#rootcraft

[ackerbabezzz]

Would somebody be kind enough to explain to me the rankings of The Order from the Legendborn cycle I thought I was getting the hang of it but I’m back to square one 😭

[wizardteampod]

Do think Bree meet new rootcrafters and new cambions

Absolutely! A major part of this story is about Bree connecting with her ancestors and her community, and so I think it would only make sense for her to meet and ally with other Rootcrafters—especially considering her deal with them to defeat the Hunter in exchange for protection. It's pretty clear that other than her friends, Bree's primary concern is the Rootcraft community and protecting them from the Order and the Shadowborn. I'm really excited to see how they'll come into play, and how the ones we've already met will be expanded.

As for cambions, I think it only makes sense both because there are so many Merlins and with the Morgaines (finally) showing up...

[justbrainrot]

A thing I just noticed— gold seems to be the color of rootcraft, yeah?

The root flowing under the unsung founder’s memorial

Mary’s healing root in the bloodwalk

Faye’s root that wraps her bracelet & unlocks Bree’s fairground memory*

Valec’s root he forms into a weapon in the woods

All of those are described as gold/yellow.

But— since Bree’s branch of rootcraft is Mediumship, she doesn’t manipulate root (of any color) while channeling her people. If she’s manipulating aether at all she’s calling the blue/silver Arthur-aligned stuff or her body is generating the red bloodcrafted SK-aligned flames.

I feel like… there’s potential here. That’s all. 👀

*silver mage flame is also in the room when Bree opens up the velvet jewelry box but that’s for sure from Natasia since Faye was never Called by Arthur

[albinodino]

Legendborn Chapters 19&20

this is definitely because i want to get to rootcraft but patricia annoyed me so much this chapter, telling bree about her mother then refusing to elaborate. also "I am surprised that your mother never told you" SHE'S GRIEVING THAT'S NOT HELPFUL

i thought a dresser and a chest of drawers were the same thing but apparently nick has both. and i bet they're both empty except for one drawer with like 3 socks and a paperclip

cw: suicidal ideation - bree says she's willing to risk the abatement to find the truth, but i wonder if it's in some part suicidal ideation from her grief. she doesn't want to die, but she'll put herself in life threatening situations because would it be so bad?

[pinkwhite]

i hope in lb3 we get to see more of the black community at the university

[afrootcollective]

Ugandan Bark Cloth

Uganda is home to one of the largest populations of elephants in Africa. One of the primary sources of income for these majestic creatures is tourism, and Uganda’s beautiful landscapes are a draw for tourists looking to see these animals in the wild. In Uganda, these elephants have been domesticated by locals for generations, and many communities across the country rely on them as a source of income.

One method that locals use to earn money from their domesticated elephants is through the production and sale of Ugandan bark cloth. This fabric is made from rough fibers from the bark of trees such as muhanga trees or mahogany trees. The fibers are collected by local weavers, who then process them into a fabric that can be used in clothing or other products.

The production and sale of Ugandan bark cloth has helped many families in Uganda earn their livelihoods through this method. It has also provided a valuable source of income for people who keep domesticated elephants as part of their daily lives. Overall, this fabric provides an important economic outlet for people living in rural areas and contributes to the livelihoods of those involved in its production and sale.

[justbrainrot]

Okay well first of all this can’t be hiding in notes lol:

AHHH HEMMM! @thoughtfulbearpanda 😘

My first thought was that flowers + flame colors = Faye’s wildcrafting but that’s not new new. Like, we’ve heard about it but not seen it. So it must be something else?

Morgaine magic makes sense too but we’ve also seen a bit of their construct casting, so that’s not new new either.

So far we have humans who cast/manipulate aether/root & demons who need aether/root to survive on this plane. We haven’t seen any Fae/Fairy anything so who knows if that’s part of her magical worldbuilding in TLC but that’s my guess! There are a few people who I think could be connecting to fairies: Isaac (slight points to his ears are mentioned but never discussed again!) & Larkin (his tattoos are flower-like & his Da sounds both nicer & by his own statements more connected to “the old ways” than other Merlins we’ve seen.) Also we haven’t met Anna (Nick’s mom) yet! She could definitely be fae but that theory comes more from the source material than from the books themselves.

Can’t wait to hear others’ theories!

