#lucian kiggs

[fullmetal-angelgrace]

as much as i hate jannoula, what a fucking hilarious move to say 'someone has fallen in love with seraphina' to freak out seraphina and lucian for thinking their affair has finally been revealed, but for it also to freak out glisselda because she's ALSO in love with seraphina lmaooo

[starbuckscommitmentissues]

Made a discord for fans of Seraphina/Tess of the Road duologies!

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fantasy Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries below:

The Seraphina Duology (Seraphina, Shadow Scale) by Rachel Hartman

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life. Fantasy, young adult, secondary world, epic fantasy

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

You may think you know how the fairytale goes: a mermaid comes to shore and weds the prince. But what the fables forget is that mermaids have teeth. And now, her daughters have devoured the kingdom and burned it to ashes. On the run, the mermaid is joined by a mysterious plague doctor with a darkness of their own. Deep in the eerie, snow-crusted forest, the pair stumble upon a village of ageless children who thirst for blood, and the three 'saints' who control them. The mermaid and her doctor must embrace the cruellest parts of their true nature if they hope to survive. Horror, fantasy, retelling, adult, novella

[abookandacuppa]

Seraphina

This book was decent enough, but different from what I thought it would be. I think I expected more of a murder-mystery vibe based off of the summary, but it was mostly courtly politics. Which is interesting enough, I suppose, but not always my cup of tea. The story meandered slowly for the first half or so, but really gained momentum during the last third of it.

The themes were pretty good, with many of the characters trying to come to terms with the sins of their parents and how that means they need to go above and beyond to receive respect. The dragon lore was also pretty good, but I wish it was fleshed out s bit more. Same with the saints/deities of the world. It just seemed like saints were name-dropped at random, and honestly I sort of tuned out after awhile.

But overall the book is good. It isn't one I would reread, and I have no intense desire to continue the series, but it was a good experience. The main character is dry and witty, which made for some humorous moments. Her relationships with the people around her was probably my favorite parts of the story and was the saving grace for this book. I would recommend this book to the right sort of audience, but I don't think I am the right sort of audience.

All in all, I gave it 3/5

Summary under the cut:

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

[the-algebra-thing]

sobbing and screaming and crying because I want to draw she ra stuff because I literally never have since I originally got my iPad right after it ended and my style was half baked as fuck. anyways I ALSO know that if I just keep reading shadow scale for like another chapter or two i will get to see LUCIAN KIGGS AGAIN and I remember word for word so many of the scenes with him in them in that part of the book despite having read it only twice because I always miss him sooo much during the first half of the book. I want to see him again so bad. but ALSO I want to go back to the riptide x spop thing I was doing because I have like at least three more planned and they're emotionally impactful as fuck. I actually have one I finished back then that I asked flynn to do some final rendering on and he just never did so I'm going to ask him to and then if he does not I'm just going to post it. hopefully that will appease that desire in me for now. so I guess I will go read wish me luck guys

[linuxealcipher]

Oh I wasn’t expecting to be tagged! Alright let’s see

♫Do you play an instrument?

A Few actually! I started on flute but I currently play Tuba. I also know guitar but I’m not proficient with it. I’m also learning upright bass. (I know how to play piano and guitar both relatively well but I have small stubby fingers so it’s a lot harder) and I Love to sing! A Lot.

•Favourite book characters?

I actually had to think a bit on this one but it would probably be Seraphina from Seraphina (written by Rachel Hartman) As well as Lucian Kiggs from the same book. A few others are Glory and Winter from Wings of fire.

•What’s your star sign?

Libra

•Favourite colour schemes?

all of them, there’s so many beautiful ones, you can’t make me chose

•Naps or long sleep?

Long sleeps=longer dreams so

•What languages do you speak?

Currently just English but I’ve been trying to learn Español.

•Dreams/aspirations?

