#jude c cardan

[chaiichait]

Cardan getting over his drinking and drug addiction from the first book into just drinking moderately in the last book is possibly one of the greatest "show and tell" examples in tfota.

[marecalshipper]

TFOTA Spoilers!

During the dinner in Madoc’s household:

Madoc to Jude: you are no killer

Me: you have no idea

[yourfavinvesment]

Hey! I made some memes of my most favourite book series (not including Percy Jackson :( ) because I couldn't get some sleep, I hope you enjoy it my people.

The series mentioned are The Folk Of The Air, The Once Upon A Broken Heart Series And The Six Of Crows Duology.

[dreiidrie]

Cardan & Jude (c) The Folk of the Air, Holly Black

[thejudeduarte]

*Cardan and Jude in bed*

Cardan: *rolls over to face Jude and gives her puppy eyes* hey

Jude: hey?

Cardan: I can't sleep ;c

Jude: *rolling eyes* well I can, good night

[rbfannee]

cardan: time for plan G

jude: don’t you mean plan B?

cardan: no, we tried plan B a long time ago. I had to skip over plan C due to technical difficulties.

jude: what about plan D?

cardan: plan D was that desperate disguise attempt half an hour ago.

oak: what about plan E?

cardan: i’m hoping not to use it. I die in plan E.

jude: I like plan E.

[artemis1bitches]

I love cardan greenbriar

I love cardan greenbria

I love cardan greenbri

I love cardan greenbr

I love cardan greenb

I love cardan green

I love cardan gree

I love cardan gre

I love cardan gr

I love cardan g

I love cardan

I love carda

I love card

I love car

I love ca

I love c

I love

I lov

I lo

I l

I

I w

I wi

I wil

I will

I will k

I will ki

I will kil

I will kill

I will kill h

I will kill hi

I will kill him

I will kill him o

I will kill him of

I will kill him off

–jude duarte's mind at one point

[highqueen-judeduarte]

Cardan: What's your greatest talent?

Jude: Not being stabbed yet.

Locke: Yet?

Jude: I like to leave room for optimism.

----------------------------------

Locke: Why don’t you trust me?

Jude: A: you’re a liar. B: you’re a traitor. C: you’re Locke.

[words-of-elfhame]

Jude frowns at Cardan's implication, giving him a sharp look in response.

"No," she says immediately. "We're not leaving her here alone."

She knows they could leave the child here, silently tucked away with no one the wiser. But while she may not have much of a conscience, it wouldn't allow her to even consider leaving an infant all alone, asleep or not.

She knows another option could be having The Bomb or another one of the Shadows become a makeshift babysitter, but the idea of any one of them being comfortable enough to watch over a human baby, even for an hour or so, was almost laughable.

No, there had to be another option.

[ragazza-whintigale]

𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌! 𝑱𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝑫𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆 𝒙 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒙 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌! 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒏 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒓

𝔒𝔭��𝔯𝔞 ➵ Cruel Prince

𝔄𝔳𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔱𝔢𝔫𝔷𝔢 ➵ Comportamento Yandere, fem Reader, contenuto sessuale esplicito e implicito, rapporti sessuali impliciti, minaccia , manipolazione emotiva, squilibrio di potere a danni di Mc, contenuto Lgbt, Dom Jude, Soft dom Cardan, Sub Reader.

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔬𝔩𝔢 ➵ 1461

⟢𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎 / 𝚂𝚞𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚘 ⟣

Per l’Alta Corte girava voce che l’Alto Re e l’Alta Regina avessero un amante. Una persona che i due condividevano, tuttavia non si sapeva chi fosse.

Alcuni supponevano fosse un mortale, altri dicevano fosse uno del Popolo.

Poi si facevano supposizioni sul sesso di detto amante. Femmina o Maschi.

In tutto questo lady (nome), che assiste da lontano un qualche Fae del palazzo, era tutto fuor che impressionata o sorpresa.