Ah Legendborn people we have some crumbs from Tracy’s latest story on instagram!

What do you think is about?? My guess is it might be the Morgaines? Or something totally different!!

tagging some people to discuss it with// @justbrainrot @thoughtfulbearpanda @thepsychicaliennextdoor

[jamcarven]

GUYS LOOK AT THESE ENDPAPERS

BREE LOOKS SO GORGEOUS AND JAW DROPPINGLY BEAUTIFUL. but her eyes are closed in one of them. I really hope that doesn’t mean arthur has taken over again or something 😭. it’s probably her blood walking though, maybe sel isn’t possessed by his demon self back there

NICKS EYES AND SELS FANGS!!

THEY COVERED THE EYES OF WHOEVER BREE WAS KISSING.

hands using aether reaching out for something and THE DRAGON

food 🙌

these endpapers are honestly stunning. i really love the nature imagery with the tree branches coming off of bree and onto everyone else

also the book is surrounded by red, purple and GOLD smoke. the red is for rootcraft, purple for the combination if aether and rootcraft, then what is the gold for?

[breematthewsmybeloved]

i failed to post about the oathbound cover when it dropped so i understand if you all shoot me BUTTT

thoughts

The gradual increase of purple as she becomes more comfortable mixing and matching her rootcraft with the arthurian magic EATS

Bree's not wearing the pendragon sigil??

not mixing in the red??? please be a sign that we're getting more insight into her rootcraft and Vera's line??

I feel like her eyes are actually glowing purple instead of reflecting the light?? thoughts?

[ficnoire2]

A Little Legendborn/Bloodmarked (In prep for Oathbound) Who’s Your Daddy? Theory  

*Spoilers for both books ahead and mentions of Oathbound teaser*

We have about 41 days (at the time of writing) until Oathbound drops and what better time than now to explore a theory I have been kicking around ever since we met the illustrious Valechaz.  Those who have hung around my little page are not new to this, but if you are, welcome.  It is no secret that I think Erebus/Shadow King/The Hunter is the father of the one and only Valec AND Selwyn Kane.   There are ideas I have kicked around and figured it a good time to document them, so…

Here goes

Scent Signature Profile

Some time ago I did a scent theory profile for our crew (linked below) and in revisiting that, I noticed that Valec, Erebus, and Sel have a similar profile that falls in the oriental/woody category which brings forth scents of resins, vetiver, leather, incense and smoke.  In addition, the three of them share a similar color profile (also linked below).  There are many instances of black, reds, and golds.  All of them at some point are described as emerging from some sort of shadow.  These are the most shallow bits of evidence but…maybe not.

Valechaz and Selwyn (Who’s the Pappy?!)

“Told you not to mess with that red-eyed devil, but you did, didn’t you?  Ain’t nothing good coming from a man you meet at the crossroads, Pearl. Nothing.”

I have always found it very curious that the identity of both Valec and Selwyn’s fathers is shrouded in mystery.  Not to mention the name of Valec’s bar is referenced here.  In the Oathbound teaser, we learn that Erebus is essentially a shapeshifter who can wear many faces and be in many places at once.  We also know that he has lurked around the Rootcraft community for eons protecting his “investment.”  It is not yet known who the “Red-eyed devil” is, but knowing his capabilities it is not out of the realm of possibility.

“He may look like a baby, but that is their disguise.  They cannot be trusted because it is their nature to lie.  You know this, Pearl.  Just like his father, he will turn on you one day.”

I found this interesting because it suggests that this community had dealings with this type of demon/shapeshifter before.  Katherine says Pearl KNOWS this as if this knowledge is something common and she should know better.

“When I was young, my mother was killed by an uchel while on a mission.  After that, my human father fell into a liquor bottle and never came out.”

Selwyn says this with so much certainty only for us to find out a few pages later that, that was not the truth. It is never stated that he actually met this human father and if he had, it would be quite easy for the Shadow King to impersonate him especially since he was close to Natasia.  In essence, the identity of both boys’ fathers is unknown.

Peek a Boo, I See You

“Poor little cambion, little Kingsmage.  Leashed by the Order his whole pathetic existence and now manacled by them too?”

