#the way of shadows

[libertyreads]

Someone was let loose in a bookstore unattended this evening.

[theseventhoffrostfall]

Reading the first of those night angel books because my cousin didn't quite literally hold me at gunpoint and extract a blood oath that I would.

I'm hanging on by a fucking thread here. It's kind of like someone stalked me for a few years so they could compile all my complaints about edgy dark fantasy novels and use them as the outline of their new book.

Also, thus far it's already in the running for the Waste Management Literary Award (i.e. how much shorter and more optimistic would the book be if you simply found and excised every mention of rape, prostitution or actual human poop), though in fairness it's uncommonly low on the Abercrombie scale (how much shorter and more optimistic it would be if the only dark elements remaining were those intrinsic to the setting's culture and history and you excised the parts where every single person in the story's world is a fucking asshole for no reason whatsoever)

As an aside, this book seems to be putting one of those positive spins on prostitution, where the Arch-Hooker is a matronly figure overseeing a network of girls that all comfily support each other. This despite the book, as mentioned, not shying away from the darker side of sexuality. I'm just saying, I'm instantly suspicious of any dude that's "positive" and "supportive" of what I'm sure he calls "sex workers".

I know that seems like an odd set of criticisms, considering I've in the past sung the praises of Prince of Nothing. Key difference is, the prostitute in that story was a main character, whose psychology and place in the world resulting from her profession were explored (it was not, spoiler warning, a particularly happy situation for her). That and the overtones of that character were very much evocative of the Biblical "righteous harlot" archetype, as befits a series with heavy Abrahamic themes.

And, yknow, if nothing else by this point in Prince of Nothing I'd seen a sociopathic ubermench mentat warrior-monk, a schlubby and kind of incompetent spy who happened to be a master battlemage, 87 intersecting power plays as everyone tried to turn an enormous holy war to their advantage, an incestuous Byzantine royal house that somehow played out like a sitcom, and Literally The Most Death Metal Man To Ever Live. So far this night angel book is giving me orphan misery transforming into brutal training misery (very original) yet another story where the only homosexual in existence is a pedophile rapist, and poop.

[demondarakna]

You don’t need to like reality, only be strong enough to face it. - Brent Weeks, The Way of Shadows

Self-discipline is what keeps us moving. And everything we do to be able to live is self-discipline. You are already strong enough to face reality. Sometimes that is enough.

[heilos]

My entire dashboard right now

[mrkapao]

"A man’s greatest treasures are his illusions." - Brent Weeks 'The Way of Shadows'

[vulcan-moon]

realised i never posted these comic pages for my chaos user amy headcanon oopsie

[sockenpuppe]

IT'S ZELDA WITH A STEEL CHAIR!

[bluerainbowart]

Team Hydrogen Bomb & Coughing Baby

[ohposhers]

GIVE THESE BOYS A WEEKEND YAOI FISHING TRIP !! GAT DAMN!! i actually have so many thoughts about Big getting Shadow into fishing istg im gonna make a whole comic on it im in too deep

[evenlyevi]

False halo

[hinamie]

I'll give them shelter like you've done for me

[nero-neptune]

…we’ll show ‘em what we all mean!

[redpapercraness]

i wanna see that girl DEAD on the GROUND

[starry-bi-sky]

I am loudly pushing the batdad agenda i am loudly pushing the— DPxDC Prompt

“Woah. You look like shit."

Granted, that’s probably not the first thing Danny should be saying to the guy that just bit the curb, but in his defense; he’s not running on 100% right now either.

The man -- tall, towering, and broader than Danny is tall -- whips around on his heel, black frayed cape flaring out impressively. Danny would've whistled in appreciation, but he takes the time instead to wipe the back of his hand across his mouth, smearing the blood running from his nose across his cheek.

"Sorry." He blinks widely, not even flinching as the man with the horns zeroes in on him. "That was rude of me. I have a really bad brain-to-mouth filter; Sam says its what always gets me into trouble."

And she's not wrong either, per say. His smart mouth is what landed him in this situation -- with blood blossom extract running through his veins and cannibalizing the ectoplasm in his bloodstream. Thanks Vlad.

The man grunts at him; a short, curt "hm" that shouldn't make Danny smile, but he does because he's somewhat delirious and probably concussed. The man keeps some kind of distance, sinking towards the shadows of Gotham's alleyway like he dares to melt right into it.

If it's supposed to scare Danny, it doesn't work. Danny's never been afraid of the dark; he's always been able to hide himself in it. He blinks slowly at the mass of shadows.

"You look hurt." The shadows says, blurring together around the edges. Danny squints, and licks his lips to get the blood dripping down his chin off. Ugh, he hates the taste of blood.

"I am." He says, "My godfather poisoned me. M'dying." The agony of the blood blossom eating him from the inside out looped back around to numbing a while ago, so all he feels is half-awake and dazed.

"Hey," Danny stumbles forward towards the man, a bloodied hand reaching out to him. "You-- you're a hero, right? You're not attacking me; which is more than I can say for most costumed people I've met." Maybe it's a poor bar to judge someone at, but he's already established that Danny's not in his right mind.

The man makes no change in expression, but Danny realizes blearily that it's hard to tell with the shadows on his face. He stays still long enough for Danny to latch onto the cape -- stretchy, but almost soft under his fingers.

He looks up blearily into the whites of the man's eyes. "Can you help me? I don't-- I don't wanna die." Again. He doesn't wanna die again. He blinks slow and lizard-like. "I mean- I'll probably get to see mom and dad again, but I told them I'd at least try and make it to adulthood."

There's a clatter down the street, and Danny's ghost sense chills up his spine and leaves a bitter, ashy taste in his mouth. He immediately knows who it belongs to even before the deceptively gentle; "Daniel?" echoes down the way.

"Daniel? Quit your games, badger, Gotham is dangerous for children."

Danny's mouth pulls back, and blood spills against his tongue. "Please." He rasps, and grabs onto the shadow's cape with both hands. "Please. He's going to kill me. Please--"

"Daniel? Is that you?"

His lips part, dragging in air to plead with the darkness again. He doesn't need to, the whites of his eyes narrow, and the cape whirls around him before Danny can blink. Soon swaddled in shadows, the Night lifts him up, and steals him away.

[danielcalmdown]

The day after the tribunal

[krackkokichi]

super excited for sonadow generations and the movie, so i compiled this for fun