Lei è la così detta ‘amante’ dell’Alto Re e dell’Alta Regina. Nessuno avrebbe mai potuto sospettare di qualcuno che non aveva neppure l'occasione di interagire con i due regnanti. Forse era quello il motivo per cui era stata scelta. Qualcuno - non poteva ricordare chi esattamente - glielo aveva detto: Lei era la persona meno probabile. Il fatto che ancora nessuno era riuscito a scoprire chi fosse aveva reso le supposizioni della Regina più che corrette, beh… almeno fino a qualche settimana dietro.

Sfogliò il foglio ingiallito. Non sapeva di cosa era fatto e non era sicura di volerlo sapere, ha smesso di cercare una ragione negli usi qui ad Elfhame, in ogni caso non sarebbe rimasta a lungo in questo posto, aveva intenzione di andarsene il prima possibile.

Non appena il suo debito sarebbe stato saldato.

Le parole scritte con la magia ritraevano l’esistenza di un compagno di letto dei due sovrani, tuttavia nessuno aveva capito chi fosse.

Quando ha letto per la prima volta quel foglietto, aveva riportato i suoi dubbi a Jude e Cardan che risero alla sua preoccupazione lanciandole scuse poco più che al limite della rassicurazione. Poi hanno mandato tutto al vento nel loro crescente piacere. Il discorso non fu più aperto e lei non continuò a esporlo e veniva ancora segretamente scortata ogni giorno nelle loro stanze per riempire il loro tempo.

Facendo un veloce calcolo, passava più tempo con i due di quanto qualsiasi altro membro della corte a parte Jude e Cardan stessi. Oggi era una di quelle infinite giornate.

❝ Per Mab, (nome) non hai freddo vestita così.❞ I passi di Jude erano vicini, troppo vicino. Precisamente dietro di lei, la conferma arrivò quando le posò qualcosa sulle spalle sottili. Il pezzo di stoffa era grande e lungo, questo le faceva supporre appartenesse a uno dei due, forse a Jude stessa. O forse era semplicemente una coperta.

A volte aveva l’impressione di fasciarsi troppo la testa, e forse veramente per loro lei era più di un animale da compagnia. Ma poi era facile confondersi quando la vostra distanza di età era di oltre 10 anni.

Lady (nome) ha dovuto imparare molto presto che tutto questo era nella norma qui se non anche meno del normale.

Esiste molto di peggio, le aveva assicurato una volta Cardan mentre le faceva cerchi sulla schiena. Era la prima notte che era stata scortata da loro.

Jude l’ha tirata verso sé, schiacciando il suo petto con la schiena della mortale, chiudendo intorno alla sua figura la coperta che le aveva poggiato poco prima. Questa era una delle situazioni ‘normali’ a cui non poteva ancora smettere di arrossire e a Jude sembrava piacere questa semplice innocenza. L’avevano messa in situazioni molto peggiori di queste e ancora cose così semplici l’avrebbero imbarazzata a tal punto.

Piccoli elogi le caddero dalla labbra aumentando l’imbarazzo, facendo sentire (nome) - per l���ennesima volta - più al pari di un animale domestico che un amante.

❝Cosa stai leggendo di così interessante da ignorarci? ❞ Le dita di Jude componevano cerchi concentrici sul suo fianco mentre si sporgeva per leggere il contenuto. Cardan era uscito dal bagno con quel comportamento arioso e placido che lo contraddistingue, accentuato dalla doccia calda e dal rossore provocato dalla bottiglia di vino che aveva scolato. (Nome) si riteneva fortunata che i Fae non avessero lo stesso modo di reagire mortale all'ubriachezza. Sei mai quella poteva essere definita ubriachezza.

Lady (nome) abbassò il foglio abbastanza da permettere una facile lettura, consapevole che non sarebbe servito a nulla nasconderlo, lo avrebbero scoperto ugualmente. ❝ Ancora con questa storia? ❞ Cardan si era avvicinato per leggere, e il suo brusco commento non ha fatto molto per allentare la tensione. L’imbarazzo svanì completamente lasciando spazio a dubbio e timore ❝ Non è normale che io abbia paura? ❞ I lati del foglio si sono stropicciati sotto la tua presa. ❝ Nessuno ci rimetterebbe più di me in tutta questa storia. ❞ Un sospiro lasciò le labbra della Regina, poi le stesse labbra posarono un bacio sul retro dell’orecchio mandando brividi lungo tutto il corpo della ragazza. ❝ Mi sembra di averti già spiegato che ho tutto sotto controllo. Alla fine era inevitabile avrebbero scoperto dell’esistenza di qualcun altro…❞ Cardan si è seduto sul letto, (nome) non l’ha visto ma lo ha sentito. Il peso al suo fianco era aumentato, le mani del Re spostarono le gambe della mortale sopra le proprie, accarezzando la pelle nuda.

