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dark-night-star-light · 11 months

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Spirit Animals: Tales of the Great Beasts (Reread pt. 8)

DISCLAIMER: WILL CONTAIN SPOILER FOR THIS BOOK, THE BOOK OF SHANE, AND BOOKS ONE THROUGH SEVEN IN FIRST SERIES (AS WELL AS SOME MINOR SPOILERS FOR BOOKS SEVEN AND EIGHT IN SECOND SERIES).

Masterpost

Kovo

“This liquid held the power to change . . . everything” (3). He really believes that, doesn’t he? Yikes.

“Feliandor’s father had been a good king, and Feliandor wanted to be a good king too” (4). This is pretty much the source of all his problems, isn’t it??? That’s really ironic.

“It wasn’t comfortable, but it was beautiful. And intimidating” (5). This throne feels like a symbol . . . it’s in The Book of Shane, as well.

“‘I want a solution right now’” (6). Fel’s impatient. Huh.

“‘A short-term solution, my king, merits only a short celebration’” (7). Okay, here’s the thing . . . Fel actually solves the problem? He stops them from fighting and keeps them happy? There’s not really a problem?

“‘That’s more than one hundred trees that weren’t there before . . . ’” (9). He’s definitely giving off desperate vibes.

“Fel stood silent, feeling his anger and disappointment like a physical force . . . he knew that he was blushing before the entire crowd” (10). Why is he so angry over some trees? I get that he wants to have forests or jungles, but can’t he focus on culture development or architecture or anything else to make him stand out, instead of something that’s already been proven to not work for his country?

“‘Good King Fel!’” Isn’t it The Good King Fel?

“‘ . . . now all that’s left is you’” (10). Oof. Also, how is this even mistaken for being Fel with that context?

“ . . . to reach the peak of Mount Crimson, tallest of the Red Mountains” (11). Is that Muttering Rock? The Red Mountains would be the mountain range, yes?

“‘Uh, my good man,’ Fel said so that everyone could hear, ‘you’ve clearly been through an ordeal. Let’s set you up with a bath and a hot meal. Salen here can schedule a time for us to talk’” (12). Oh, now he’s okay with Salen’s schedules. Also, he’s clearly putting on a show for the people.

“‘Jace died by toad, Janas by bee. Marcus . . . Marcus by thirst ‘neath a lone pine tree’” (12). So the party only had four people???

“If Salen was surprised, he didn’t show it, only held Fel until he had composed himself once more” (13). This is so sad.

“The soldiers stood rigid and expressionless, so much so that Fel often failed to even think of them as people” (14). Foreshadowing?

“Stetriol’s decline wasn’t his fault; Fel, at least, knew this” (15). Hmmmm.

“That had changed when Nilo’s rulers cut a deal with the new Amayan government . . . ” (17). So Amaya was new during the First Devourer War? So it wasn’t new at all, then, during the Second Devourer War?

“‘Spirit animals manifest by the age of thirteen or not at all . . . ’” (19). Aidana bonded to Wikerus at fourteen. So . . .

“‘And you are thirteen . . . ’” (19). He’s thirteen??? I guess that makes sense . . .

Also, parallels? Gerathon kills a Niloan woman at the beginning of Fire and Ice, and while it couldn’t be this same Niloan woman (too old) . . . parallels?

Oh my god, non-modern political cartoons about Fel???

“‘Have him thrown into the dungeon until I say otherwise’” (22). Okay, but . . . they have no clue who this person is???

“He was fairly confident it was the same man who had held the post the night before” (22). Bruh.

“‘When your parents were killed’” (24). How did they die?

“How was it that even the animals of Stetriol were less impressive than those of other lands?” (26). Did he just call Australian animals unimpressive?

“ . . . and downed the contents of the vial” (27). So he just looked at the cassowary and that’s all it takes to “choose” an animal for the Bile?

“‘That’s because the bird is not your partner, Jorick.’ Feliandor’s smile widened. ‘It is your slave’” (28). That made Fel happy??? This guy is crazy.