Artist or Photographer as my Job, I’d like to be able to travel and see the world. That and own a little house of my own. I actually have so many-

•Long hair or Short Hair?

I’m not certain, I’ve had both, currently it’s just past my shoulders and I’m trying to decide if I should cut it or not

•Tea or coffee?

Tea, as far as I’m aware there is so so so much more variety, 10/10. Plus tea is more versatile, gimme some of that sleepy tea.

•Bring a book character to life or go into a fictional world?

Go into fictional world! Idk which one I’d chose rn but I’d absolutely love to go into one.

Uhhh tagging @exp0001-goopsart @dreamer-21 @enigmaticcattic @cero-sleep and @tasmanian-jevil

Wanna get to know my tumblr friends better cuz y'all are dope so have a tag game challenge if you want :)

Also, if you don’t wanna answer anything you don’t need to.

♫Do you play an instrument?

•Favourite book characters?

•What’s your star sign?

•Favourite colour schemes?

•Naps or long sleep?

•What languages do you speak?

•Dreams/aspirations?

•Long hair or Short Hair?

•Tea or coffee?

•Bring a book character to life or go into a fictional world?

No pressure tags: @thebestieyoureinlovewith @nikolaistealcoat @grishaverse-chaos @lostinfantasyworldsbi @lilisouless @l3st1b0urn3s-707 @arany-studio @waluigicumjar

[darlingtons-voyster]

Imagining Glowing by the Oh Hellos as a Seraphina song is causing my soul to astral project someone wanna feel that with me

[incorrect-seraphina]

Seraphina: You have a face.

Kiggs: Yes, I do.

Seraphina: I mean, a nice face. You have a nice face.

Kiggs: Thanks...

Seraphina: Please accept my attempt at flirting. I don’t know what I’m doing.

[glisselda-of-uplands]

just finished Tess of the Road and the entirety of Southlands be like

[sdombegh]

Pokémon AU dump

Little disclaimer, I’m not a huge Pokémon expert so I’ll probably get some things wrong like the rarity of some Pokémon or certain regions I’m not too familiar with

•Seraphina

- From Saffron City, Kanto

- Her starter was charmander

- Her favourite types are dragon and psychic for obvious reasons

- Her main six Pokémon :

• Glisselda

- From Veilstone City, Sinnoh

- Her starter was turtwig

- Her favourite types are ghost and fairy, ghosts is because they can be quite mischievous and fairy because they are cute

- Her main six Pokémon :

• Kiggs

- From Veilstone City, Sinnoh

- His starter was chimchar

- His favourite types are normal and fighting, because they’re practical (I think he is less type focused than Phina and Selda) abs also water types because of the sailor stuff (I haven’t reread Seraphina in ages so I can’t really remember the thing like his parents being kind of sailors and stuff)

- His main six Pokémon are :

I was going to make like canon Seraphina dragons a thing but then I was like too confusing.

I might post about the bad plot I’ve come up with later

[fullmetal-angelgrace]

omg glisselda and lucian both getting jealous at seraphina talking so much about josquin was hilarious

[starbuckscommitmentissues]

Would anyone be interested in a Seraphina/ Tess of the Road discord?

[foughfaugh]

Eskar and Kiggs yelling at each other about prejudice and hatred is one of the best moments in Seraphina.

[ace-artemis-fanartist]

The King, Queen, and their half-dragon wife, Seraphina. 

[avinrydarchive]

Continuo

Author: AvinRyd Fandom: Seraphina Duology Rating: G Pairing: Seraphina/Glisselda Side Pairings: Seraphina/Lucian Kiggs, Lars/Viridius Word Count: ~1900

con·tin·u·o

/kənˈtinyəˌwō/ noun noun: continuo; plural noun: continuos; noun: basso continuo; plural noun: basso continuos

(in baroque music) an accompanying part that includes a bass line and harmonies, typically played on a keyboard instrument and with other instruments such as cello or bass viol.

