquistadors despite Indigenous Mexican warriors going toe to toe with them, and winning against them in various battles in real life.

Whitewashed Colonialism: Cortez, despite being one of the worst colonizers in history, serves as a minor, secondary antagonist & his evilness is only vaguely implied, and never explained why it (his actions) is bad. Cortez has the same goal as Miguel and Tulio (to steal gold from Indigenous people), but the protagonists aren’t shown as bad for doing it. Colonization is essentially excused (& is never explicitly named as harmful) as long as the colonizers are “nice” about it.

There’s likely some other stuff I’m missing but these are some of the big ones that are shown in this film, & its depictions of Indigenous Peoples are extremely harmful. I also don’t wanna see anybody trying to defend any of these with somehow implying “Well it’s not ACTUALLY racist or harmful because-” etc etc save it for a vague post and take our inability to see criticism of racism within a movie you like elsewhere.

[genderkoolaid]

lol you’re really slow if you believe that “transmisandry” is on the same level as transmisogyny. no one is denying that trans men face oppression because they are trans men, because they absolutely do! but a lot of the time, when you hear stories about trans men being assaulted or killed, it is purely because of misogyny; because they were perceived as a woman, if not for another outside reason. meanwhile, when a trans woman is killed, it is almost always because she is trans, not to mention that trans women have way more stigma against us compared to trans men. just look at who conservatives always blame for “gender ideology,” it’s ALWAYS a trans woman

"no one is–" yes they do. frequently people do exactly that. for example:

"trans men (mostly) get assaulted and killed because they are perceived as women." downplaying the role transness plays in the violence we experience is not much better than denying it happens at all. also calling me "slow" first thing in an ask is a bad idea if you want to seem reasonable.

First of all, people rarely ever admit that! People genuinely get pissed off at trans men for saying they are vulnerable to misogynistic violence while not being women. You are only admitting that trans men experience misogyny as an argument for why talking about anti-transmasculinity is BadWrong Actually.

Trans men are murdered and labeled women, trans men in abusive families and marriages aren't allowed to transition, so the vulnerability of trans men is never recognized. Woaaaah it's almost like.... the misogyny is intersecting with something..... being trans perhaps?

Second, "you only get murdered because people mistake you as a woman" is also an argument used against trans women, by people who are invested in ignoring the complexities of trans people's relationship with misogyny.

Thirdly, trans men do get assaulted and killed for being trans. Not that they always get enough police attention that the motivations or attackers will ever be known (very much the same case with trans women victims). Do you know any of their names? Do you talk about the violence done to them, ever? Not just Brandon Teena, but Ebeng Mayor? Myles Utz? Ahmed El-Tounsi? Gautam Ramachandra and Shaman Gupta? Zahair Martinez? Abhay Gondane? Ky Peterson? Jacob Williamson? Lourenzo Broken? Andrew Jonathan Blake-Newton? Camdyn Rider? Manoj? Do you ever think about them? Because I think the fact that we only talk about the violence against trans men when we are talking about how it barely ever happens and should be shoved aside to make space for the Real Issues says a lot.

Genuinely, what good do you think you are bringing to the world by sending me this ask?

[elluendifad]

what do you think are good resources for someone who wants to get into Elf Religion?

there's quite a lot floating around out there, luckily! most of the effort comes in hunting it down and winnowing out what works best for you! there's also lots and lots of mixed or multi-source elf stuff out there, i just work primarily with tolkien sourced stuff. i can't comment much on other sources, so what i list here will be tolkien based or tolkien adjacent at the least! reading the fullness of the legendarium, not just the silm but also HoME and other texts, will also help you find what feels right.

so before we get to the long stuff, i really recommend you go through t-e/wal's website first and look at the statement of faith, valar page, and loa page. that's a pretty good summary of the most basic parts as far as belief goes. practice is something you can make unique to you! t-e/wal has a very modern-festival-paganism vibe to their rituals. i-v is doing modern western 'shamanism' (quotes bc that is a stolen name and i don't condone its use, but the alternative 'imaginal gnosis' is unwieldy and not commonly used).

if you already have your own favorite magical practices, you could find ways to adapt them to the loa and the valar! have fun with it! some of us do lots of magic, some of us mostly do worship. it can be as complicated or as simple as you want. this list comes from a collection i have been working on since 2022 and lists both orgs and individuals posting their own experiences.

T-e or wal : a shortening for Tie Eldalieva which changed its name to Way of Arda's Lore in 2024, which is a religious organization based in the usa for tolkien religionists. They (meaning a few of their loremasters with high overlap wth I-v) have worked on the loa and astronomy of the legendarium extensively. their resources are great and pretty universally used and tweaked by tolkien spiritualists of all kinds.

main website link https://elvenspirituality.com/

facebook , old name and older content https://www.facebook.com/elvenspirituality

facebook, new name and newer content https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559024296013

youtube link https://www.youtube.com/@elvenspiritualpath

they currently have years of public virtual rituals and discussions on essays or white papers written by their lore masters. their membership overlap with i-v means i-v lore masters will sometimes appear in their videos.

I-v : a shortening for Ilsalunte Valion, a gnostic group closely related to T-e but with different motivations which has done a lot of the imaginal work and loremastery to make tolkien religion a rich possibility for many people. Their approach is less public, but deeper and more personal, than T-e. they focus a lot on gnosis and meditative exploration and use different ritual techniques than t-e/wal.

ilsalunte-valion main website http://westofwest.org/

the main feature is the forum, which you will need to register as a member to see most of.

Dave, a founding member and loremaster of both t-e/wal and i-v has a collection of more recent writing that is relevant to both organizations and people curious about them. found here https://hackmd.io/@EriolElwin/rJrwhaDaR

hewal : a shortening for High Elven Wisdom and Love, which is the youtube channel of Kmberiel Eventide. Kimber-el/Kimberel/Kimberiel is a starseed and mystic, and overlaps with tolkien religion enough that she joined and assisted T-e in getting legal religious recognition before parting and going her own way again.

while hewal has been inactive for several years, some of her videos are tolkien-specific and she made and posted the vala-specific informational videos for t-e/wal when she joined them. in those videos (still on t-e/wal's youtube and i think on hers as well) she goes through each mention of the vala in the legendarium texts book by book. this can be very helpful for someone that isn't absorbing the same summaries from the tolkien gateway website.

hewal youtube tolkien specific playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbW2r96baVJy1_ItxeeuFKrfde3HdgAH8

she has tolkien relevant videos not in that playlist so make sure to snoop around.

