#fire and ash series

[fl3shm4id3n]

No stories today, maybe tomorrow.

Sneak peaks to the Fire and Ash series (Yolotli is my Oc/ y/ns twin sister)

[acourtofquestions]

“If you were to ask me what Throne of Glass is about…

I’d say it’s about the epic journey of a teenage assassin in a corrupt kingdom.

But if you were to ask me on a deeper level, I’d say…

It’s about how small acts of kindness can change the outcome of the world.

Money to a barmaid, waiting an extra minute to shoot, a warning in a competition, a cloak in a cold dungeon, a message on a wall, sharing your lavender soap.”

[i-only-see-daylight]

Aelin: If I died-

Rowan, sharpening his knives: Death will not get you out of this relationship.

[mysterylilycheeta]

Aelin: Hey Rowan, can you help me with this zipper?

Rowan: Sure thing, fireheart

Aelin:

Aelin: Up, Rowan

Rowan: Right of course

[chelsea-lat3ly]

[adrixagr]

Enemy of my enemy

[dharmafox]

Hey, sorry, I have a question about mononoke, and, well. You seem to know a lot about it so perhaps you could find the time to answer?

I was wondering, is there any more media connected to the medicine sellers beside the bakeneko arc in Ayakashi, the Mononoke series from 2007 and the recent movie?

Because I saw people talking about another three movies too, and I was already quite confused by the two series and the movie and the internet wasn't really helpful ^^'

I have so far only watched Ayakashi and the series, but the new movie is next (and I am excited)! I really enjoy the memes and interpretations and other stuff on your blog, it's really funny, although I can't read some of it yet due to spoilers.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy to help!

At the moment, there's no animated media for Mononoke other than the Ayakashi "Bakeneko" arc, the series, and the movie Karakasa (Chinese Umbrella), which has the alternate title Phantom in the Rain. However, there are two movies planned as sequels to Karakasa. Those three movies will be a trilogy, and that's probably what you've seen people talking about.

We don't yet know the name of the third movie. The second one will be called Hinezumi (Fire Rat), and has also been given the alternate title Ashes of Rage.

As for non-animated media, there are...

Manga adaptations for every arc of the series. I think all have been translated into English. I haven't tried to hunt them down, but I'm guessing they wouldn't be too difficult to find.

Two manga adaptations of Ayakashi "Bakeneko." They're both by the artist who also adapted the other arcs, but one version is more recent. At least one has been translated—I think both—but I haven't looked for them either.

A manga adaptation of Karakasa, created by the movie's character designer. As far as I know, only the first six chapters are available, and they've been translated into English by @naonoholics [1-2] [3-4] [5-6]

A light novel adaptation of Karakasa. I don't know if it's available in English anywhere.

Stage plays of Ayakashi "Bakeneko" and "Zashiki Warashi." I think the "Zashiki Warashi" play is or was available on DVD/Bluray, but only from Japan and in Japanese. I'm not sure if there's a recording of "Bakeneko," or if any other stories were adapted this way.

Spinoff light novels called Mononoke Shu and Mononoke Oni. @the-mononoke-facade has translated all of the stories from Shu and the first story from Oni.

I think that's it for official media. Pretty much everything is an adaptation of one kind or another, except for the spinoff novels.

There is a bunch of backstory connected to the Medicine Sellers, which isn't discussed in the media at all except for a brief mention in Karakasa. The creator flung it at us quite unceremoniously this past summer. If you're not familiar with it, the posts linked here cover most of what we know.

I'm glad you enjoy this blog, and I hope this was helpful! It's probably a ton more info than you were looking for, but you now know everything I know about the available Mononoke media. 😛

[taymartiart]

I’m stuck at 93% and can’t finish because I’m too excited. Can we just have a whole book about these moments? 😭❤️

[zipadeea]

Sera: goodbye cruel world, ash can’t love me so I’m about to die

Nyktos: *razes a mountain getting to Sera, makes out with sera in the middle of a battle, holds sera in his lap while making war plans*

Attes:

Nyktos: *adamantly refuses to let sera die, responds aggressively if anyone says something else is more important than sera, calls sera pet names more than he ever calls her sera*

Attes:

Sera: it’s just so sad, but it is what it is

Nyktos: *threatens attes for smiling at sera*

Attes:

Attes:

Attes: bestie are you sure about that?

[lonely-sweetpotato]

I should be working. But I can't.

Why?

Because all I can think about is Poppy and Casteel meeting Sera, Nyktos, and crew.

Like (!!!!!!!!!!!) And also (?!?!???!!?!!!!!!?)

THEM MEETING ATTES?! AIOS?! SAION!!!

And Reaver in the corner "whyyyyy I can't with y'all bullshit, im out, fuck all of you".

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE LIVING, SEND HELP.