Read on AO3: link

Without Seraphina, Castle Orison seemed to lose a dimension. Queen Glisselda couldn’t quite put her finger on what, exactly, was the difference, but something was off. She considered asking her dear fiancee and cousin, but Lucian would no doubt pull it into philosophical metaphors and probably quote scripture, because that’s what Lucian did. She didn’t have the patience for that, not today. No, maybe to put in terms more similar to the Second Court Composer herself? The object of such contemplation?

It was, Glisselda decided, like there was an instrument missing in the ensemble that was the castle; or more accurately, the ensemble that was her life. With Phina gone, there was no continuo to hers and Lucian’s duet. Dutifully, they played their parts, melodies intertwining with intervals and movements perfectly synchronized, but without the harmony beneath, it all seemed thin and paltry.

Some days, when she could get away from politics and propriety and war, she would sit at her harpsichord and dither. Seraphina had never taught her the finer points of the continuo part. She’d reasoned, when would Glisselda be called upon to play in an ensemble that required it? The numbers beneath a flute solo meant nothing to the young queen, but with a discerning ear and a book she may have stolen from her erstwhile music teacher’s rooms, she tried. Similarly, she tried to fill the void scarcely a month had made apparent. She made little progress in either arena.

One mid-afternoon, in a fit of frustration at both draconic ideas of ruling and musical rules of harmony, Glisselda swept herself off towards Viridius’s suite. The festival of St. Ida, with its celebrations within Castle Orison and without, was fast approaching; Viridius would be up to his eyeballs in preparations, she knew, but perhaps Lars could find some time in his schedule to indulge a Queen’s fancies. Holding queries about progress of the war machines before her like a shield, Glisselda inquired Lars’s location and tried not to scurry out of the gout-plagued composer’s presence after. A Queen does not “scurry,” she told herself. At best, she “hastens,” even when fleeing the presence of her grouchy ex-music teacher.

As Viridius had snapped, Glisselda found Lars atop the castle’s eastern wall. It did take a moment to find him, considering he was ten feet in the air straddling a support of his latest—what had he called it? Trebuchet?—and it took a moment longer for Glisselda to snag his attention.

“Lars!” she called above a sudden rush of wind, “Lars! I wondered if I might-” another gust caught at her voluminous cloud of skirts and buffeted her back a step. “-might have a word with you!”

With a grace no one ever expected from the large Samsamese man, Lars swung down from his creation to land nimbly at Glisselda’s feet. He sank into a low bow, giving full courtesy in the style of his homeland. “Your Mejesty, your presence is an honor,” he greeted in heavily-accented Goreddi, “how mey I help you?”

“I came to assess your progress on these-” she gestured at the construction behind him, “-war machines you’ve been building. Can you give me an appraisal?”

Lars seemed to light up from the inside. Eagerly, he extended an arm to usher the Queen along the castle battlements. Two points of gold made their way down the line of machines, Lars explaining the mathematics of his improved pyria sling, Glisselda casting a critical eye on wooden elements of construction; Lars extrapolating on saar-provided methods of fireproofing even the driest wood, Glisselda cataloguing the names of said dragons to reach out to in a more formal capacity later. Eventually, they reached the northeastern tower, where the castle walls fell away and opened to the city of Lavondaville proper.

“I hev actually been meaning to speak to Your Mejesty about the city’s defences,” Lars said, moving to climb the tower stairs, “If I mey, it is easier to show this from above.”

Glisselda nodded her assent and together they ascended to the tower’s top. The wind had died down considerably, to Glisselda’s great relief; she no longer had to cling to the battlements for fear of blowing away. The city sprawled beneath them, visibly teeming with life even from this distance. Open-air markets milled with shoppers, people scurried in little lines along streets like ants, Quighole seemed to pulse with the movements of too-crowded saar going about their business. The sheer enormity of what they were going to war to defend built pressure behind Glisselda’s breast, and apparently had affected Lars in some way as well, for he said,

“In an addition to our castle defences, I am meaning to ask about setting some sort of protection at the north border of the city. If the fighting comes south and the Old Ard cannot be stoppedt by our Loyalists, thet will be the first to be hit. So many homes mey be destroyed, so...” He trailed off.