“‘Jorick, what’s wrong with you? Guards! Get a healer in here immediately’” (30). Okay, so he does have a speck of redemption in him.

“‘It felt as if I wasn’t in control of my own body’” (30). Gerathon, why?

“‘Take him to the dungeon,’ . . . ‘With the rest of the traitors’” (31). He changed his mind about Salen so quickly???

“There was a flatness to his voice, and an odd quality to his eyes that Feliandor couldn’t remember seeing before” (32). Gerathon literally can’t wait to get her hands all over the Bile victims, can she?

“‘By my count that makes you the rarer and more precious of us two’” (33). Kovo is so good with the manipulation and the flattery.

“Fel . . . cast about for a moment, looking for props” (34). Why the heck does he need props??? So dramatic. *shakes head*

“‘They’re saying “the good king fell.” My father, the good king, is gone. And now they’re stuck with me.’ . . . ‘I try so hard,’ he seethed, ‘and I am hated for trying. Hated for the sin of not being my father’” (35). I actually feel bad for him now . . . he’s still a shit king, though.

“‘Chimpanzees use tools to accomplish tasks . . . ’” (37). The Book of Shane parallels?

“Somehow Kovo’s human qualities made his inhumanity all the more striking” (38). The brighter the light, the darker the shadow.

“Feliandor wasn’t in control - had not been in control in a long, long time. The Bile was the first step toward . . . ” (39). Becoming a slave? Because that’s what’s gonna happen-

The screaming trees came from Gerathon???

Fel goes crazy about two seconds after taking the Bile. Hm.

Jhi

I do not remember a thing from this chapter, damn.

“Luan was too selfish to be afraid for Yu . . . ” (45). She has a weird relationship with her spirit animal . . .

“She was leaving Yin out of the conversation, denying her the truth” (49). Isn’t she a teenager???

“Yin didn’t care that she was breaking Kuan’s rules. She needed to know if her brother would be okay” (50). Can’t she just go right up to the curtain instead? That would be more subtle.

“ . . . the Healthbringer lives in the Great Bamboo Maze . . . ” (51). See? Jhi did live in the Maze. Shouldn’t she have known the way out during Blood Ties? Maybe her memory was impacted???

Yin and Luan’s bond kind of reminds me of Meilin and Jhi’s. Parallels?

“‘Do you ever wish you were without me?’” (56). More Meilin and Jhi parallels.

Wait, she goes back to Kuan??? I thought she goes to find Jhi???

Ohhhhh, damn. He got worse.

Wait, if she carries her brother, won’t she get sick, too?

“‘This is where we are. I’m certain’” (63). Wait, let me guess. She’s looking at an out-of-date map, and Luan, being a bird, knows where to actually go. This entire chapter is one long Meilin-Jhi parallel.

Yep, I was right. Luan was apparently fixing the map.

“The Maze is changing, she thought” (64). Or being destroyed.

This chapter feels hastily written. Like, I don’t know how to describe it, and I get that the story needs to fit within the chapter, but it feels so rushed?

I think it would’ve been better to cut the healer plot line completely and instead focus on the trip through the Maze. Yin could’ve recalled legends she’d heard about Jhi and the Maze and worked off of blind hope instead.

“The two brightest shone like silver eyes in a dark face, listening to Yin’s prayer” (66). A well-written line, for sure.

Okay, Yin is actually smart. Following the patches where Jhi had eaten? Actually a solid plan.

“‘What would I do without you?’” (71). Yin’s inconsistent feelings about Luan are just like Meilin’s about Jhi.

“It was a bird spider, a tarantula” (71) A bird spider?

Yin got turned into a slave??? What???

“Suddenly Yin felt like she understood everything around her” (76). Jhi’s powers?

“It was as if the night had slowed down around her” (76). There’s no way that’s not Jhi.

“The woman feinted left, and as Jhi lifted herself up to follow, the tarantula leaped up and snatched the carved green talisman” (78). Why didn’t Jhi just put Nao and the spider to sleep??? She could’ve???