Per la prima volta erano calde le mani di Cardan. Era una sensazione piacevole e disgustosa allo stesso tempo. Il suo corpo rispondeva ormai a comando ai loro tocchi e questo la ripugnava abbastanza da cercare di ritrarre la gambe inutilmente. Le mani del sovrano strinsero la presa in una silenziosa minaccia a rimanere dove era. Non c’era il solito conforto che di solito lui rappresentava.

Decise di abbandonarsi nuovamente a loro.

Un sorriso tirò le labbra del Re e poco si poteva intuire cosa gli passasse per la testa. ❝ C-cosa intendi…? ❞ Il dubbio si insinuò persistente in lei. Se fosse stati loro a far trapelare la notizia come avvertimento. Per darle la consapevolezza del loro potere, capacità e influenza. Del diritto che avevano su di lei ma soprattutto del fatto che ancora gli apparteneva.

Loro avrebbero potuto tranquillamente mettere la voce di un amante per farle capire quanto lei necessitasse di loro o che non era ancora uscita da quella situazione abbastanza da poter fare una qualsiasi acrobazia azzardata.

(Nome) avrebbe voluto ritirarsi su se stessa con le gambe abbastanza vicine da poterle abbracciare e farsi più piccola in confronto alle due potenze che la circondavano.

Non riusciva a vedere Jude ma dallo sguardo di Cardan si poteva dedurre che sicuramente qualcosa era leggibile nella sua espressione.

Non ebbe il coraggio di girarsi

❝ Oh cara sei così carina quando fingi di non capire. ❞ Cardan rise con ironia e leggerezza mentre accarezzava, in un vago intento di tranquillizzarla, la pelle nuda. Eppure (nome) non ci trovava niente di divertente in quella situazione, anzi il tutto era sempre più inquietante. Non stava nemmeno fingendo come lui supponeva. Non tutti nascondevano la propria intelligenza sotto un velo di ignoranza come avevano fatto loro.

Lei non era stata presente durante la loro storia, ma conosceva il finale. ❝ Pensi che nessuno abbia sentito le tue dolci urla. ❞ Non si era accorta di aver mai urlato così forte da essere sentita . Un rossore si diffuse sul viso della ragazza nella consapevolezza delle scorsi notti. I due risero inteneriti mentre Jude si alzava dal suo posto. Il foglio di cronaca che aveva prima tra le mani era caduto a terra, e Jude lo raccolse. Lo lesse velocemente e lo strappo in 4.

(Nome) guardò sconcertata l’azione seguendo ancora la regina con lo sguardo, mentre si spostava verso il caminetto. In un attimo, prima ancora che qualcuno potesse obiettare, i pezzi di carta sono stati gettati nel fuoco.

❝ Cosi va molto meglio, ora non avrai più motivo di pensarci. ❞ Lo sguardo della Regina di Elfhame era su di lei, mentre lei guardava il foglio diventare cenere davanti ai suoi occhi.

Si chiese se avessero ragione, se veramente era solo paranoica. Forse si poteva godere tutto questo senza che diventasse un pericolo. Ma non era stata Jude stessa a dirle di non credere a niente che era offerto dalla corte? Lei e suo marito erano la corte. Modellata e governata da loro per loro, lei era una pedina su cui giocare.

La mano di Cardan posava sulla sua guancia ora, guidandola a distogliere lo sguardo dal fuoco per averlo per se. Gli occhi color mezzanotte con l’anello dorato intorno alla pupilla erano quasi ipnotici. Si trovò quasi a chiedersi se qualcuno potesse mai sospettare che ci fosse qualcuno che lui avrebbe guardato con lo stesso ardore e desiderio con cui guardava sua moglie.