Glisselda was quiet a long moment, then, “Yes, that seems wise. What do you have in mind?”

Apparently prepared for this question—had he planned on seeking audience with her soon?—he produced a parchment, neatly rolled and tied with twine, and unfurled it. Drawn on it in charcoal was a detailed sketch of Lavondaville’s northern perimeter and the lands just beyond. Small ‘x’s and circles were placed where trebuchets and ballistae might be placed, and Lars lowered the parchment to point out the locations more exactly. He’d obviously put a great deal of thought into this plan and it touched Glisselda more than she could say. Goredd was not his home, after all. That seemed insensitive to say, though, so aloud she said,

“I approve of the idea, certainly. Tomorrow, I will call together Lucian and our other defence councilors to discuss the logistics and such for the project.” At Lars’s move to hand her the parchment, she stopped him, “You will, of course, be present to explain your plan in full and be party to all of the preparations.”

He looked ready to protest, but then seemed to remember exactly who she was and bowed. No words passed his lips and Glisselda didn’t press. Lars was, as she understood it, often a man of few words even in his native tongue. In companionable silence then, they watched the city below breathe. Faintly, cathedral bells tolling the hour reached their ears and two pairs of pale eyes fixed on the spires of St. Gobnait’s. Lars’s megaharmonium lived in that church, Glisselda knew, but her most musical memory of that place was of Seraphina and her flute sending off Uncle Rufus in a fashion more beautiful and intimate than the princess had believed possible.

Still caught up in that vein of thought, she asked, “Lars, how long have you known Seraphina?”

“Thet depends,” he replied, “I only met her, in person, just before midwinter. But she has been in my mindt, her music I’m meaning, for many years.” He seemed to listen to the wind for a moment, then continued, “Do you know her well, Mejesty?”

When Glisselda laughed, the sound wasn’t quite merry. “I don’t know. I’ve known her not even a month more than you, by your first criteria. And please, Glisselda is fine.” Despite their height and the dizziness it caused, she closed her eyes to better encapsulate the feelings she wanted to put into words. “You say her music has always been in your head, due to some quirk of your ityasaari connection? Regardless. Has she always played with such a...captivating quality? Like you can’t bear to stop listening, like it might break you to try?”

With her eyes closed, Glisselda didn’t see the understanding, almost fond expression that overtook Lars’s face. She heard the softness, though, when he replied simply, “Yes, always.”

The spring chill began to creep its way into her bones. Still, it was peaceful up here and she was loath to return to being Queen Glisselda once more. Perhaps sensing her resolution starting to form, Lars spoke as if to continue her first line of questioning. “And how long hev you been lov- Neyt, in Gorshya it would be: how long hev you been in love with her?”

Air turned to ice in her lungs even as heat trickled from the back of her neck into her face and down her spine. A stunningly dissonant sensation she had no ability to process because Lars had just- He’d said-

“H-how did you know?” she choked out, “Does everyone know?” Am I so obvious with my heart that any can see? Her hands clutched the stone of the battlements once more, needing balance for an entirely different reason now. Violet-blue eyes were open now, wide and horrified, staring up at the piper next to her, almost pleading.

He met her gaze with a gentle serenity that was perfectly matched to the soft grey of his own eyes. Mouth still curved in that soft expression, he turned to stare out at the city once more, bracing strong arms on the stone before them to lean just the slightest bit forward, as if he might fly.

“People look a certain way when they want somethingk, or someone, they think they cannot hev.” he said, the wind stealing much of the sound and leaving Glisselda straining to catch his words. “I used to see thet look every time I looked in a mirror. I saw it in Viridius’s eyes for weeks before we began speaking of what our hearts were truly feeling.”