So the “silver stars” Yin saw were literally Jhi’s eyes??? What???

“ . . . she had wielded the mighty Sword of Tang . . . ” (81). How’d she get it back??? What did she do???

Uraza

“Waddling across her lands with their ungainly two-legged walk” (85). Uraza’s thoughts about humans are fucking hilarious.

“Who did they think she was? . . . One of their precious spirit animals, to be forced into a life of cohabitation with them?” (86). Hmmmmm.

“She snarled, using a single claw to draw a cut across his chest. ‘Go,’ she rumbled at the pathetic man” (87). This whole sequence is strangely comedic. The drama of just swiping one single claw across in an ultimately useless way just to be threatening is just-

“And there was another smell with them - something sour and unnatural” (88). Bile. Also, Uraza can sense the Bile, confirmed. I suspected that all Great Beasts could, but so far the only ones that have been confirmed are Uraza and Mulop.

“The massive leopard knew what that must have meant for the boy’s tribe” (90). How does she know about human customs??? I thought she only cared about them staying out of her hunting grounds?

“ . . . they were immune to poison and sickness” (92). Huh. That’s interesting.

“ . . . the black substance coating its blade rubbed into the wound” (93). Genuinely have no clue what this substance is. It can’t be Bile, so what is it?

“She knew that a Great Beast’s body would adapt to this substance, but it would take time” (94). She??? Just said??? That Great Beasts were immune to poison??? What’s this about adaptation now?

“Uraza drifted back to consciousness slowly as her body healed itself” (95). What is this plot hole? Is she immune to poison or not? Are we getting an explanation?

“The impertinence of this woman was shocking” (95). Um, she does have Uraza in a literal cage, though, so . . .

“‘They curse you as much as they curse me, if not more . . . ’” (96). Yeah, Uraza isn’t seeming too hot right now.

“Some looked at her with disappointment, some with despair, and some with contempt. Others simply liked past her, eyes dead and defeated” (97). Yeah, honestly Uraza as a morally gray character is pretty interesting.

“She admired his bravery, but he had the dumb loyalty of a dog, not the cunning of a cat” (98). I badly want to hear Great Beast Uraza’s thoughts on Briggan.

“For a moment, she considered simply swallowing the insolent monkey whole . . . ” (100). For realsies???

“‘So no one knows it’s buried in the Red Orchard?’” (102). Why doesn’t she just keep her talisman with her???

“ . . . they still would have no guarantee of catching up to the talisman” (104). Can’t Uraza, like, smell her talisman?

It’s funny how the Greencloaks were originally sabotages and thieves, and Rollan, the last of the four to join the Greencloaks, was also (kind of) a thief.

“ . . . now a whole crowd of the smelly things surrounded her” (112). I genuinely wonder whether Uraza thinks Abeke is smelly.

“Uraza was stunned - the ability to control exactly where a spirit animal appeared was not something she had ever heard of” (116). Oh my god, Abeke does this in the last book. Foreshadowing?

“‘Hold tight,’ Uraza commanded. ‘And if you tell anyone about this, I’ll eat you and your monkey both’” (118). Tembo: *literally tells the whole world in his journal records that he rode on Uraza’s back*

“ . . . the news that some of her fellows were helping these plunderers deeply troubled her” (120). Well, Kovo does have other motives.

Briggan

“The resistance called him what he truly was: the Devourer” (126). So the name “the Devourer” came after “the Reptile King”? Hm.

“ . . . she saw that it was a tiny bat - a vampire bat - and it had a distinctly malevolent look in its beady eyes” (129). Okay, definitely a Bile-bonded creature, then.

“It might be a Conqueror’s spirit animal, but even so, she couldn’t bring herself to kill it” (130). She’s going to have to be killing a lot of things during the war, so . . .

“ . . . so he’d retrieved his bat and put the creature into its passive form” (131). This wording is so strange, but it's pretty much exactly how the Bile works, anyway.

“The river tumbled them over and over, like dice in a cupped palm” (132). This is such a neat line.