Valec’s taunting of Sel is top-tier, pure I will flirt with your girl and whoop your ass in front of her, older brother energy.  Their interactions are always tense and teetering on the razor’s edge of violence.  Selwyn despises Valec, not only because he flirts with Bree, but because he can see him for everything that he is.  He highlights his shortcomings and exposes them to the group.  I can imagine Sel felt this being in proximity to Nick in another way.  Nick being all the things he wants to be and be close to, but Valec exposes all of the things he is.

In all of Valec’s taunting (and ass-whooping) he also empathizes with Sel.  For perspective, as a formerly enslaved person, he would be well within his rights to hate Sel and everything he stands for, but he doesn’t.  He shows him mercy and understanding.

“When you’re a cambion, you’re caught between two worlds.  Always.  Not just two cultures or two communities, but literally two states of being.  Life.  Death. This plane, and the one that calls us back home in the middle of the night.  Most of us go a very long time without feeling like we belong anywhere.”

This was not only heartbreaking because we know in bondage, Valec experienced horror, not to mention being cast out.  The fact that he recognized the unique position of cambions in this universe and offered that grace to Sel only comes with the wisdom gained from the life he’s led. 

It does not seem coincidental that Tracy has given them this dynamic.  The line that he says to Bree “You can’t belong to an idea, Bree,”  The idea of slavery, mental and physical bondage, the Order.  You don’t belong to these things.  The idea that you were born as a unique being and that your spirit is autonomous even if your body isn’t.

Shadow Daddy

This brings me to Erebus.  Here is what we know:

He can shift form and travel through time and space rapidly.  He was in a close relationship with Selwyn’s mother (as Erebus) and has followed the Rootcraft community (whoring around if you ask me).  He is an opportunist and slips into bargains and situations that serve his purpose which is to gain power and ultimately get his crown back.  He is ancient.

The Parallels

The parallels and foreshadowing between him and the boys (I know Valec is old as hell) are glaring.  

The SK nameplate on Selwyn’s door

The fact that they have the same three-letters associated with their names (S.E.K)

Similar scent profiles and color profiles

Bree made a deal with Erebus at a crossroads in her journey, after seemingly exhausting every possibility

Valec’s bar being the Crossroads Lounge and he and Selwyn both being described as “Crossroads children”

The fact that Valec knows there is a Shadow Court, but Selwyn describes it as made-up children’s stories to scare young Merlins, hinting that he doesn't know as much history as he thinks he does.  

Also, in the Oathbound teaser, he has two Black children that he describes as his “Wards.”  I have so many questions.  Was Valec a “Ward” at one point?  I find it interesting that they are Black as well.

The lineage comes into play too.  Valec is evenly split.  Pearl was human and his apparent father was a demon *Whispers SEX DEMON*.  He says balanced cambions are rare.

Natasia is split but if Erebus (Shadow King) is Sel’s father that makes him more demon than human, not to mention the “Assload of oaths” he has attached to him, which are wreaking havoc on his life.  

I hope we get more answers to Valec’s and Sel's lineage in book three.  Either way, I am excited as hell.  I believe he will be key in helping our crew gain balance and send his daddy back to where he belongs.  

I would love to hear your thoughts, especially if you have the same theory that I do!  I have also linked some of my other nerdy works below.  Happy reading!

Scent Theory Part One

Scent Theory Part Two

LB/BM Top Ten

*Color theory is linked in one of the scent theories*

[wizardteampod]

It's #WizardTeam Wednesday and Bree finally embraces her ancestors, learns from her mother, and learns her Rootcraft ability!

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

[artisanscribbles]

Some Oathbound Thoughts

There's a larger post regarding the Order that's still percolating in my head but while I was drafting that post, something occurred to me:

We have very little in text proof that the Shadowborn are as big as a problem as the Order makes them out to be- But do you know where they seem to gather and most attacks happen: The 4 Legendborn Chapters.

This made me start made me start to think about what we know about magic in universe, and also what we know about the Shadowborn.

The Order makes the Shadowborn out to be this huge problem, but Valechez, Patricia and every Rootcrafter we meet treat them as a problem and certainly something to be cautious about, but a known factor.

And none of the Rootcrafters spend their lives at battle-ready mode waiting for the next attack. It's just the Order that does that. But everyone else acts like the Order is the much bigger problem and danger of the two.

But Scions and Squires have been being called ever since the Order's inception to handle all these demon attacks? And we see there is truth to this: The Shadowborn are Undeniably Attacking the Legendborn.