❝ Ora ricominciamo da dove ci siamo interrotti.❞ Niente li aveva interrotti in realtà e lui era ancora in bagno quando era arrivata. Tuttavia non disse niente. Non disse che era ancora dubbiosa. Non disse che nonostante il foglio fosse stato bruciato il problema persiste. Non disse nemmeno che in quel momento voleva rimanere da sola, come tutte le altre sere prima di queste. Ma giustamente nessuna di quelle cose trovò posto per essere dette o ascoltate.

[lost-in-elfhame-help]

It’s Heather and I’ve finally got a blog!!

@vividuarte-irl - this is my gf. She’s awesome but her fae family kind of scare me

@judeduartehighqueen - this is my gf’s favourite sister (the other one did a whole lot of backstabbing apparently but she still crashes with us) and also the queen of the Fae

@highking-cardan - Jude’s slightly (very) obsessed husband. He’s also Oak’s uncle, (the family tree is a mess)

@thetarynduarte - Vivi’s other sister, Jude’s twin who betrayed her twice.

@pr1nce0fsunl1ght - this is Oak. Vivi (and Jude’s) adopted younger brother and also cardan’s nephew.

@winterqueensuren - Oak’s fiancé. I don’t know much about her but she seems pretty cool

@thebombofficial - super spy extraordinaire. They worked for Oak’s biological dad but now they work for Jude and Cardan

@theghostoftheshadows - another super spy who I don’t know much about

@the-roach-is-taken - another ex super spy who worked for Jude

@knightofthereckless - Tiernan, Oak’s ex bodyguard and hyancithe’s lover.

@pr1ncessn1casia - blue, terrifying kind of attractive princess of another faerie nation (ok how many are there)

@lockethefox - Taryn’s ex. That she stabbed. Also Oak’s half brother and Leander’s biological dad. As far as I know he can’t be trusted

@faerievalerian - the “where’s my hug” guy Jude killed. Also part of C’s ex friend group.

@leander-duarte - he’s Taryn’s child with Locke why are you on Tumblr you small, young creature

@balek1ng - Cardan’s abusive older brother who killed his entire family except Cardan and Oak, and *checks notes* was also killed by Jude. @highking-cardan you need to outlaw necromancy bc this is the third one

@princedaingreenbriar - ANOTHER DEAD PERSON Cardan’s oldest brother and Oak’s biological father. Also not trustworthy

@faerieliriope - the fifth dead person, but not toxic. Finally! She’s the previous king’s consort and Oak’s biological mother. Seriously what is up with everyone returning from the dead

@thatredcapmadoc - Vivi’s dad (biological but also raised her) Jude and Taryn’s adoptive dad, Oak’s adoptive dad as well, not the best person but it could be worse. What family will I marry into

@orianaofelfhame - the Duarte’s stepmother/adoptive mother, Liriope’s best friend and Oak’s rescuer. She’s… very loyal… to Madoc

@warriorprincess-rhyia - Cardan’s big sister, another pink girlie and my gossip buddy and bestie

@the-eva-duarte - future mother in law Vivi’s mum

[girllbossmalewifeduos]

Round 1 and 2 Matchups under cut!

Round 1:

Nick Hoult/Lynn Angel (All Saints Street) vs Princess Daisy/Luigi (Super Mario)

Robin/Chrom (Fire Emblem: Awakening) vs Miyako Shiminori/Yuuki Izumi (Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie)

Kida/Milo Thatch (Atlantis: The Lost City) vs Haru/Legoshi (Beastars)

Robin Buckly/Steve Harrington (Stranger Things) vs Bryce Tankthrust/Bobby Worst (Brandon Rogers)

Emma Perkins/Paul Matthews (Hatchetfield) vs Kyoko Kirigiri/Makoto Naegi (Danganronpa)

Barbie/Ken (Barbie) vs Jo/Brick (Total Drama: Revenge of the Island)

Round 2:

Marcille Donation/Laois Touden (Dungeon Meshi) vs Winner of 1:1

The Princess/The Long Quiet (Slay the Princess) vs Mandy/Billy (The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy)

Izumi Curtis/Sig Curtis (Fullmetal Alchemist) vs Zelda/Link (The Legend of Zelda)