ES : a shortening for Elven Scholar, which is the youtube channel for Earendil Spindelilus, who was once of T-e but does his own work for loremastery and runs an online school. looks like he stopped posting youtube videos about a year ago, but his facebook group and school still have some activity.

youtube channel here https://www.youtube.com/@ElvenScholarMusings

his online school http://www.elvenscholar.org/

warning: there are no state or federal agencies that license herbalism in the united states. his claims that his courses will award you the title 'certified herbalist' are vanity titles only. all those interested in herbalism should thoroughly investigate the legal licensure status of herbalism, naturopathy, and nutrition and dietetics for their nation and state. (afair naturopathy and nutrition/dietetics are licensed in the usa and cannot be practiced without legal license.) if your nation and state has no licensure process for herbalism, look for the self-regulatory bodies developed by professionals of that field and learn the base standards of education assumed for that field by that body. in the united states, this would be the american herbalists' guild and the american botanical council.

this last one is a little controversial in that alyras was formerly a founder and treasurer of t-e, and due to usa incorporation laws, was considered the only remaining board member of t-e when they ousted her, which is the reason t-e had to change their name to wal legally. i don't understand the situation but the tea is spilled lmao. i do still use and enjoy her reference book with lots of modification and ignoring what i dont care for. she also uses ai generated images for her website, which really rubs me the wrong way. i think her urls being so visually similar to t-e/wal's is on purpose.

her work is very new age and also centered in music. i do enjoy the tambour drones a lot for meditation!

her org website https://yanaeldalieva.org/about.html

there should be a link for her handbook somewhere in there, which is a gift in exchange for donation. dm me if you need help finding it, as the website has been re-arranged since i last saw it.

alyras/yana eldalieva facebook https://www.facebook.com/elvenspiritualpath

alyras youtube https://www.youtube.com/@elvenspiritualpathmusic/videos

[talonabraxas]

AYAHUASCA VISIONS" Title of the work: "El Huarmi-Icaro" 2023. By: Juan V. Amaringo.

The "Huarmi-Icaro" is a magical song used by witch Master Shamans to make spiritual enchantments to women and men, so as never to separate from their girlfriends or wife to live for the eternity.

The function of the red Puca-Bufeos in this spiritual love spell is to transform into a white person with blond hair, to woo single women, if the woman responds to his love he returns to his habitat, which can be lakes, rivers or seas. But he comes back at night when the woman is asleep there he takes advantage of her to make love to her during her sleep, and if the woman does not notice her the Bufeo Colorado continues and does it as a habit, if the woman discovers that someone made love to her, she thinks that an incubus did this, and many times the woman can she becomes pregnant of the Bufeo-Colorado and a son is born, but over time that child will live in the depths of lakes, rivers or seas. In the central part of the work we can see three Fairies, the fairies are true illustrious ladies with radiant clothing and are physically very beautiful, the role that the Fairies play is to visit the sublime Shamans who excel in their discipline of quackery, these Fairies are very correct in what they do and say, they use the lights of the precious stones that they wear in their clothing, they do not compromise in any point of view contrary to the laws of the cosmos. We can also observe in the central part of the River the two gigantic Serpents, the yellow one is the Yacu-mama, Yacu-mama means mother of the water, and in the part of the vegetation of the tangled jungle we see the Shacha-mama that is the mother of the jungle, which emits strong radiation due to the radioactivity that she possesses that gigantic serpent called Shacha-mama.

In the upper central part we can also see two gigantic snakes called Huira-mama, which means mother of the air, we can also see two Master Shamans receiving the energies and teachings of these two Cosmic Serpents where their habitat is the universe. By:Juan V. Amaringo.

[spanishskulduggery]

Most Essential Vocabulary #4

This time I’m focusing on the vocabulary that’s probably the most confusing in terms of grammatical gender: words with confusing gender, words from Greek, words that are feminine that take masculine articles etc etc etc

This could be its own post on grammar but I’m including it in essential vocabulary because these are things that a lot of people either don’t fully explain or that aren’t touched upon in great detail. But just know that this post includes some grammar info in addition to simple vocabulary lists

I decided to do it this way because these are words and concepts you’re going to need to know, and especially if you don’t have a teacher or are doing self-study, this is something you’ll come across and be VERY confused by

Basic Vocabulary / Vocabulario básico

el género = gender / genre [of media]

la gramática = grammar

la sintaxis = syntax

la concordancia

el sustantivo = noun el nombre = noun / name el pronombre = pronoun

el subjeto = subject

el objeto = object

el adjetivo = adjective

la concordancia = “gender agreement” [meaning that adjectives should “agree” with the nouns; lit. “concordance” or “agreement”]

-

Some Confusing Nouns / Unos sustantivos confusos

el día = day

la mano = hand

el barco = large ship, “ship”

la barca = small boat, “boat”

el bolso = purse, handbag el bolsillo = pocket

la bolsa = plastic bag, shopping bag

la bolsa / La Bolsa = stock market / The Stock Market

el rayo = lightning bolt / ray

la raya = line, stripe

el síntoma = symptom

el modelo = model [noun] el modelo, la modelo = model [profession]

el testigo = witness / something or someone that witnesses an event, “testimony” el testigo, la testigo = a witness / witness, someone providing testimony [legal]

la víctima = victim [always feminine]

el caballero = knight / gentleman / “men”, “gentleman” [as opposed to damas which is “women”; where sometimes gendered things like clothes or bathrooms are used with hombres “men” or caballeros “gentlemen”... and women with mujeres or damas] damas y caballeros = ladies and gentlemen la caballero = lady knight

el sofá = sofa, couch

el pijama = pajamas, pyjama [often used in singular while English says “pajamas/PJs”]

el karma = karma

Words like el sofá, el pijama, and el karma are called “loanwords” [los préstamos lingüísticos, lit. “language/linguistic loans”] - where el sofá and el pijama come from the Arabic/Sanskrit and the Islamic world, while el karma is a Hindu/Buddhist term

Most loanwords come into Spanish as masculine - el clóset [instead of el armario], el kiosk/el quiosco “kiosk”, el yoga “yoga”, el quipu “quipu” [from Quechua, an Inca string with knots for counting] el origami, el vodka, el samovar, el feng shui, or el básket [instead of el baloncesto for “basketball”]. There are some that come as feminine like la katana from Japanese, but it’s a rarer case

In general, most of the time a loanword will be masculine. Feminine loanwords do exist, but it’s often more professions that change forms. The most common is el chef or la chef from French as “chef”. 