Which begs the question: Why the Order and not the other magic users?

And then it hit me.

The Order of the Roundtable has been around for at minimum, per William, at least 60 Generations. Like with Vera, the spell is somehow bound to the bloodlines. But Vera's bargain is tied to The Shadow King - He cast the Mark and as far we can tell he's been maintaining the Magic required for it to Work. With me so far?

So this begs with question: With Merlin (as far as the text informs us) 100% Dead

WHAT'S POWERING THE SPELL OF ETERNITY?

IT CAN'T BE ARTHUR. EVEN IF MERLIN ANCHORED THE SPELL TO HIM ORIGINALLY LIKE THE CHARM BRACELET (AND WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW THIS BTW, EVERYONE IN THE ORDER THINKS ITS THE CASE AND EVERYTHING THE ORDER THINKS IS IMMEDIATELY SUS) CANONICALLY ARTHUR PENDRAGON DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE MAGIC TO KEEP IT GOING BECAUSE HE CANNOT WORK AETHER (proven by that scene in BloodMarked)

Arthur Pendragon can use the abilities gifted to him by Excalibur and Merlin's original spell, but he can't power it himself. But SOMETHING must be- because as per Sel, aetheric workings can only last so long as the caster can maintain them and live, as as per Valchez and Patricia, all that Power has to be coming from SOMEWHERE EX.1 Bree's whole existence.

Which brings me back to the Shadowborn and the Shadow King's whole deal:

I think Merlin's spell wasn't supposed to last past the OG Table's death. Not originally anyway. Arthur and the Knights were supposed to win decisively and then the portals would be closed forever. And Bree's Bloodwalks seem to support this.

But then, The Table Captures the Shadow King's Crown, and we now Know that is an extremely Powerful Object- but we don't know what happened to it.

Just before Bloodmark's final kicks off, we get the last Arthuriana themed lore drop of the novel- And that is that the last place we saw the Crown was in the OG Table's possession- but not broken and destroyed. IN fact the text seems to support they couldn't destroy it- SO WHERE IS IT? NO ONE IN ORDER HAS EVER HINTED AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING- IT'S VALCHEZ THAT FIRST TELLS US ABOUT THE SHADOW COURT TO BEGIN WITH.

And then we remember Morgaine Had A Plan to use the Crown somehow. Now, of course, we don't get to hear exactly what that was because Bree had some shit to work out, but I think its important that we know about that it because it provides a reason for the concentrated Shadowborn attacks on the Legendborn and also a reason for the King to still be kicking around. The Shadowborn harry the Order so hard because the original War never stopped, it just changed.

The King seems to a bit like Sauron - separated from his Crown, he's a shadow of himself (excuse my bad pun), still powerful, but limited in scope. There's no reason for a long game otherwise. But if he were trying to get his Crown back? Because the Order STILL HAD IT?

Well, that would re-contextualize a few things, wouldn't it?

[worth-this-and-more]

Can have new theories about sel

[spoilers for legendborn and bloodmarked, read at your own caution ;)]

*clears throat* *sips coffee and daintily puts the cup down* let's get down to business

im already doing a bit of research on other asks that I've gotten, but here are some theories i already have

this one is broadly a merlin theory but i am pretty sure the tattoos are connected to merlin's descent into demonia where the tattoos monitor how powerful the merlins are becoming and then slowly but gradually imbalance their control over their demonia making them "succumb to their blood". my theory is that as rootcraft is majorly used in healing and protection, and we already saw the effects of removing alice's mesmer gave her immunity from any future mesmers, so it is possible that this is how merlin's oaths will be cut off too, safely. faye probably used her powers to vanish natasia's oaths, which could explain why she was able to stop her descent and maybe after faye's death she is on the run and is not in contact with any rootcrafters so which is why she wasn't sure that she could help sel?? either way, rootcrafting is a major part for merlin's "succumbing to the blood" thingy

the "as a string of mysterious kidnappings escalates and Merlins are found dead" thing. it is never specified that merlins are kidnapped and killed. what's to say who's kidnapped, merlin's might be just killed and the one's they are guarding are kidnapped. so here i present to you my theory, natasia and sel, the mother son duo is on a rampage, a rather non-silent one, to find out where the fuck is bree and ofc selwyn knows that erebus is behind this. what better way to find out where is erebus than to just get the details from the other seneschals or regents or whatever tf they are called I'm not gonna bother to search up the names these don't deserve that much time and effort from me. and merlins are protecting them, so kidnap the peoples and kill off merlins. who knows the kidnappings could also be of legendborn because they are "hostages trapped with the mother-son duo" but we all know they're allies after all. this will be an excuse to get out of radar from the order because by the looks of it this whole thing is gonna end one way or the other. this will be the final camlann anyways.