“People even claimed that Briggan could bring visions. Glimpses of the future. Well, that’s not what she was getting, Katalin thought crankily” (134). Briggan can bring any kind of vision, right? Not just past ones?

“Sometimes it did bother her that her spirit animal was so fiercely independent” (136). Like Essix and Rollan. Parallels?

“Then she caught sight of something - a small hut” (137). Why didn’t the Great Pack warn the hut’s owner to stay away, though?

“‘I came out here to get away from people . . .’” (141). Why didn’t Briggan warn her away???

“ . . . a girl with no home, no family, no best friend” (144). What happened to her best friend???

“There was something eerie about the way it obeyed her. Something very different from the loyalty Tero showed her” (148). So it’s possible to tell if someone’s taken Bile?

“‘It’ll be a message to all the Great Beasts, that they better not mess with us!’” (148). This guy is giving new-recruit-that’s-drowning-in-an-oversized-uniform-and-an-oversized-helmet energy.

“‘I heard what you did, that you rescued him from a destiny worse than death, from a terrible bondage . . . ’” (156). Briggan knows what Bile is??? Huh.

So the dreams are Katalin’s possible path or what’ll happen if she doesn’t act??? This is kind of a roundabout way to do that-

“‘I will form them into an army. The Greencloaks’” (158). Briggan created the Greencloaks??? Wow.

Wait . . . wasn't Conor the first of the four to join the Greencloaks? Parallels???

Essix

“ . . . the four embattled nations of Erdas had united in a desperate offensive against the Conquerors” (162). Are they in Stetriol?

“The warriors who had followed her to Stetriol . . . ” (162). Okay, so the First Devourer War also ended in Stetriol??? Wow.

“Only Tellun could have created such an idyllic forest on so harsh a continent in such a brief time” (163). We still do not know the scope of Tellun’s powers, or even a basic understanding of what the guy can do.

I love the way the Beasts bicker in this chapter. It’s just too funny.

“ . . . Dinesh, who looked more like a wrinkly gray hill than an elephant” (164). Woah, Essix, that is some comparison.

“‘New bonds are forming, but they are twisted and painful . . . ’” (166). Bonding sickness started during the war??? Really???

“‘Envision a vast colony of ants bringing down an ox. This would be our fate’” (168). Kind of headcanon Jhi to be someone that constantly talks in metaphors to the point where it becomes almost impressive that she can continue on like that.

“‘Dinesh, I’m more interested in the opinions of Great Beasts who can find their own food’” (169). Uraza lowkey reminds me of Rollan???

“‘Take that back this instant, or I, or I-’ ‘Will waddle out from under your canopy into the sunlight?’” (169). Uraza, you’re supposed to be convincing him.

“‘I miss Kovo,’ Suka said. ‘He told the best jokes’” (170). Excuse me???

“‘Don’t worry, Dinesh. I love that you domesticate them!’” (172). Ironic as heck.

“‘Nobody . . . likes me?’ Rumfuss exclaimed in surprise. ‘You have few charms,’ Cabaro said silkily. ‘Nonsense!’ Rumfuss shouted. ‘I am . . . the best!’” (173). I kind of feel bad for him, but insisting he’s the best makes him seem even more pathetic.

“‘Animals taken by the Bile lose their free will . . . ’” (174). Ironic that Jhi is the one that says this.

“‘ . . . I fear it will end in darkness.’ Rumfuss laughed brashly. ‘All days . . . end in darkness’” (178). Wow. What a line. Doesn’t really seem like something Rumfuss would say, though. More like . . . Cabaro, maybe?

“‘Mulop, you see more than you understand. Cabaro, you are a devastating waste of potential. I once mistook your pelt for golden, but it's clearly yellow.’ . . . ‘Halawir,’ Essix continued. ‘You have all the manners of royalty, and none of the substance . . . Suka, hiding from tough choices is a choice; and Rumfuss, never changing means never improving. Arax, how can you demand freedom for yourself but not for those in your care? Dinesh, don’t let your greatness be only a matter of size. Tellun . . . ’ . . . ‘I respect you, but I do not understand you. I fear you are too distant.’ . . . ‘I believe that Ninani does her best’” (180). Wow, Essix just roasted all the Great Beasts except Kovo, Greathon, the other Fallen, and Ninani. She really does go out with a bang.