See also: el/la gurú “guru”, el/la samurái “samurai”, or el chamán, la chamana “shaman”. Many loanwords that are professions can exist in masculine or feminine and most don’t change forms but some do - like el sultán and la sultana, or el vikingo and la vikinga. 

In my experience it tends to be more related to how long the word has been present in Spanish / Pan-Hispanic consciousness, and how easily it is to adapt to traditional Spanish linguistic conventions [like “Viking” goes to vikingo and so since it ends in -o, you could end it in vikinga]

Also note that there are some expressions in Spanish that are from Latin and considered loanwords in some cases, though they’re more established in Spanish - etcétera, or viceversa, versus, or something like a posteriori “after the fact / in hindsight” are common examples but may have other translations or versions... like de facto may be de hecho [in fact/in deed]. Others are more specifically legalese just like English.

And pay special attention to loanwords that come from English - anglicismos or “anglicisms” - as they may be more regionally used in some countries than others. Spain for example tends to frown more on English being adapted into Spanish. A common example is computer technology terms; el internet is sometimes referred to as la red “net” or “network”, and while some countries may say online, others may say en línea “on line”

One example that people use a lot for this preference towards keeping Spanish Spanish is el feedback for “feedback”, which in some countries may be seen as la retroalimentación which is literally “backwards feeding”

-

Gender Matters / El género importa

el radio = radius la radio = radio [from la radiotelegrafía; feminine la radio often refers to the actual device]

el frente = front la frente = forehead

el capital = money, capital / “start-up money”, resources la capital = capital (city) el capitolio = capital building, ruling government building capital = capital, crucial, significant [adj]

el cometa = comet la cometa = kite [probably from the trailing tail on a kite]

el cura = priest [often Catholic in my experience; synonymous to el sacerdote] la cura = cure la curita = (small) bandage, “band-aid”, plaster [UK]

el orden = order (of events), sequence / order (not chaos) la orden = order (command), military command

el coma = coma, comatose la coma = comma [the , symbol]

el cólera = cholera la cólera = rage, wrath, ire

el mar = sea [common] la mar = sea [deeper water, poetic, or significant] / “sea”, a large number of  alta mar = high seas, open waters

el azúcar / la azúcar = sugar [both are correct; sometimes you’ll see either gender, so don’t be surprised if you normally see el azúcar “sugar” in one setting, but la azúcar morena “brown sugar” in a different setting”]

el sartén / la sartén = frying pan [depending on region it will be masculine or feminine]

el arte = art las bellas artes = fine arts las artes marciales = martial arts

With el arte it usually refers to “art” like a piece of art, or painting/drawing/sculpting and other forms of art.

The word las artes only really takes on feminine in plural form and it tends to mean “specific ways of doing something” as a kind of group or umbrella term.

-

Words from Greek / Palabras que provienen del idioma griego

el idioma = language, idiom

el clima = weather / clime, climate

el planeta = planet

el síntoma = symptom

el cisma = schism, rift

el tema = subject, theme

el poema = poem

el teorema = theorem

el drama = drama / drama, theater [subject]

el problema = problem

el lema = motto, slogan

el trauma = trauma, hurt

el enigma = puzzle, riddle, enigma

el estigma = stigma

el sistema = system

el esquema = schematic, diagram

el magma = magma

el dilema = dilemma, problem

el aroma = aroma, smell, fragrance

el carisma = charisma

el diafragma = diaphragm

el cromosoma = chromosome

el fantasma = ghost, phantom

And as a general rule anything [at least 99% of anything] ending in -grama in Spanish is masculine:

el diagrama = diagram, chart

el anagrama = anagram

el telegrama = telegram

el holograma = hologram

el crucigrama = crossword puzzle

You should also know that the vast majority of words ending in -ista are unisex

el artista, la artista = artist

el dentista, la dentista = dentist

el electricista, la electricista = electrician

el especialista, la especialista = specialist

el futbolista, la futbolista = football player / soccer player

el ajedrecista, la ajedrecista = chess player

el budista, la budista = Buddhist budista = Buddhist 

el idealista, la idealista = an idealist idealista = idealistic

el activista, la activista = activist

deportista = sporty, “a jock”

optimista = optimistic

pesimista = pessimistic

perfeccionista = perfectionist

egoísta = selfish

realista = realistic

renacentista = Renaissance [adj]

modernista = modernist posmodernista, postmodernista = postmodern, postmodernist

derechista = right-wing, conservative

izquierdista = left-wing, “leftist”

racista = racist

fascista = fascist

socialista = socialist

comunista = communist

Additionally...

la tesis = thesis

la sinopsis = synopsis

el análisis = analysis [in plural it’s los análisis which can throw people off]

la hipótesis = hypothesis [in plural it’s usually las hipótesis]

la diéresis = umlaut, dieresis [the symbol with two dots on top like ü]

Another very specific word to be aware of is el atleta or la atleta “athlete”, which is from Greek and unisex, though it ends in A

-

Feminine Words with Masculine Articles / Palabras femeninos con artículos masculinos

This is a larger grammar topic that isn’t always properly explained. 