He left the examples there, possibly out of respect for her feelings, but she knew what would come next; they’d both seen that look on the face of Prince Lucian Kiggs before Seraphina’s departure. Between that fact and the shock of her secret being so brought to light, a light she herself hadn’t dared face yet, Glisselda hadn’t the words to reply. In his turn, Lars didn’t press for one. After a moment—a minute, an hour?—her overwhelmed fog was broken by the warmth of his hand atop her own.

“In my country,” he began, turning so his words were aimed toward her once more, “Saint Dann is condemned as a heretic. When I came to Goredd, I found readingk his untainted scriptures to be a comfort. Another comfort was in finding friends who feldt the same.” The pressure on her hand increased, then disappeared. He turned to leave, but said over his shoulder,

“Even as you are my Queen, I like to be thinking we are friends as well, Glisselda.”

And he was gone. The spring wind still brought a chill, but from her hand and heart warmth began to spread. She stared at the trapdoor he’d disappeared through, then at the castle proper where politics and propriety and war awaited. From the square below, a troubadour plied the city with his songs, and in a flurry of dazed irritation Glisselda realized she’d never asked Lars about how to read a continuo part.

She’d just have to seek him out and ask later. That’s what friends did, right? Feeling suddenly lighter, she made her way down the tower stairs and across the walls, slowly replacing layers of “Queen” as she went. Later, when Goredd could spare her for a few minutes, she would remove the layers once more and confront that newly-shed light, but for now she was Queen Glisselda of Goredd and she had a part to play; and even without the full realization beneath, play she would.

[themodethecitythesoul]

So I read a book review for “Seraphina”  that brought up something really interesting. (spoilers ahead, be warned.)

Why was Queen Lavonda so set on Glisselda and Lucian getting married? as the reviewer said, there’s no political advantage in it for the 2nd heir. Lucian is a bastard, her cousin yes, but a bastard. There had to be plenty of other marriages to be considered: a Samsamese or Ninysh noble, or a Goreddi duke who needed persuading to honor the treaty. So many options, why did the Queen have her heart set on Lucian Kiggs, the shame of Goredd’s royal family, marrying her granddaughter?

My answer: because she came to love her awkward, shameful, too-samsamese half-grandson. Yes, she was as embarrassed as anyone when the young hooligan came to Castle Orison and started raising hell, but as Lucian grew up under her son’s wing, Lavonda saw a caring, loving, wise man beginning to emerge. She, slowly and against every traditionalist urge in her body, grew to love Lucian Kiggenstane as her own family. So much so that she wanted to do something unthinkable in their society: legitimize him. 

Obviously, this is not easily done in Southlander society. It seems Samsam has more rigidity on this than Goredd, as they do on many subjects, if Lars’ example is anything to go by. (although this could be due to his ityasarri existence, somehow I doubt it.) But Lucian’s existence as a bastard is still starkly painted in Goredd; he can’t escape it. If it were possible, I believe Queen Lavonda would have just made a royal decree and pronounced Lucian a true member of the royal family and her grandson fully and by right. However, her position was already precarious enough with so many against the treaty she’d authored. Another such breach in tradition, after the prince was so integrated in society as a bastard, might have caused more unrest than her title could safely withstand. 

The next best option? Legitimacy through marriage. Lucian marries Glisselda and he’s a true member of the family by law of the land, if not by blood. He is the prince consort until Glisselda takes the throne, where he will be King, (or whatever title Goredd gives the husband of the Queen.) Additionally, Lucian and Glisselda compliment each other well in terms of how they will rule. The marriage not only accomplishes the goal of integrating Lucian into the family, but creates a strong ruling body to uphold Lavonda’s treaty once she’s passed. And THAT is why the Queen’s dearest wish is to see her granddaughter and bastard half-grandson married.