Wait. How did Essix lose her talisman? It’s never mentioned . . .

“Briggan’s jaws found the arm with the club” (183). The Evertree ending parallels?

I forgot that Kovo literally kills Briggan . . . like he literally cuts his throat open . . .

“High above, a speck circled, almost at the limit of Essix’s sharp vision. Halawir?” (185). Yeah, what’s Halawir doing there?

“ . . . Essix discovered that Jhi, Briggan, and Uraza were already gone” (186). Oh no. That’s actually so sad.

“Time lost all meaning . . . there was a light” (186). Do spirit animals live in a void until they’re called or something?

Essix’s first thought about Rollan was “Interesting” (186).

Final thoughts and rating (these ones are even longer than usual . . . sorry about that):

In terms of ranking, I think I liked Essix’s chapter the best. Despite its flaws (mostly the lack of background: Why did Essix join? How did she lose her talisman?), it was done really well. You really get a good understanding of the relationships between the Great Beasts. I like that Uraza’s personality (and the personality of the others in general) were really displayed well. I’d say that Uraza’s chapter was the second best. It was written well, and Tembo’s personality really highlighted the story. The beginning of the Greencloaks was explained flawlessly, in my opinion, and despite the few plot holes (the poison thing), I like the short character development Uraza goes through. My third favorite was definitely Fel’s chapter. The parallels to Shane and the order of events was explained well, and I think it gave a good introduction to the setting, which is slightly different from the setting of the story during the main series. Fel’s feelings are shown well, which gives the story a better backbone.

My second-to-least favorite was Katalin’s chapter. Despite the backstory, I found it to be quite boring, almost? It was in an adventure/quest format, and personally I find that to be more suited to a full novel, not a short story. Besides Fel’s chapter, I found the narration from a human’s perspective to be really annoying. I thought that it would’ve been better to see this chapter from Briggan’s perspective. It’s established pretty early on that Katalin knew that the wolves knew she was there. The story could’ve been Briggan’s mental struggle about whether or not he wanted to join the fight against the Devourer. They also could’ve better developed his personality, as well. They story could’ve also followed Briggan following Katalin and slowly coming to recognize her bravery. I also think that the format of human-with–spirit-animal-goes-on-a-quest is very tired in this series and any deviation would’ve been welcome. Briggan’s ability to connect with someone through dreams would’ve also given us an insight into Katalin’s background, as well. My least favorite story in this collection was Yin’s. I found it to essentially have the same problems as Katalin’s story, but more so because of the rushedness of the pacing. I mentioned this already, but the whole storyline of Yin stealing the Sword of Tang to get the medicine that didn’t work was completely unnecessary, and even created some unanswered questions (How did Yin finally get the Sword of Tang back?). Instead, I think they should’ve just cut that entirely and have Yin work off of legends and myths she’d heard about Jhi and go straight into the Maze. This would give the story more time to breathe and make it feel less rushed. But better than that would’ve been, in my opinion, to have the story told completely from Jhi’s perspective. This would’ve fleshed out Jhi’s hatred for the Bile even more and given a new depth to her situation in the main series. Also, it’s mentioned that Jhi was following Yin the whole time, as well. So many of the plot points would remain the same.

Rating: 8/10

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dark-night-star-light · 9 months

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Spirit Animals: Tales of the Fallen Beasts (Reread pt. 13)

DISCLAIMER: WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK, THE ENTIRE FIRST SERIES AND BOOKS ONE THROUGH FOUR IN SECOND SERIES.

Masterpost

Halawir

“He was a Great Beast, and the king of these skies” (4). I think Halawir and Essix should’ve had a rivalry similar to Uraza and Cabaro’s.

“‘Cordalles, you did it! You’ve summoned a spirit animal!’” (5). It’s hilarious that people are so prideful of their kids summoning spirit animals, as if it’s something anyone has any control over.