There are certain words in Spanish that begin with A- or HA- that are technically feminine but take masculine articles in singular [el or un], but will take feminine articles in plural [las and unas]

This is a unique rule that is compared to the difference between “a” and “an” in English

The gist of it is that if that for this to occur, a noun must 

be feminine 

begin with A- or HA- 

have its stressed syllable be the first one; i.e. the A- or HA- is the stressed syllable

For example: el agua “water”... is technically feminine (#1), it begins with A (#2), and it is pronounced agua (#3). Another one is el hambre “hunger”, technically feminine (#1), begins with HA (#2), and it is pronounced hambre

All of this is done to preserve the A sound [which is why it’s compared to “a” and “an”]. If you were to say “la agua” it would come out as “lagua” due to the two A sounds melding together in Spanish syllables. In other Romance Languages, this problem also exists and may be fixed with apostrophes [’] or other symbols to make sure a word is fully pronounced and understandable

el agua = water

el hambre = hunger, famine

el alma = soul

el arpa = harp

el arma = weapon

el águila = eagle

el ascua = ember

el hada = fairy

el ave = bird las aves = birds, fowl [umbrella term, as opposed to el pájaro an individual “bird”]

el aula = classroom

el ala = wing

el álgebra = algebra

el ancla = anchor el áncora = anchor

el hacha = axe, hatchet / big candle, torch [depends on context]

el asma = asthma

el alba = dawn

el área = area, zone

el asta = antler

el hampa = gang, criminal group

el ama = female owner, “mistress” [not in the romantic sense which is amante; the ama female form of “master/owner” which is el amo], lady of the house el ama de llaves = housekeeper [lit. “owner/keeper of the keys”; in older contexts this is the seniormost maid or the one in charge of managing the female maids; today ama de llaves is often “housekeeper” or “cleaning woman”] el ama de casa = housewife

Note: There’s also el ampa which is also written el AMPA [la asociación de madres y padres de alumnos] which is basically the Spanish equivalent of the PTA [Parent Teacher Association]... literally el ampa means “the association for mothers and fathers of students”

Note 2: There’s a Spanish drama called Las señoras del (h)AMPA which is a pun on el ampa and el hampa; being a group of women in the PTA who get involved in criminal activity - the pun works since H is silent and in this case “optional”

~

Despite the masculine article, the word itself is feminine and takes feminine adjectives:

el águila calva = bald eagle

el ave acuática = waterfowl las aves acuáticas = waterfowl [pl]

el hada madrina = fairy godmother

el álgebra avanzada = advanced algebra

agua pasada no mueve molino = “let bygones be bygones”, “water under the bridge” [lit. “passed water doesn’t move the mill”]

This also applies to the continents: Asia and África are technically feminine but if you ever used an article with them it would be el and take feminine adjectives

For more of the grammar information related to this please see: THIS POST

-

Indeterminate Feminine / El femenino de indeterminación

These are commonly adverbial phrases, but many of them use feminine or feminine plural - there’s no specific subject or noun [thus the “indeterminate” or “that which is not determined”], but many times these things that aren’t specified may take on feminine adjectival forms

a la ligera = “lightly”, “not seriously” tomar algo a la ligera = to take something lightly

a medias = “halfway”, “by half measures”, “half-assed”

a diestra y siniestra = “all over the place” [lit. “to the right and left”; diestro/a is the word for “right-hand/right-handed”, and siniestro/a is the older word for “left-hand/left-handed” which is now zurdo/a given the moral implications of “sinister”; so literally it means “to the right-hand and to the left-hand”; in some cases this expression is in masculine form but I’ve seen it most commonly in feminine]

a secas = “by itself”, “with nothing else included” / “ungarnished” (food context) [lit. “dryly”]

a tientas = by fumbling, by touch, “fumbling around”

a ciegas = blindly / blindfolded

a oscuras = in the dark, in darkness, without light [synonymous with en la oscuridad]

a solas = one-on-one, alone, privately

a escondidas = in secret, “behind someone’s back”

a sabiendas = knowingly, “knowing full well”, “consciously”

a gatas = on all fours

(despedirse) a la francesa = “to leave without saying goodbye” [lit. “to say goodbye the French way”]

a las claras = “perfectly clear”, “crystal clear”

de oídas = hearsay [lit. “from hearing” or “from what was heard”]

por las buenas = “the easy way”

por las malas = “the hard way”

Also in culinary things, you’ll see a la used a lot... like the dish pulpo a la gallega meaning “Galician-style octopus”, or albóndigas a la madrileña “Madrid-style meatballs” or huevos a la mexicana “Mexican-style eggs”

This is pretty common in most Romance Languages in my experience

[erikiara80]

Thinking about Dark of the Moon...

A play by Howard Richardson and William Berney, based on the centuries-old European folk song "The Ballad of Barbara Allen"

Richard (Brenner), William, Barbara and Allen, like Allen Munson, Eddie's father? Also, Brenner's father's ship wound up in Dimension X because they were trying to make it invisible.

In 2x07 there are many references to The Invisibles, including Barbelith:

Barbelith is the name of the "placenta" for humanity. A satellite-like object located on the dark side of the moon. It recurs throughout the story as a supernatural moon seeming both intelligent and benign. Barbelith's role is like that of a placenta in that it connects the hologram of our subjective reality to the realm outside of our space-time, the domain of the magic mirror (hmm), and helps humans to realize their true nature beyond the subjective concept of "self". Prior to contact with Barbelith, most characters undergo some sort of trauma or intensity- an alien abduction (Will and Henry's vanishing) or shamanic initiation, for example. A sort of cosmic stoplight is also present in some instances, though also seems to precede any sort of contact with the "healthy" dimension of The Invisibles binary-based paradigm; the realm of the Invisible College. 

I don't know why many people keep ignoring this episode. There are so many parallels and clues. Ruth, the black spiders, the butterfly, The 'We were dead, she saved us' line that parallels Henry's line in 4x07, the mention of cows connected to baby El and Joyce (her oven gloves in S4), Ten and Martin Old McDonald Brenner scene in 4x01 and now even the poster in the new BTS photo of S5- the Join Us one.

Most criminally underrated episode of the show, imo.

[uncannychange]

In a darkened lecture hall, lit only by images projected on a screen showing dense jungle foliage, in Miskatonic University a talk by Professor George Samuel Burk, recently returned from a long sabbatical, continues.