Percival 'Percy' King/Ramsey Murdock (Epithet Erased) vs Nico Robin/Franky (One Piece)

Fuuko Izumo/Andy (Undead Unlock) vs Malfina/Connecticut Clark (Flork of Cows/Tumblr)

Marinette Dupain Cheng/Adrien Agreste (Miraculous Ladybug) vs Beatrice/Battler Ushiryoma (Umineko: When They Cry)

Gloria/Melman (Madagascar) vs Melissa Podebrat/Nine Fortan (Beware of the Villainess)

Vex'halia/Percy (Critical Role) vs Meryl Stryfe/Vash the Stampede (Tribune)

Millie/Moxie (Helluva Boss) vs Winner of 2

c! Pearlescentmoon/c! BigB (Limited Life SMP) vs Wildstyle/Emmet Brickowski (The Lego Movie)

Tiana/Naveen (Princess and the Frog) vs Yor Forger/Loid Forger (Spy x Family)

Candace Flynn/Jeremy Johnson (Phineas and Ferb) vs Granmamare/Fujimoto (Ponyo)

Mitsuru Kirijo/Akihiko Sanada (Persona 3) vs Winner of 3

Lilith Morningstar/Lucifer Morningstar (Hazbin Hotel) vs c! Zombiecleo/c! Ethoslab (Limited Life SMP)

Sgt Calhoun/Fix-It Felix (Wreck-It Ralph) vs Odalia Blight/Alador Blight (The Owl House)

Shego/Dr Drakken (Kim Possible) vs Starfire/Nightwing (DC Comics)

Nami/Sanji (One Piece) vs Winner of 4

Aerith Gainsborough/Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII) vs Yuki Tsukumo/Choso (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Sharpay Evans/Ryan Evans (High School Musical) vs Mona/Plague Knight (Shovel Knight)

Aqua/Terra (Kingdom Hearts) vs Annie Leonhardt/Armin Arlert (Attack on Titan)

Hatsune Miku/Kaito (Vocaloid) vs Sandra Lynn Faeth/Jawbone O'Shawnessy (Dimension 20)

c! Geminitay/c! Scott Smajor (Empires SMP) vs Girlfriend/Boyfriend (Friday Night Funkin)

Connie Maheswaren/Steven Universe (Steven Universe) vs Miku/Tatsu (Way of the Househusband)

Asuka Langly Soryu/Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) vs Noelle Holiday/Berdly (Deltarune)

Ochako Ururaka/Izuku Midorya (My Hero Academia) vs Winner of 5

Baiken/Anji Mito (Guilty Gear) vs Emily Wokerson/Tomothy Bichboy (Cameron Geller)

Kim Possible/Ron Stoppable (Kim Possible) vs Jude Duarte/Cardan Greenbriar (The Folk in The Air)

Morticia Addams/Gomez Addams (The Addams Family) vs Rouge the Bat/Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Nene Kusanagi/ Touya Aoyagi (Project Sekai) vs Winner of 6

Jessie/James (Pokemon) vs Erina/Toshiro Kasukabe (Persona 5 Tactica)

Suki/Sokka (Avatar: The Last Airbender) vs Desiree Delite/Ron Delite (Ace Attorney)

Himiko Toga/Bubaigawara Jin (Twice) (My Hero Academia) vs Feixao/Jiauqui (Honkai: Star Rail)

All matches were decided via a wheel, please list all complaints to that!

Matches will probably start Sunday

[dreiidrie]

This scene in The Wicked King had me floored. Drunk Cardan lmao. Jude & Cardan (c) The Folk of the Air by Holly Black

[mujhekyamaitosojaaungi]