“‘The betrayer’” (5). Yeah, I assume we’re gonna get the backstory on that in this chapter?

“It was absurd to be kept trapped by a bunch of seafaring nobodies who probably couldn’t even spot a fish flashing beneath the waves from three hundred meters away” (6). Yeah, those losers with their terrible eyesight. I’m liking Halawir already.

“He knew what it was to make people tremble” (6). Um. Okay. No mention of the Wyrm or any motive other than power. That’s fun.

“But he didn’t like this weak spot in himself. She was holding him prisoner. That could not be forgiven” (7). Can a spirit animal even “lose” their human partner? Well, there’s Lord MacDonnell’s hare . . . but it was always in close proximity to him . . .

“It yanked back on his leg, hard, and he boomeranged down in a tumble of feathers and fury onto the deck” (8). I imagine him doing a few unwilling air somersaults.

“ . . . brushing off the memory of Meilin, Abeke, Rollan and Conor” (9). Why does he know their names??? I’d expect something more like “brushing off the memory of Jhi, Uraza, Essix, and Briggan’s sniveling pets” or something.

“Then he loosened his bowels and pooped on her head” (10). HOLY SHI- (DID I MAKE A PUN. NO.)

“‘I didn’t know Great Beasts had such great senses of humor,’ Cordalles said, not laughing” (10). This one does.

“‘Well, it’s unheard of to summon a Great Beast, except for the four heroes who stopped the Conquerors . . . ’” (12). I wonder what the average person knows of their trials.

“‘ . . . but he was once so huge that the Devourer rode through the skies on his back . . . ’” (13). So the average person knows about Shane’s escape???

“He would finally have a chance for revenge” (14). He’s a normal-sized eagle. What’s he gonna do, exactly?

“So she’d been lying, too” (15). This mom acts in an understandable manner, but I don’t like her . . . even though what she’s saying makes sense.

“After so many days in isolation, he had to admit that he was the slightest bit pleased to see her” (17). Halawir’s reluctance to like Cordalles is so interesting.

“He couldn’t believe she was even debating the question. Of course he would fly away the second he was let free” (20). Can he do that??? I want to know.

“ . . . Halawir never joked” (21). Maybe not intentionally.

“ . . . rules were the way the clever gained power - by breaking them” (22). He’s not wrong.

“‘Imagine the look on their faces when I show up with a new green cloak, and you on my arm, as calm as can be’” (25). Cordalles’s need to impress could’ve been explored further in the main series, but it wasn’t.

“He felt almost as though someone was watching them” (25). Can the Great Beasts sense the Wyrm the same way it can sense them?

“But when her lips curled into a smile, she looked a little like a hungry cat” (27). Oh, Raisha, I think. I remember her.

“The girl seemed to remember the reason for their conversation” (28). That is such a red flag.

“‘I don’t understand why Mother and Father are always so scared for me’” (29). I mean, there’s always bad people, but yeah. Why are they so scared? Is it because of the Second Devourer War?

“Halawir felt for the girl . . . ” (30). Aw.

“He gave Cordalles a touch of his keen eyesight and quick reflexes, making it simple for her to dodge the crowds and easily follow in Raisha’s footsteps” (30). Wait, so the spirit animal chooses to give their powers??? I did not know that. I thought it just happened when the bond was strong.

“Zerif should have felt like a friend . . . ” (30). Bruh. For real??? The man is such a snake.

“What was that thing squirming on Zerif’s brow?” (31). Does Halawir know nothing about the Wyrm??? So he genuinely just wanted power when he helped Kovo. Bruh. What about Gerathon??? Did she know?

“He had a vague memory of Kovo rambling during his years of imprisonment, talking about some sort of evil associated with this symbol . . . ” (32). Wow, he really didn’t know anything at all.

“But he had been the one they wanted, not Cordalles. Surely, he reasoned, they would let her go, now that she no longer had the thing they desired . . . Save himself, and render her useless” (33). Does he actually. Think that. I can’t tell. Also, would he have stayed if Zerif and Raisha hadn’t come?