“Throughout the years, stories of fabled lost cities have made their way into the public’s mind, captivating the world’s imagination, and in the case of such well-known ones as El Dorado, it’s dreams of greed.

Others have enjoyed less fame by, comparison while having no less a fantastic story.

One of these is the so-called City of Z. The City of Z, theorized to have been swallowed by the dense jungles of the Brazilian rainforest, has been sought by many explorers.

In 1925, after hearing of the city’s potential existence, a British surveyor named Percival Harrison Fawcett set out to uncover its location with two compatriots.

They were never heard from again; since then, nearly one hundred people also disappeared while searching for Fawcett and his fabled City of Z.”

“I have solved what happened to Fawcett and the others,” says the speaker as the projected image changes with a click.

“Here we see an accurate depiction of Fawcett meeting the leaders of the City of Z, headed by its chief Shaman as described by Percival Harrison Fawcett himself in his still existing journal, which I have found in the City of Z itself.”

“He told how he was welcomed into the City and given a gift of a heavy gem- and crystal-laden necklace, which quickly began to grow strangely warm.”

“Soon, the heat of the charm grew almost unbearable, so much so that he passed out from it.”

A click and the next slide appears.

“When he awoke, he found he had undergone a miraculous transformation and had become a native woman of the City of Z. Shortly after that, his two companions were also so changed."

"As also happened to others who came after them over the years."

The projector clicks again.

“Here we see a restored image of the transformed Percival Harrison Fawcett rendered by one of his companions who was also an artist.”

“She then known as Xoc Tzentel Amoxpopoca of the Land Beyond the Mist, holding her only remnant former life as an Englishman, his old water canteen.”

Snickers are heard coming from the audience in the darkened lecture hall.

“I know you must doubt this,” says Professor Burk.

There is another click, and the picture is changed to one of him taken a year before his sabbatical.

“Many of you knew me before, for I left to seek and find the City of Z.”

A double click and the photo of Professor Burk disappears, and the house light comes up, revealing the speaker.

“I, George Samuel Burk, can tell you from personal experience that it is all true. Because I, too, have felt the power of Zacatzonihqui, the goddess of welcoming travelers into the tribe, also known as the Maiden Maker. And I am looking for those open to joining me for a full extended research trip to the City of Z.”

“I guarantee you it will be life-changing!”

[duckapus]

The Syndicate: MRU Edition

I said the Nicktoons games are canon to the MRU version of Fairly Oddparents and I meant it. And, given that Timmy now has powerful new allies and an entirely new type of multiverse lies before them, Crocker proposes to the rest of the Syndicate that they recruit some villains from these new worlds, as well as bring some villains from their own universes and the Nickverse into the fold.

The O.G.s

Professor Finbarr Calamitous

Vlad Masters/Plasmius

Denzel Q. Crocker

Sheldon Plankton

Karen Plankton

Beautiful Gorgeous

Tlaloc the Shaman

Nicolai Technus

Dib Membrane

Nicktoons Villains

Jimmy Neutron

King Goobot (+ Yolkians in general)

The Junkman

Eustace Strych

Grandma Taters

Baby Eddy Neutron

Dorkus Aurelius (I know he's from Planet Sheen it's in the same universe leave me alone)

Fairly Oddparents

Dark Laser

Foop (+Anti-Cosmo and Anti-Wanda when they find out)

Vicky (sort of)

The Nega Chin

Danny Phantom (note: all of these are on a scheme-by-scheme Basis, as Vlad and Technus are not on good enough terms with other ghosts to do long-term team-ups)

Skulker the Hunter

Ember McLain

Johny 13, Kitty, & Shadow

Warden Walker

Desiree

Penelope Spectra & Bertrand

Fright Knight

Spongebob Squarepants

Probably a few of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy's many, many archenemies.

Other Nick Shows

Queen Vexus (+Cluster Loyalists) (My Life as a Teenage Robot)

Kilgore (MLaaTR)

...there should probably be some El Tigre villains on here but honestly I don't know enough about the show to know who would work with these guys

Doctor Blowhole (Penguins of Madagascar)

Hypno-Potamus & Warren Stone (Rise of the TMNT)

Skrawl (ChalkZone)

Verminious Snaptrap (+D.O.O.M.) (T.U.F.F. Puppy)

Swiper (Dora the Explorer) (This is a meme-fueled multiverse he totally counts)

Tak and Zim don't get any new villains because Tak doesn't have any other villains worth a damn and all of Zim's enemies are either also Dib's enemies or have never met him but probably would be his enemies if they did.

MRU Multiverse

Master Kohga The local version, not the one that's currently Director K.

Ganon The version from the 80's cartoon, since he's both Not Currently Dead and has the right personality to work with these weirdos.

Vaati

Chancellor Cole That one leprechaun-looking dude from Spirit Tracks.

Tingle We don't know why he's here. He shouldn't be here. We don't want him here. Here he is anyway.

Lady Maud From Triforce Heroes.

Professor Incisor The mad scientist who created the Hamtors in an attempt to make his own personal army to take over the world with. Instead, Doc led an uprising, and the two are now rivals in World Domination.

Queen Lokoko Of course she'd be here.

...Janitor of Heart doesn't have any reoccurring villains yet apart from The Stain, and that's really more of a corruptive mystical force than an actual sentient being. The Syndicate could probably acquire a sample and study it to see if they can harness its power but that's about it.

[inspofromancientworld]

Resurrection figures at El Perú-Waka’

By No machine-readable author provided. Authenticmaya~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1611602

El Perú-Waka’ is a Maya city in what is now Guatemala that was inhabited from about 500 BCE through 800 BCE. It is about 60 km from Tikal (which might have been called Yax Mutal) and was a center of the Maya civilization. It was rediscovered in the 1960s by oil prospectors and in the 1970s, the site was documented by Ian Graham, a Harvard researcher. In 2003, excavation was started by David Freidel and Héctor Escobedo.