and also while we're on the topic, selwyn and bree would be revealed to have met as children which will take us back in a flashback to that scene at davis's house where sel "several questions ash across his face before he decides on one" asks bree to explain why did she yell out when he touched her and do you feel something when i look at you?? and he remembers fleeting a forgotten memory of a girl with the same pretty hair and bold eyes that told him your eyes feel prickly, like sparks, but like good sparks and i just know this will happen in canon whether we get it in the books or not. i might write a fanfic about this lmaoo.

this went longer than expected but yeah there you go!! I'm yet to post a few more specific theories i just need to read the arthuriana

[proudchildlesscatlady]

I hope Tracy someday publishes a "short" story about Faye in her POV.

Events such as:

- Faye's childhood and her mother Leanne. The grief of losing her mother.

- Faye moving out of state to attend University of North Carolina. Her time as a student.

- Her powers as a wildcrafter.

- Meeting Natasia and how their friendship developed.

- The events in 1995 where Martin try to start Camlann and where Faye used her Rootcrafter abilities to defend herself. Her time in custody after the event.

- Natasia being arrested and thrown in prison. The "mysterious" absence of her dear friend.

- Graduating from UNC and starting her life as a Botanist.

- Meeting then marrying Edwin. The birth of Bree and the early years of her life. Faye's life as a mother and wife.

- Reuniting with Natasia after years of absence.

- Her creating a memory walk in her golden charm bracelet for Bree with Natasia's help.

- The night Faye and Bree argued about Bree attending UNC.

- The story will end off with Faye's last day. Hours before she dies 😢😞

I will definitely support and buy this story. Faye is such an interesting character to me and it is not only because she is the mother of Bree Matthews.

[albinodino]

Legendborn Chapters 25&26

i know the place is relevant but does patricia not have an office?? i feel like bree should at least know where it is in case she needs to go there

"it seems your family's way is gone" PATRICIA maybe choose gentler words for the girl who just got upset about having no family on her mothers side girl aren't you a therapist

THE MEMORY WALK YIPPEEEEEE have i mentioned how much i love rootcraft yet because i really really love it

[highfantasy-soul]

So I've been thinking a lot about Legendborn and how there were so many great set ups that just....didn't come to fruition or were handled really poorly in my opinion.

I think Black community was really fumbled in this story that supposedly is all about Blackness in a predominantly white society. Black community on campus is mentioned, then there's a paper-thin attempt at it with the therapist and random witch #2, but it's handled so poorly and they kick Bree out of 'community' like, immediately, because her grief is too inconvenient for them (literally, the therapist that's brought in to help her with her grieving her mother's death throws her in the trash with some therapist-speak/bunk diagnosis of traumatic grief after having only known Bree for a week and NEVER actually doing a therapy session with her).

I think the first issue the author ran into was having the only Black woman character wildly incompetent and, quite frankly, abusive and predatory. We're supposed to feel like Bree coming into contact with other Black people on campus is a good thing, a comforting thing, something that will help HER as she's drowning in the grief of her mother's death. Yet the 'therapist' is only interested in Bree because her mother didn't let Patricia in on her Root magic when they were at school together and so now she's trying to get that info from Bree - becoming obsessed with getting Bree to cast magic the way SHE does even though they're supposed to be working through the trauma of Bree's mother's death. When Bree is, ya know, traumatized by a random girl being brought in to the 'therapy' session who tries to force her to face her ancestors who - let me reiterate - Bree has a lot of traumatic grief surrounding, Patricia treats Bree like shit and tells her she's not getting over her mother's death fast enough and she needs to 'find a new therapist' (and at the same time, a new community because the Black one doesn't want her). Hmm.

So, how to get the theme of Black community in a predominantly white space that then turns its back on you across in a better way? I have thoughts.