“She had freed him. Cordalles had let him go” (34). She did indeed.

“Cordalles immediately took off at a sprint, and Halawir gave her every last ounce of agility and fleetness than he could” (34). What an icon. In this moment. Not in general.

“‘Quit your crying,’ he hissed at Raisha . . . ” (35). Why did Raisha work with Zerif, even after Zerif degraded and insulted her?

Aw, Halawir got infected giving Cordalles a chance to escape!

“ . . . Zerif grabbed Cordalles by the neck. He took another dark vial out from his tunic . . . ” (36). Well, this proves what I said in my The Burning Tide reread. Zerif would’ve just infected Kirat if he had handed over Cabaro.

“ . . . a figure in a crimson cloak and an odd white mask had appeared and was trying to get between Zerif and Cordalles” (36). I do not remember a Redcloak in this chapter??? Wow.

“The last thing he saw before the fog overcame him was Raisha giving the masked man a shove, and the look of horror on Cordalles’s face as Zerif closed in” (37). This makes it sound like Cordalles and Shane(?) were losing. But we know they escaped uninfected. So maybe the look of horror was Cordalles realizing her bond had been cut?

Rumfuss

“He’d sold his belt buckle to a shopkeeper in Samis” (41). How did he end up in Samis??? Wasn’t he in Lord MacDonnell’s prison?

“‘You’re just another worthless urchin bothering the decent and hardworking folk of Eura . . . ’” (43). I hate this innkeeper. But Devin deserved to hear that.

“‘This sword is the workmanship of the finest craftsman in Eura - the queen’s own blacksmith’” (43). How did it end up with the Trunswicks, then?

“He had a new trick: Every time he felt his cheeks grow hot, he would clamp his jaw shut and count slowly to ten before saying or doing anything” (44). At least he’s trying. Also does he have anger issues?

“In the aftermath of the rain, however, Devin knew true misery” (45). He had that coming for him.

“‘Are all Greencloaks so impatient?’ The cat meowed in response to Devin’s favorite joke” (46). He uses one joke every single time? That’s so pathetic . . .

“But they had moved on, and the cat had struck out on her own . . . ” (46). I thought Kunaya was with Finn and Donn??? Am I remembering wrong?

“Devin’s mouth watered at the mere mention of bacon, but he tried not to let his excitement show” (47). LOL.

“ . . . her riding clothes were a little too fashionable to be comfortable” (48). Is this symbolism for Raisha’s naivete?

“‘Just like . . . just like Conor’” (49). The fact that that’s the first thing he thinks is just. Splendid.

I love how they’re eating bacon while talking about how Dawson summoned Rumfuss. Not that Devin knows it’s Rumfuss.

“It sounded to Devin’s ears like the same hawk or eagle he had heard throughout the day . . . ” (50). Halawir???

“He smiled smugly as he passed the same carriages that had overtaken him hours before” (51). I imagine him being like, “HA. Losers.”

“He chortled at his own joke” (52). Oh, there’s the Devin we all know and hate.

“He had seen this room every day for years. But today, for the first time, it took his breath away” (54). Devin realizing he’s privileged is hilarious.

The Earl of Trunswick is definitely an abusive parent. I don’t remember what happens to him, but he deserves to die.

“‘I’m not sure you’ll be happy with it, Lord Trunswick,’ Devin said. ‘Since it’s not perfect’” (56). Symbolism . . . I think??? His father should love him unconditionally, but Devin’s not perfect.

“‘Do you realize we had to abduct some ridiculous sheep woman . . . ’” (56). Well. He didn’t have to.

“Uncertainty flickered across Dawson’s face” (56). Oh no . . . here’s the thing. Since Dawson is a noble, he should’ve learned to mask his emotions, right? So this means that Devin really got to him or that Dawson trusts Devin enough to not mask his emotions around him. Or maybe I’m reading too much into it.