The name El Perú, as it's called on maps, was what the site was named until it was discovered that the Maya called it Waka' so now it's more often referred to as El Perú-Waka' in research. There are records of the city in Teotihuacan, first in 378, indicating the arrival of ambassadors in Waka' for an alliance with Tikal. Later, there's records of a betrayal and alliance with Calakmul in the late 7th century, solidified by a political marriage between K'inich Balam (Sun Faced Jaguar) to Lady T'abi, during a time when Tikal was less powerful. Not long after, Tikal reemerged, leading to a war with Calakmul and their allies. In about 743, Waka' was defeated and became a vassal state and then had their celestial serpent (possibly the patron god of the city) moved to Tikal.

Maya ritual resurrection scene composed of 23 figurines representing royal court and supernatural characters, El Perú-Waka’, Petén, Guatemala, Maya, 600-650 CE, Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología, Guatemala, Guatemala City, photo © Ricky Lopez

In 2006, a set of 23 figurines were found in a burial, called by the number 39. These figurines represent the "Resurrecting the Maize King" and the royal court. The king figure is knelt next to a seated deer with a figure T carved into its chest, which is the glyph for "ik'", which symbolizes 'breath, wind, and life'. Because of this glyph, the deer is the king's guide to the afterlife. There are also other members of the court, including the new king, the queen with a shield, a shaman with her mouth open wide, and dwarves that have removable helmets. The figures are easily identified because of their decorations, which are still fairly vivid, and how they're made of pottery. These figurines were also laid out into a circular configuration, allowing us to intuit the story that they were meant to convey by those who left them.

Standing only 11 centimeters tall, the Waka’ Olmec figurine nonetheless has a commanding presence. El Perú-Waka' Burial 39, Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología, Guatemala, Guatemala City. Photograph: Kenneth Garrett

Another interesting artifact in this burial is an Olmec-like figurine of a dancer that was found inside two vessels that were joined lip-to-lip that were lined with pigment from cinnabar, the red color associated with the maize god. This figurine seems to have a shark's fin coming from its head, and the shape of its eyes are like the Olmec death god's crescent-shaped eyes, as well as its hands in the positions that indicate kingship.

[haveyouseenthis-childhoodshow]

Have you seen this childhood show: Tak and the Power of Juju (2007-2009), United States (English)

Commentary/Context/Memories: Still can’t believe they made this one. The game wasn’t even popular.

[Mod A: I am not in the loop for either the show or the video game, so I have no idea if this is a positive or negative commentary on the show/game haha. The character design does look a bit questionable, but then again the game was made 20 years ago. This show revolves around Tak, who after meeting the Jujus (magical creatures from another realm that can look like bugs or monsters depending on type), and so is able to summon magical powers from their realm. The show deals with conflicts within the Pupununu tribe (his friend Jeera is next in line after her mean sister for the title of Chief), issues with being able to control the powers, and other intrapersonal drama in their tribe. This show follows a similar trope to Road to El Dorado in that the villain is the Shaman of the tribe, Traloc (it does bother me that this is such a common trope with media inspired by Indigenous cultures, because it does inevitably end up demonizing actual Indigenous spiritual practices). I was curious about how Indigenous characters were represented on this show, and I came across an actual thesis on this topic; seeing academic research on pop culture has always been super fascinating to me! I linked it below (if you also wanted to read about it!) alongside with an article about Indigenous representation in video games that goes into the specific stereotyping/depiction of violence against Indigenous people:

[brionysea]

i know as much about star wars as steve does, but this isn't the only time that ewoks are mentioned

even within the same episode, teddy bears come up again, and they're linked to mike. el was unable to get the teddy bear off the shelf but mike could

the ties to mike go further back into season 3 too

anyway. back to ewoks

i wondered if it was meant for el, will, or mike, because they're all kind of the core characters, but the cut from mike's face straight to the tv makes me think while it involves all of them, it's for him

also, with how similar joyce and mike are, does that mean mike forgot something? something specific to him, not just will's birthday, because everyone else forgot that too

with how thorough stranger things is, i'm sure there's something in the specific cartoon shown, but i don't particularly want to watch it, so here's what i found from the star wars wiki for ewoks

the very first thing on the wiki immediately sounds like mike

"The Ewoks are fierce warriors. The top of the food chain on a savage planet!" "Okay, first of all, they live on a moon, not a planet. Second of all—"

the "not a planet" aspect also reminds me of dustin starting to wonder what the true nature of the upside down even is in season 4 before he got convinced it was irrelevant

endor -> the upside down

ewoks -> demo-creatures

leia befriended an ewok (like dustin befriended dart — "that's like saying just because someone's from the death star, doesn't make them bad," mike says about it, because he's at the start of his character arc about learning that the world(s) don't operate within a black and white moral framework) and went to their camp as a guest while her friends got taken prisoner by a different group

When these Ewoks saw the protocol droid C-3PO, they identified him as the Golden One who they believed had brought balance to Endor millennia before. Despite Wicket and Organa's protests, the Ewok shaman Logray attempted to sacrifice them as a feast in C-3PO's honor. Skywalker's use of the Force to make C-3PO levitate combined with the droid's warnings soon changed Chief Chirpa's mind, however.

this is just. interesting. it makes me think of "without heart, we all fall apart" in reference to mike, and jason talking about how everything that's happened with the upside down have been ritualistic sacrifices. the one who stopped them from happening being the person with the force (el) matches up too

i don't see how anyone besides mike could be the golden one. he understands the upside down so intuitively that it's suspicious, it refuses to hurt him even though doing so would disable the rightside up's team immensely, and he started off as the golden child who audiences loved before slowly falling off the pedastal. there's also the fact that the little teddy bear he couldn't afford (yet?) was gold

That night, C-3PO told the Council of Elders the adventures of the Rebel heroes. The Ewoks accepted the Rebels into their tribe, and allied themselves to their cause. The Ewoks helped in the ground battle to destroy the Imperial shield generator on the forest floor, and their primitive weapons felled the stormtroopers and the scout walkers of the Empire, although they took many losses to Imperial blaster fire.

so basically, the golden one unionised the ewoks against the evil empire. mike unionises the creatures of the upside down against vecna

[shaman-esrc]

Experiencing an ayahuasca retreat at EL Sol Ayahuasca Retreat Center offers a multitude of benefits that extend across physical, emotional, and spiritual domains.

