#the sapphire rose

[litcityblues]

'The Sapphire Rose' --A Review

I have no idea how to feel about this book. For some reason, this book is the only one of the original trilogy that we had when I was growing up, so it's the one I'm the most familiar with, but reading back through it. Wow. Let's just say that we've got some slightly awkward things to discuss.

Picking up where The Ruby Knight left off, Sparhawk, Kurik, and Sephrenia are in Ghwerig's cave and they've got the Bhelliom. Sparhawk uses the two rings-- both his family's ring and the ring of the Elenian Monarchs that he was given by the ghost of King Aldreas at the end of the first book-- to control the Bhelliom and tucks it safely away to make his way back to Cimmura- with Thalesian Thief Stragen along for the ride. Once there, they cure Queen Ehlana and Sparhawk, being a stand-up guy, returns her father's ring to her. She thinks he's proposing marriage and that's where it all gets a bit awkward.

Ehlana is 18. Sparhawk is decidedly not.

To be fair, Sparhawk does his best to dissuade her of this notion. He's way too old, too broken and she deserves a younger guy to keep her happy and keep up with her. Ehlana is having none of that, however, and he spends the first third of the book fighting a valiant rearguard action against her marital intentions. He gets a reprieve by riding with the Church Knights to Chyrellos to prevent Annias from becoming Archprelate. Cluvonus finally dies and after a mourning period, the election begins-- but quickly goes sideways when a huge army shows up to lay siege to the city. A 'Crisis of Faith' is declared for the duration of the crisis and eventually, King Wargun's armies show up to relieve the siege and drive the attacking army away. The Kings of Eosia-- and the Queen, who also shows up much to Sparhawk's displeasure also arrive and an election is held.

Ehlana gives a passionate speech and while not naming any names, generally points the Hierocracy in the direction she would like them to go. (Because heaven forbid they listen to a woman!) She faints at the end of her speech and is carried to safety where it's revealed that she's just fine and the Hierocracy turns around and elects Dolmant Archprelate.

Newly elected, attention then turns to Otha and the mass of Zemochs on their borders. They all agree that a mission to Zemoch to destroy Azash is the best chance at a permanent solution- but Ehlana balks at the thought of Sparhawk potentially being killed and refuses to give up her ring. Dolmant strikes a bargain with her: the ring, in exchange for marriage with Sparhawk.

His fate sealed, Sparhawk marries Ehlana and becomes Prince Sparhawk and then the companions all set out for Zemoch and the final showdown with Azash. They make their way into Zemoch and break into Azash's palace/temple complex and all accounts are settled- but it costs Kurik, Sparhawk's friend and squire, his life. Sparhawk and Martel duel and Sparhawk wins. He destroys Azash himself, who takes Annias and Otha with him.

They make their way home to find Ehlana is with child and they settle into their lives as a family. The world seems a little gloomier, which they put down to theological problems amongst the world's various deities-- after all, a God did die and that made them all a little uncomfortable, but eventually, Sparhawk figures out that his daughter, Danae is none other than Aphrael. She gathers the companions again and breaks the gloom, bringing in spring once more.

Overall: The age gap thing is awkward and maybe even sketchy, but I will give credit to Eddings for at least having Sparhawk acknowledge just how awkward it is. Ehlana is Queen, so it stands to reason that if her childhood was a lonely one where she had to learn how to survive in her father's court- especially after Sparhawk was exiled, I'm okay with making her be more mature than you'd imagine your average 18 year old to be. (Also worth noting that in past history, with lower life expectancies, people got married much younger than that, so it's not... entirely out of the realm of possibilities.) It's just awkward.

I will say this: I have read this book many, many times, but man, when Kurik dies and Talen rushes to his body and says, "My father's dead" oh, that got me right in the feels. Was not expecting that reaction this time out- and I've read this enough to know what was coming.

But other than that, this works. It's Kraft Mac N'Cheese. Comfort food. No overly complicated world-building or mythology, just a very no-muss, no-fuss fantasy trilogy here. There's a problem, they gotta find a thingy-ma bobber to fix the problem. Then they've got to use the thingy-ma bobber to go and solve an even bigger problem. Then they all go home. It's really hard to argue with any of it.

How do I feel about the Eddings of it all? I still don't know. I enjoyed reading these books again. I enjoyed the characters. They're still good, easy reads and there are only three of them, as a posed to the ever-expanding number of works in things like The Cosmere or the fourteen volumes of The Wheel of Time. Part of me thinks, hey, they were found guilty and did the time in jail and then they got on with their lives. Does it seem fair that when they moved on with their lives they did so by becoming best-selling authors and making a boatload of money? Not really. But, life isn't fair. I feel like you can separate art from artist though-- I read these books. Maybe I'll read more of his work and see how I feel about it then. My Grade: *** out of ****

[aliciarose-art]

pay your respects to the ogs of shoujo 🙏🏻

[wiittyusername]

been rewatching Steven Universe again recently I've missed them...

[thechekhov]

Some recent SU-themed Patreon requests

[minijenn]

Magic and Mystery Meet Again... in Universe Falls

WE ARE SO BACK BABES! SO EXCITED THAT NEW UF'S COVER IS DONE! Honestly it was so much fun to work on this, to get my head back into thise world with these characters. Now that this is done, I feel like I'm finally ready to push on with the fic and get it off the ground for ya'll.

For those of you not in the know... Universe Falls is a crossover between Gravity Falls and Steven Universe, where the events of both shows happen concurrently. Originally posted back in 2015, new UF is a ground-up rewrite/reboot/revival, condensed down quite a bit with a heavier emphasis on original content and improved writing. You can check the fic out right over here!

[james-p-sullivan]

colour palettes made from some of my favourite steven universe scenes

[darius20020]

I drawn that early last year

[phantomstatistician]

Fandom: Steven Universe

Sample Size: 12,189 stories

Source: AO3

[rosemarydiely]

DIE 312 thank you nipsu

[gunkmusher]

WHEEL OF YURI

[klaudia96art]

Happy 10 anniversary to Steven Universe! ❤️🤩

[c1eck]

Steven universe character sketches !!!!

Yippee

[techno-leo]

Here are some ship art :3

Based on mine and @razberry-bungle 's kins

[froggiefacedlovee]

LETS GO SAPPHICS

Also additional queer relationship:

[miraco]

Steven stupidverse

[minijenn]

More UF Designs, this time finishing out the Crystal Gems! Not even gonna lie they were all a bunch of fun to draw lol I missed these characters sm