[fl3shm4id3n]

The Ay'Amhul Navi have their own version of what Eywa look like. They also think of her to be an androgynous being who constantly changes into animals or even other Navi. But they deeply believe that she mainly takes the form of a woman. They have shrines around the forest and a temple which have a small statue of her. (I based her on Ix Chel, the Mayan Goddess of fertility, physical love, weaving, and the moon.)

[gxndrya]

me finding out sotoria originally had red hair and her name translated to my pretty poppy

[i-only-see-daylight]

Aelin: The real treasure was the memories we made along the way.

Lorcan: I almost died. 

Aelin: That... was my favorite memory.

[acourtofquestions]

THRONE OF GLASS SERIES SPOILERS

While Aelin losing her powers is sad; primarily because she loved her powers and spent a long time without them, then fighting for them back, and accepting herself with it. And also they’re cool… but so is she (regardless :-)

It’s important to remember she never needed them. Not in this sense at least.

She carries the same power level of Heir of Fire, where she makes shields and daggers of flame, and can hold her own against Skin-walkers & terrors. Then in combination with Rowan as her Carranam she pushes past burn-out & wipes the Mistward slate clean of the Valg Generals; something she still maintains, only now imbued along with her own Cadre.

In the following book, these things remain, as Queen of Shadows sees her once again without magic, or fae form (meaning she’s more powerful now in a post-KoA world then she was than). It reminds us again, that she is more than capable of acting without them (and frankly kicking-ass; she takes out a lot of Valg with nothing but her wit & skill).

As she had for the prior three books: she got through all of those on her own, without fae strength, without firepower, she became “The Assassin of Adarlan” she won as the “King’s Champion” that alone was just her, without even a team or an army at her back. Or arguably one of the bigger strengths she gains; something worth fighting for.

And, as Kingdom of Ash takes time to show: she makes it through half the battles without her power at all. Anielle was greatly overpowered by her & the cadre, and not a lick of flame touched that battlefield. Only did it announce itself to save them from the dam (not from the fighting). Along with another demonstration/reminder that she began breaking out of the iron coffin without her power, that was pure fae strength alone (of which she maintains).

And in all of that she did keep the piece dearest to her: her mother’s magic, her droplet of water, of Mab, of healing. One that can grow over a thousand years, as Rowan said (albeit jokingly but truthfully). …And a gift of Mala, flame much like that of Essar… and now without the fear it once carried for her of “having no end”. Besides, her truest power always rested in Fireheart — a name not of power, but of her; her strength, her will, her intelligence. Herself. That was what mattered. And matters going forward.

Especially in this new world, where that plot was needed: without it, you would have an unchecked power-scale, in a reset world, with no villains to fight, no gods ruling, only her & Dorian with their powers at those levels without need; when the world desperately needed a reset so it didn’t collapse in a single battle between such sources. … And even more importantly you would miss the “Heroes Journey” of losing everything, of prices paid that are not all fixed (sad as it is; it is a price, no refunds). And more than anything, you would lose the arc; Aelin paid the price (and while I do not believe she had some debt due, that she owed Terrasen; because again SHE WAS EIGHT AND KIDNAPPED BY AN ASSASSIN… what was she supposed to do? But now any of those that were argued are gone… perhaps she needed that herself more than anyone else).

And while I know this led to frustration for some that “the hero” did not defeat “the villain” in the end… I’d beg to differ, and think it was important to the arc going forward: starting with the fact that Aelin had nothing to prove in it. Whether it be with her sword of flame & the assistance of her Carranam/Cadre (which did not make her weak or “dependent” on men; no this was strength in working together with her friends), or with her fists & nothing more, or with a gods’ arsenal of flame & power & starlight, the truth stays the same; we all knew her strength & capability. But her soul; her heart of fire (that we knew), had yet to live without that weight (of the world, of fate, of the power & sacrifice) all solely on her shoulders. To trust them in carrying that with her, for her, together. And to be fully be a part of the team that she assembled (somewhat accidentally) but threads pulled nonetheless. Aelin did not accomplish it alone, for she had never needed to. And for the first time that is shown. And she was not alone, never to be again. … Making it a huge breakthrough for all of them.

Because this was not a story of a singular hero… or even villain. It was rather complex in the latter to begin with. So this was crucial, especially for her character to have grown; to have asked for help, to allow it. And even the contrast to have The Assassin not be the one to deal the final blows; because that is not all she is, (will be, or has ever been). Nor was this her fight, not anymore. It had been so many people’s fights both before and after it was hers… from Elena’s, to the elder King Dorian’s, Marion’s, Josefin’s, even Sam’s… because they & that fight had led them all here. Them; the original trio of Chaol (his new-found wife), Dorian (his power another catalyst & hero), and Aelin (fully embraced in her name and story. And to the many they found through themselves; Yrene (as aforementioned), Manon, Lysandra, Elide, etc.