First, get rid of incompetent adults, or at least if you have them, don't make them the only Black adult representation (barring Bree's father whom I really loved - but he's not in on the secret world, so). I think a much stronger way to incorporate Black community (in contrast to the white community of the Order) AND Rootcraft would have been to have Bree's father insist she join the Black Student Union to make friends on campus that will help her keep to her studies and allow her to have that Black womanhood community that she lost when her mother died.

Bree could have gone to a meeting/event and when asked why she chose UNC, she could have mentioned her mother being an alum - here's a great place to include the picture of her mother in lab gear on campus where she can point it out to the others - and one girl (appropriately aged to be Bree's friend rather than an adult) can get excited that 'OMG Faye was your MOM??' And enter the connection between Bree's mom and the Rootcrafting community on campus. Maybe that girl's mom went to school with Faye and though she didn't share much about her Rootcraft, they were in a lot of science classes together.

So, the established student can then bring Bree over to a group of other Black girls in the student union who all practice Rootcraft and - voila - Bree has a community we can contrast with the white boy club of the Order. Maybe this girl group could try some fumbling attempts at helping Bree through her grief, but as they're young too, their attempts are genuine, but not very effective. Through that, they might try to teach her some Rootcraft in the way their mothers taught them and so when some harmful things happen around the craft (like an ancestor memory walk gets ripped out of the control of the one who cast it - unlike when that happens with the ADULT who was supposed to be in control of the THERAPY session and then acknowledged NO part in her responsibility for the life and mental state of the CHILD she was supposed to be THERAPIZING), it's understandable because the other caster was a kid, too, and it just got out of hand. There's not really malice in a kid trying to share what they do and it going haywire and everyone freaking out while to me, there IS malice when it happens with an adult who never takes responsibility for putting a child (Bree) in danger/distress.

So here we have a way to include Black community (more than a single token Black person then another for about 2 pages who we have no connection to) in an organic way that's able to give Bree some real friends and a true look into the social structure of a magic system that mirrors the Order (group of powered kids figuring out how to use their powers to help people) but is wildly different.

Their rejection of Bree as she refuses to leave the Order would also be much more realistic and understandable than the shittastic 'therapist' rejecting Bree because 'being a part of the Order is a harmful coping mechanism for your mother's death, and since you haven't gotten over that in the single week of non-therapy sessions we've had that have only traumatized you further, I'm ditching you'.

These are a group of students. Black students. Black female students at a predominantly white college (I thought there was a whole thing about Rootcraft being only with the women of the families, but there was a throwaway line at the end where I think Mariah had mentioned one of her uncles was a Medium who got possessed by ancestors too, so I'm kinda unclear about that - but if boys can have it too - maybe we can get a Black love interest for Bree here instead of only having the two white boys! Unless we want to make Bree like girls too, and in that case, triple yay!). If they're connected to someone who has infiltrated the Order to take it down, their entire college career will go up in flames - they might lose scholarships, internships, get kicked out altogether. It might then bleed over into the Black Student Union at large and paint an even bigger target on their backs where the Black students are even MORE over-policed on campus. AND it could spread to their families as the Order doesn't like anyone using magic in a way that's not theirs and so their own mothers will become targets of the Order.

All that is a much much more understandable reason for a Black community to ostracize someone because they want to continue being a part of the white boy's club.

You would feel for the Black girls who taught Bree Rootcraft and tried to help her with her grief because they've got lives too! Their whole purpose in life isn't to help Bree, they've got to think of the community at large. Patricia's existence in the narrative was 100% centered around Bree and her magic/grief - it was the only reason she was there. Her reasons for rejecting Bree were just as personally directed at Bree - nothing to do with 'if the Order connects me to you, I'll lose my job, every student here I help with Rootcraft will be under scrutiny and could be harmed', etc. No, it's solely: "Bree, you are super traumatized by your grief and after one week knowing you, you aren't over it and taking actions I view as harmful instead of being a good little Rootwitch like I want you to be, so I'm just going to abandon you now. Fuck off."

I think introducing Black community and Rootcraft through students Bree's age (I would also age Bree up to be no a fucking 16 year old on a college campus) would have really been a better way to explore those themes.

Idk, just my thoughts on the matter as the therapist is my most-hated character in the whole book and I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intention and I CANNOT stop thinking about it.