#but gosh!! the mage book club keeps going strong

[yellowfingcr]

Wrapped in thin yellow cloth—the brilliant yellow of sunflowers, that is—comes a suspiciously heavy, angular package, a note attached to it. Even before unwrapping, it isn’t hard at all to feel the leathery edges of a book, and a rather thick one at that. Upon removing the fabric, a cover in burgundy red is revealed, a little worn but still in good shape. The title, in golden letters, reads The Serenades of the Silken Dawn (Vol. I), and the very first page comes with an illustration that leaves little doubt of the genre: Framed by red roses, an evening sky in vibrant blue and pink, a thoughtful sorceress on her balcony, an armored figure kneeling in front of her, offering a lute on a pillow.

The note, written in the elegant calligraphy of someone who clearly writes a lot, reads as follows: ‟Dear Heysel, since the stars have predicted some sort of holidays being upon us: I didn’t forget that you were interested in Tala’s story—and from what you’ve told me about why you like The Ballad of Blade and Bitterroot, I’m almost certain you will enjoy this one as well! The whole world of the Silken Dawn court and its denizens is so wonderfully written and while the focus is on Tala and Galrány in this one, I for one also loved the whole storyline about the slumbering faerie, and Pio and Mil, but I don’t want to spoil it for you. Enjoy the ride! It is a trilogy, actually, and I will gladly lend you the other two (however this one, as you might have guessed, is of course a gift). I hope that in the year to come we find the time to talk about these stories, and engage in other shenanigans as well. All the best for you! — Izar”

Dearest Izar!

I do promise I am not a villain, though you would not be faulted for thinking so of me after the amount of time dividing the sending of your gift and my reply. In my defense I committed the grievous mistake of unwrapping what I’d just received right after reading the (delightful!) letter attached, and- gods! The things I need to say! Wait, wait. I must at least now try to act in the correct order.

First of all, thank you, thank you a hundred times. That you’d think of me warms my heart. That you’d think of me and then choose to give me a gift magnifies that sentiment tenfold. You remain terribly kind, and I honored to be the receiver of such generosity. It means much. 

Second, what a gift! Please imagine the shriek I emitted when I removed the cloth covering it- what a beautiful shade of yellow you’ve chosen as wrapping, I need to say- and please imagine me jumping up and down several times, as it is indeed what happened. You must understand that I very much trust your literary recommendations; of course just one glance at the cover had me bursting with glee. And with that gleeful energy I did lift the first page.

Dearest Izar. That was a mistake of the wonderful kind. I could not, in fact, put it down until I finished it. I could not do much else past reading it, to be exact. You might or might not know that I am a Tarnished from the very first wave, among those who stood before divinity to receive sacred heartrending banishment. Caelid was beautiful and vast and verdant as I left the place that had cherished me so long in tears, and I wept because they wanted me to never see my mother and my father again, never again look at the comets showering the sky in summer with them, or with anyone that I loved at all. I mention this to say that I am old, and the power of enduring the very enamel of my teeth. Well, I used that power to devour this book. Wave and wheat! You were so, so correct. I loved it. The writing style! The characters! How lifelike they felt! I enjoyed Tala far more than I thought I would. I often veer away from cool, self-controlled figures, but ah, to learn that it was but a lid to keep the passion of her concealed from the world! I adored her fear and I adored her determination. That one scene in which she takes her beloved’s sword out of its sheath to be the guardian of her heart, even if she doesn’t know how to wield a blade? I was moved beyond words. Galrány kneeling and kissing her hand after the song! The gentleness and intensity of the moment! And the slumbering faerie! The final choice was cruel but right. So many parts that made me stop and pace and pace. So many pages full of beauty. A book that made me think, love is about constraints and the freedom from them and the freedom through them, truly.

I am pleading for you to send me the other two books. I simply need to know how this tale continues, though it hurts to know that one day I’ll have read all, and there will be no more. Yet! I am filled with gladness at the idea of knowing enough to talk with you about them, and hear your opinions, your thoughts. 

Thank you so much again. May you receive all you desire, every today and every tomorrow.

Your friend,