Oh my god- OHMYGOD... ... Jude..and...C..Cardan??!??????wtffskksjskms

[bloody-wonder]

starting new series

in order to balance my reading i like to track the progress i'm making with old series vs how many new series i'm starting. my loose goal is usually to finish/catch up on at least five and start at least ten new series in a year - which turns out isn't as difficult as it sounds bc we're not even halfway through the year yet and i already hit the latter mark! here's an overview of what i read and my opinions :)

series that were so good i immediately read all the books available:

doctrine of labyrinths by sarah monette (book one: mélusine). okay so this was life-changing. not sarah monette inventing dark aroace romantasy in 2005! they hated her for her slay so much she had to start writing cozy fantasy under a pen name! this story is so weird and unique i honestly have no idea how to pitch it except to say that fans of books like the locked tomb, mdzs and captive prince will very likely enjoy it too. the fact that it's not a depraved booklr cult classic by now is a travesty. but we can still make it happen so if you fall into this particular reader category (and wouldn't be put off by the fact that someone may or may not want to fuck his brother a little bit) please do yourself a favor and read this series! check the trigger warnings first tho

the cemeteries of amalo by katherine addison (book one: the witness for the dead). i liked the goblin emperor, didn't love it, but after binging doctrine of labyrinths in less than a week i sorely needed a cure for my book hangover so i decided to pick up this spinoff series and wouldn't you know it - i binged it too lol. ig february was my monette/addison era. amalo felt like course correction after the goblin emperor and, while it's set in the same world and written in the same tone as that book, many of its aspects reminded me more of doctrine of labyrinths which is probably why i ended up liking it more - and was surprised by that too since i typically don't like this slow meditative writing style in fantasy but ig sarah monette just brings a certain je ne sais quoi to her books (emotional whump). the third book is coming out next march and i'm very excited to see what the saddest gay priest detective will do next👀

the stolen heir duology by holly black. to be completely honest i don't think these books are necessary. ig it was cool to return to elfhame several years post tfota and see some of my favorite ya fantasy characters from outsider pov but i found the main couple quite bland, especially in the second book where they are predictably overshadowed by jude & cardan in every respect. jude & cardan are simply The Power Couple, i love them and i appreciated the opportunity to revisit them in their 20s. madoc, everyone's favorite worst dad, has some nice scenes too but apart from that this installment was neither adventurous nor action-packed nor particularly romantic. it's clear now that holly black plans to continue writing in the elfhame universe and i sincerely hope she will try to shake things up by going full adult and/or changing the genre (i have this galaxybrain idea of a wwdits style mockumentary about madoc's exile in the human world which i'm trying to telepathically plant in holly black's brain as we speak)

evander mills by lev a. c. rosen (book one: lavender house). lavender house was the first book i read this year - i picked it up on a whim, honestly not expecting much, but ended up liking it a lot. in many respects it's a pretty basic closed circle murder mystery but with an all queer cast, whereas the second book has our gay detective investigating blackmail. the fact that the story takes place in the (homophobic) 50s and the queer victims are not protected by the law whatsoever adds an interesting spin to the whole idea of seeking and serving justice. i never thought i'm a serialized detective story type of person but ig if you make it queer enough i'll read anything lol so now i'm eagerly awaiting the next andy mills mystery which will come out in fall.

series i'm maybe going to continue reading later:

aubrey & maturin by patrick o'brian (book one: master and commander). seeing all the old man yaoi on a boat memes on tumblr rapidly propelled this series to the top of my tbr. now i have finally read the first book and,, liked it? lol idk the prose was very good, aubrey & maturin's friendship was sweet and the reading experience was cozy, with funny moments here and there, but overall i wasn't gripped by the plot nor did i particularly connect to the characters. i'm glad i read it but rn i'm not planning to continue this (extremely long) series any time soon. the book did have a delightful nautical atmosphere tho so there's a chance i might return to aubrey & maturin's adventures one day, if the mood strikes

page & sommers by cat sebastian (book one: hither, page). this one i didn't like at all tbh. i think cat sebastian just isn't the author for me and i should quit trying to read her books. however, i am both blessed and plagued by completionism and this series only has two books so i might read the second one this year just to appease my demons lol

series i'm not going to continue:

adam binder by david r. slayton (book one: white trash warlock). someone on tumblr recced this book to me ages ago and i wanted to read it ever since - purely bc of the title tbh😅 something i failed to consider tho is that urban fantasy is probably my least favorite subgenre of fantasy. and this book unfortunately didn't feature any memorable character moments or mind-blowing plot bits that could have broken through my unimpressedness with the urban fantasy setting🤷‍♀️