### Healing and Transformation

One of the primary benefits is the potential for profound healing and personal transformation. Ayahuasca, a powerful plant medicine used traditionally in Amazonian shamanic practices, is known for its ability to facilitate deep psychological and emotional healing. Participants often report breakthroughs in understanding and resolving past traumas, alleviating depression and anxiety, and gaining clarity on life purpose and direction.

### Skilled Guidance and Safe Environment

EL Sol Ayahuasca Retreat Center provides a safe and supportive environment, crucial for navigating the intense and often unpredictable experiences induced by ayahuasca. The retreat center is staffed by experienced shamans and facilitators who guide participants through their journeys, ensuring that each individual receives the care and support they need. This professional guidance helps create a secure setting where participants can fully surrender to the process, knowing they are in capable hands.

### Connection with Nature

Located in a serene natural environment, EL Sol Ayahuasca Retreat Center offers a unique opportunity to connect deeply with nature. This connection can enhance the healing process, as the natural surroundings provide a calming and grounding influence. The beauty and tranquility of the retreat's setting can also promote mindfulness and a sense of peace, aiding in the integration of insights gained during the ceremonies.

### Community and Shared Experience

Attending an ayahuasca retreat at EL Sol also means becoming part of a supportive community. Sharing the experience with others who are on similar journeys can foster a sense of belonging and mutual understanding. Group ceremonies and discussions allow participants to share their experiences and insights, building connections that can be deeply enriching and supportive.

### Holistic Approach to Well-being

The retreat center often incorporates a holistic approach to well-being, offering complementary practices such as yoga, meditation, and healthy nutrition. These practices can help prepare the mind and body for the ayahuasca experience, enhance the integration of the insights gained, and support overall physical and mental health.

### Personal Insight and Spiritual Growth

Ayahuasca is known for its capacity to provide profound personal insights and spiritual growth. Many participants report experiencing a deeper connection to themselves, others, and the universe. This spiritual awakening can lead to a greater sense of peace, purpose, and fulfillment in life. The retreat provides a dedicated space and time for introspection and self-discovery, which can be difficult to achieve in the midst of daily responsibilities and stresses.

In summary, an ayahuasca retreat at EL Sol Ayahuasca Retreat Center offers an invaluable opportunity for deep healing, personal growth, and spiritual exploration, all within a safe, supportive, and natural environment. The skilled guidance of experienced facilitators, the connection to nature, the sense of community, and the holistic approach to well-being collectively create a transformative experience that can lead to lasting positive changes in one's life.

[zeph0r]

ACTUALLY, tell me about your fave WoW bb too!i used to play and now am in FFXIV hell so. spill!

I don't really have a whole lot of headcanon about my wow characters which is surprising! My main is a worgen hunter, never uses human form, prefers bows to guns, always has the black flower crown equipped. Her name is Zëphyrine, so I am she and she is me.

Gilnean to the bone. Specialises in skinning (reduce, reuse, recycle) and herbalism. Always uses the same mount (wolfhawk from the Legion class hall), and the same main pet (Gara). Would sell her own family for one good set of mail armor. Idolizes Thrall and Ysera. Will never kill a target that has young. I feel like she'd be the sort of person to go break someone's legs if they were ever cruel to an animal, and justice is justice no matter the faction. Say what you want about hunters, but I'm good at it, to the point that other classes don't make any bloody sense to me at all. I have learned I can't heal or tank for shit, so I'll stay in my dps lane. My alts hardly get any attention (see above) even though I have several. I think my dwarf ele shaman is my favourite (Gaëa would be a fun bestie for the hunter), followed by my worgen frost mage Cailleách, and human ret pally (Ändraste, naturally). I also have a very neglected goblin rogue called Stabitha and a tauren warrior called Viande (my duolingo french lessons came in handy for that one). My death knight is definitely down bad for Darion. I myself personally am down bad for Khadgar and Kalecgos. I could bang on about WoW for HOURS.

[busygirlgcttagc]

timeline

born the 14th of February

1-15: Lara lives with her parents, Lord Henshingly and Lady Amelia Croft; her first sixteen years of her life are made of private studies and then at the all-girls high in Wimbledon, learning to be a proper lady

16: Lara joins Father Patrick in the island of Connussie, Ireland, where she gets her first taste of adventure and the supernatural; later on she joins Werner Von Croy in his expedition in Angkor Wat after begging her father for weeks. This result in tragedy as he gets to the Iris and she returns home with her mentor clearly upset and her parents glad she seemingly got over her desire for adventure

16-21: Lara meets John Constantine, who saves her from a demonic attack; afterwards, she's enlisted in Gordonstoun Boarding School in Scotland and then the Swiss Finishing School, where she discovers her love for various sports; her parents promise her hand to the Earl of Farringdon, who's she's set to marry after a skiing trip

21: her plane crashes in the Himalayas, where she turns out to be the only survivor; once at home she finds herself oppressed by the rules of nobility and refuses to marry her parents give her an ultimatum and eventually cut contacts with her, disinheriting her, and she goes to live to her aunt Margaret's summer manor with her butler Winston

21-24: Lara gets into several adventures, some which include finding the Philosopher Stone, the Arc of the Covenant, the Spear of Destiny, Bigfoot and dealing with the Aztec God Xolotl; she offers to buy her aunt's manor thanks to money regained by writing books in her adventures but her aunt refuses, confirming her place on top of her favorite family members

24: she finds the Scion of Atlantis and blows up T-Rexes, the remaining atlantean strongholds and its ruler; later on, she finds a once lost Temple dedicated to cats in Egypt

25: she retrieves the dagger of Xian and in the process single handedly takes down the Fiamma Nera cult and, later on, the A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E. organization after finding the resurrecting mask of Tornarsuk, and some mercenaries and dinosaurs in Las Vegas. She also travels for the first time in a whole different world, at least as far as she knows, but she doesn't talk much about her journey through the Floating Islands

26: Lara finds some ancient alien crystals, the Infada Artifacts, and takes down fake gods, a scientist who liked "The Thing" a little too much, the entire US military in Area 51 and an immortal CEO (twice!); aunt Margaret dies