And because Erawan was not her death to take — if anything, it was Dorian’s. He needed it. It belonged to the threads & the lost children of it: it was Elide’s for her mother who died by the Assassin of Erawan to save Aelin to bring them here, it was Yrene’s for her mother Josefin who died to save her daughter from a fate Erawan set into motion & sent Yrene running into to unwittingly stop him, it was a team; Lysandra, Nesryn, all of them. From old to new. Those who came before. And those who will follow after (including the child Yrene is fighting for in these moments, just as their mothers had). Teams that can build a better world going forward (beyond this war), and set them up to bring the many broken countries together (now the leaders of Adarlan, Rifthold, Anielle, the Ferian Gap, Terrasen, Orynth, Perranth, the Wastes, the Southern Continent (all the way down to the Healers of the Torre & connections to Ellywe & the Far of Doranelle). — And one that they paid for together… They all carried a price too: Dorian whose power also got downgraded in check for the same reason as Aelin’s (though not to the same extent), Yrene who broke her oath to never take a life to save the lives of many others (& while the Valg King debatably didn’t break an oath as “life” within the Valg is very messy to begin with) she still gave an awful lot for it (& did it with help once again), Elide who faced it brave as her mother. As I said, this was theirs. — Dorian whose father was not the true villain yet would be remembered & forgotten as such, Dorian who needed to know, Dorian the King his country needed & his father had fought for, his father who was as forgotten & twisted & fallen as that very place. Yrene, who had been led here, who had followed the sound of where she was needed and braved it over & over, just as the Towers women had for centuries; it was their closure. Elide… who in combination with the latter represented the love that fought from day one, that did not yield, that gave their lives to spare their children all in hopes for a better world (knowing they would not live to see it; they paid that price). And in doing so, it repeated, every player on the board; another mother giving it all to build a better world for her child’s future, a son of King Dorian; of Gavin & Elena, who remembered their names, a daughter who was brave & unafraid as Aelin and mother that had taught them both that (Marion). The first children of the fallen, and the last to fall.

And when it came to Maeve; it was equal. It was Rowans, for Lyria, for his child, for all she had done to them; to Aelin, to his brothers, to him. Lorcan, for every dark, twisted misery he endured for her. Fenrys… the one Aelin offered the final blows too because after centuries of not knowing freedom, of losing everyone (much like herself) she knew he had felt it just as much as she had. And of course, Aelin, for Rowan, for Fenrys, for her Cadre, for the Lion, for Aedion, for her mother, for herself. And with their help, all together, even without power, they could do it; together only the arc does not end there, no, it is met with mercy within her end, facing it & rising above it.

In consensus: Aelin is still incredibly powerful. As is her court. This is a new world, a reset to the scale. This is a book with consequences, and those will always ache. But there is more than just that ache. Because this arc is beyond a hero and villain; it is a story of love, of friends, of family, of mercy, of kindness, of fighting & living & going on. And that will always hold magic. Regardless of if she is a firebringer, or human… regardless of who beat who in the end… they did; together; as who they are.

& For me, while hard to process in some pieces & sad, I actually think this was the only way to do it properly. Not some “epic failure of the hero not defeating” the “main villain”, but an inevitable arc of character growth that could not come without that teamwork & passing of things to fully flesh out the storyline. And as one that is true to the fact, it is full of many heroes.

Such as The Thirteen, who broke the curse, (and our hearts)… and while I wish they had not or at least Asterin had survived; even Manon said it earlier, the Matron was Asterin’s, for her, for all of them, for every Witchling that came before and would come after. The Thirteen (who were meant to save Manon) & to save the world; who defied every rule by how they loved, and lived… and who died as one. In a way, that was a well-written story, not a “cry points” death of senseless heartbreak (overwhelming, yes, but not a last-minute script change of insanity), nor was it one to (unfortunately) receive a reversal; because it was such a powerful moment to lead to the better end of broken curses & saved worlds… and I don’t know how the story would’ve gone otherwise… None of these moments were solely their own. Nor were they simple. This is how you do it in a story, one with many points of view and plots, and where “yes”: Aelin is “the hero” but she is not the entire story. … Or at least it’s what I’m pondering right now, lol.

[luck-of-the-drawings]

IMAGINE. working at ur stupid uhhh job or whatever. pulling into your drive way and ready to work on some crazy project in your garage. opening the door to the most unfamiliar silence. did your wife and kid leave for something? could you imagine knocking on your kids door, hardly getting an answer, and opening it to find the splattered remains of your wife across his room your child is scared! hes hardly consolable, in a state of shock and terror. you are too, but youre the adult here. you need to take charge. you need to protect him. you need to do something. you need to do something.

[quiverpaw]

Ashfur x leafpool?

“we’ll tell the clan that they the kits are mine and squirrelflight’s.”

“i don’t know if my sister would want that..”

“she’d do it for you.”