rook & rose by m. a. carrick (book one: the mask of mirrors). okay now we're entering the Dislike & Disappoint territory. i got interested in this series bc i heard it being compared to gentleman bastard but the similarities end at the renaissance venice setting and a conperson protagonist. the mask of mirrors completely lacks the rizz and swagger of scott lynch's writing and its characters just don't have the oomph of locke lamora and his team. so that was disappointing. on top of that the book is extremely long and convoluted with a worldbuilding that bothered me a lot and i couldn't put my finger on why until i read the themes section on its wiki page - ah yes, the us politics, again, using a foreign setting as a window dressing, again. listen, ik the us politics are important for the us authors to write about but when i pick up a book inspired by the italian renaissance what i want to get is themes and motifs representative of that time and place, even if we modernize them by (honestly lackluster) queernormativity and gender equality. i was mildly curious about the identity of the rook but now that it's been revealed i see no reason to continue this series.

the masquerade by seth dickinson (book one: the traitor baru cormorant). i intended to finish this book last year and leave it there but it was so unbelievably boring it put me into a reading slump for like two whole weeks and i ended up finishing it in january. i noticed that books about colonialism often try so hard to strike this solemn literary tone and say something profound that characters and plot just get bulldozed over by that dedication to conveying this very serious theme. admittedly, baru isn't as bad as that - i'm just biased bc she was pitched to me as a character in the same category as lymond and tyrion lannister so i was disappointed on that account seeing as it was the only reason i decided to give this book a try. i will say the general concept of the story and the plot twist at the end were indeed good but the overall reading experience was so aggressively meh that they just weren't worth it for me and so when the Big Thing happened i was still underwhelmed.

emily wilde by heather fawcett (book one: emily wilde’s encyclopaedia of faeries). i wrote a long ass goodreads review about why i disliked this book so much but let's see if i can be concise for once (ha, as if). i'm a big fan of olivia atwater's books so based on all the buzz around emily wilde i thought i was picking up a similar faerie story. turns out this was more like an "elevated" cozy fantasy version of ali hazelwood's books featuring howl in leather pants (tweed pants?). where atwater uses faerie tale tropes and fae lore to explore classism, neurodivergence and nuanced romantic and platonic connections, fawcett seems to write from a perspective that is decidedly normative. just like emily wilde, half a soul has a heroine who reads as neurodivergent but the narrative is always firmly on her side, whereas the moral in emily wilde seems to be that she has to smile and socialize more or smth. just like emily wilde, a thousand stitches features a faerie as a love interest but in this case he indeed reads like a whimsical magical being, so similar to humans and yet so different at the same time, whereas mr cheap howl knockoff reads like a quirky human man who is an asshole sometimes and can do magic. atwater's books are fairly popular but emily wilde is the book that has mass appeal and ig i shouldn't really be surprised bc when have the stories that question the status quo ever have been more popular than the ones that reinforce it? so i'm not really surprised but i am bitter. this book left a sour taste in my mouth and made me feel really bad about myself which was something i hadn't reckoned with when i picked up this cozy fantasy. tbh i initially was going to masochistically read the sequel out of morbid curiosity but then i remembered that i can read literally anything else instead lol the hater gods spared me just for once😅

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[words-of-elfhame]

Her breath leaves her lungs in a rush as she lands on the hard stone floor, the rough movement jarring every cut on her body and every ache in her bones. For a moment, she’s aware of nothing except the pain as she tries to get the air back into her lungs, the fade of the guards’ footsteps muted by the rush in her ears. 

But Cardan’s voice cuts through everything. That singular word brings her back to herself, breaking through even the pain as she clings to the knowledge that he’s there, so close, but not close enough. 

She takes a deep, shaky breath before rolling over slowly, a groan leaving her lips against her will. She presses her palm into the ground, shaking as she struggles to push herself into what can only vaguely be considered a sitting position. When she’s sure that her arms aren’t going to buckle under her own weight, she lifts her gaze to find Cardan. 

Oh, it’s good to see his face. She can’t even remember the last time she saw him; it could have been hours or days. 

“I’m alive,” she says roughly, a mirthless smile attempting to curl the corners of her lips. 

"You'll kill them! Stop!"

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