27: Lara joins the expedition in the Tomb of Tutankhamonand, later on, messes with Von Croy by infiltrating in his industries to steal the Iris, further souring their relationships; months later Lara accidentally starts the Apocalypse by releasing Set, who promptly mind controls Von Croy; she gains the favors of Horus and entraps Set once more, but she's buried under the Great Pyramid and taken for dead

28: Lara is saved by Putai, shaman of Horus, and joins the Bantiwa tribe; she considers herself born anew, takes the name of "El Hawa", "Desert Wind", and lives happily until Von Croy finds her once more; after discussing it with her newfound family, she returns to England with the promise of coming back one day, keeping their talisman as protection

29-32: Lara is ready to return to Egypt when she learns that an old enemy of the Bantiwa, 'Scar', took his revenge on her tribe and slaughtered them all, as far as she knows. after that, and growing more and more frustrated with the media and her parents, she self isolates in her manor and cuts contact with anyone in her life apart from Winston, letting the PTSD fester

32: she's convinced to go to meet Von Croy in Paris after he calls her to help him find the Obscura Paintings for Eckhardt, just to be framed for his murder when the "Monstrum" kills him; she manages to defeat the Black Alchemist and, soon after, the last of the Nephilim also thanks to the Kurtis Trent, member of the Lux Veritatis, who leaves her behind after being mortally injured but not without leaving behind his Chirugai, a mystical weapon that assures her that he's still alive, somewhere

33: after a long, year long trial, she's finally considered not guilty for the murders, but still has to do community works for sneaking into the Louvre; still, she slowly returns to raid tombs

34: returning to Egypt to find signs of her lost tribe, she discovers Set managed to escape its tomb and, finally, with the help of Literal Gods Horus And Isis she manages to defeat the evil god once and for all [ BLOG CANON STARTS HERE ] Kurtis finally pays her a visit, becoming a somewhat constant roommate as they track down Gunderson and the rest of the Cabal

35: Lara meets up with John again and finds Excalibur ( or something similar to it, anyway! ) with fellow treasure hunter Nathan Drake and the Island of Yamatai

[quoteablebooks]

Genre: Fiction, Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Content Warning: Animal death, War, Sexual Content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Grief     

Summary:

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of THE FINAL STRIFE, comes an enchanting new trilogy.

DIVIDED BY BLOOD.

IMPRISONED BY FATE.

BOUND BY DESIRE.

WELCOME TO THE INTOXICATING WORLD OF THE FAE.

Yeeran is a warrior in the elven army and has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future.

When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven lands, they are both forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders. There they encounter the impossible: the fae court.

The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world – torn between their loyalty to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts. . .

*Opinions*

This book has been picking up a good bit of buzz so I wanted to pick it up before my opinion of it could be swayed by everything I saw online. I am also desperately trying to read through all my Fairyloot books as I have a large backlist of ones that I haven’t read and I want to know if it is worth buying special editions of the sequels. The world that El-Arifi created is interesting and filled with its own lore, battles, and magic. While I enjoyed my time in the world and with these characters, I do have some gripes about the story. 

This is a very fast-paced story where there is always something new happening, a mystery revealing itself, or the characters attempting to figure something out. The book is told in dual POV between Yeeran and her younger sister Lettle as they navigate a world always at war and then a land that is completely new to them. Yerran is a colonel whose whole life has been taken up fighting the Forever War against the other elven tribes. She uses drum magic to fight and I have to say that the magic system in this novel was one of the highlights for me. Lettle, who hates the war and everything to do with it, is trained in divination magic and hopes to become the lead shaman. A fateful prophecy for her sister and Lettle sends both of them along with a soldier Rayan into the wilderness and a run-in with the thought to be extinct Fae. As the three elves attempt to navigate the fairytale that they walked into, they have to guard their lives and their hearts from the Fae who are as interested as they are antagonistic to the newcomers. 

I liked how fast this book started, throwing you right into the action and politics of this world. However, as we got further into the book, I felt as if we were going too quickly and not giving a lot of the scenes the time they needed to delve into the emotions of the characters. I loved the world that El-Arifi created, but I felt as if the characters were not given enough time for me to love them the same way. There were also times in the writing that I felt as if El-Arifi didn’t trust her readers to get what she was attempting to convey. There were conversations or thoughts and then an unneeded sentence after that almost felt like “You got what just happened right?” The fast pace of the narration made it a quick read but didn’t let me connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. 

I like Yeeran and Lettle as characters, but they felt a lot younger than they were said to be. Lettle especially with her outbursts and storming off seemed to be actions of a character in her early twenties and not one who had gone through what Lettle had. I understand that some characters had short tempers, but her outbursts and the timing of them seemed more like a little child not getting her way than someone with a short temper. Also, Lettle multiple times couldn’t keep her mouth shut and made the situation worse. Yerevan felt closer to thirty in her writing, but for someone who had done all the things she needed to be the youngest colonel in the army, there were times when she didn’t use her smarts for the situation. At times both were also written as having emotions or doing actions that didn’t make a lot of sense for the situation they were in. It just felt disjointed at times and made me feel as if I was a step away from the characters who were narrating the story. 

There are three romances in this novel, but I really wasn’t that invested in any of them. As one was acquaintances to lovers and the other was enemies to lovers, you’d think one of them would catch my interest. Instead, I didn’t believe any of them because none of them were given the time to sit in the emotions of longing, anger, lust, and love. Yereran’s second romance was given more time and space, but I still didn’t understand the love between the two of them by the end of the novel, especially after all the betrayals in the last 100 pages. I would have preferred if both of the romances had been more slow-burn with build-up, instead of having three sexual scenes within 40 pages of one another. I could have gone a whole novel without any of them confessing, but all the build-up between them. In my opinion, the romances just didn’t feel earned. 

Overall I enjoyed my time with this novel, but I am not one of the people who are saying that this is going to be on their “best of the year” lists. I’m interested in seeing where the story goes because the plot is very interesting, but as a reader who prefers character-led stories, it was a bit disappointing. This is a 3.5 read rounded down to a 3 star.