“‘The great bore.’ He cackled. ‘Get it? Bore?’” (57). This guy still cannot make a single good joke. I’m reminded of that time in Hunted when they came to Trunswick and Devin’s jokes were just. So unfunny.

“His brother had recalled his spirit animal . . . ” (57). Okay. I talked about this in my Immortal Guardians reread, but Rumfuss died after Tellun. That means Dawson summoned Rumfuss after Tellun. So if Dawson had enough time to get Rumfuss to go passive, then Anda should have, as well. So why hadn’t Tellun gone into passive at all?

“With dark humor he realized he couldn’t afford the earl’s taxes” (58). Wow. The irony. Is just. Astounding.

“Then he turned around, and Karmo was standing there, blocking Devin’s exit from the alleyway” (58). This is so dramatic . . . and for what.

“‘My dad bailed me out,’ Devin said. ‘And threw me right back into the war . . . ’” (59). Wait, he continued to fight in the war??? It’s a miracle he didn’t cross paths with the four heroes after that.

“‘I had to listen to MacDonnell coo at his rabbit for months, Devin . . . ’” (60). That’s fucking hilarious. Also, I’m still salty that the harpist never got any justice.

“‘Your dad would like to think so. But the hurt runs too deep . . . ’” (61). This man is fucking stupid.

I love how Devin admits he was a bully. He knows he was wrong, and the narrative doesn’t do anything to justify it.

“‘But I know a thing or two about anger, and I think it’ll work’” (62). Devin full circle arc?

Devin’s plan is actually so smart. I remember thinking it was completely stupid that he hadn’t won at least a single battle off of wits alone during his time with the Conquerors.

“‘I helped them. I helped them take her . . . ’” (67). I don’t remember this . . . also the degree to which Dawson helped kind of matters, too. Like, how exactly does a ten-year-old child help abduct a woman in a way that two grown men find useful?

“‘Thank goodness you’re here. I’m so lost!’” (68). Raisha clearly knows who Devin is. Or else why would she ask him for directions in the Trunswick family manor?

If Devin’s father is broke, then how can he afford the guards? Like I get he’s raised taxes but . . .

“ . . . the lynx hissed softly at his approach. His father signed, retracting his hand” (71). Is the lynx mad at the Earl of Trunswick???

“They were well matched” (72). This concerns me to no end . . . like on one hand you have Devin, who has the senses and dexterity of a wildcat, has seen real battles and was literally in a war, and then on the other hand you have Raisha, who has no spirit animal (yet . . . ), is just a random noble girl, is younger than Devin, and has never seen a war, and these two are “well matched”.

“Devin had never won a fight” (72). Ever???

“‘It’s probably obvious to you by now that you’re not worthy . . . ’” (73). I know in one of my previous rereads I headcanoned that Shane was the reason for Devin’s Redcloak codename, but I would like to say I do like the canon explanation just as much.

“‘ . . . I wanted you to know that I knew that’” (73). Zerif tends to do this thing where he comes back to someone he knew from the first arc and tells them they are worth nothing even after he’s already defeated them (Shane, Abeke, Rollan, etc.), which almost reads like he’s unsure of his victory and wants to rub it in to make it seem real to himself?

“‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered to the boar” (74). I like to think there’s a double meaning to this: not only is he apologizing for mocking Rumfuss as the least great of the Great Beasts, he’s also apologizing for his actions in Hunted.

“Fire was engulfing Trunswick Manor” (75). Wait, I thought Devin started that fire as a distraction??? How did the fire happen???

Okay, so it’s implied that the mob started the fire. I quite like that, actually.

“‘ . . . where we’re going is more important than where we came from’” (76). Devin Trunswick arc in a nutshell.

Suka and Arax

I think this is interesting because this takes place after the spirit animals get taken, which is a new take.

“It wasn’t just strangers who gave sorrow and broken promises” (80). Anuqi’s parents selling Suka is just . . . wow. Like, they really don’t give a shit about her, do they???

Wait, so by the time that Anuqi went to warn the village elders, the stranger had already found and reached Anuqi’s tent??? How???

“ . . . it was exactly like them to not even consider what she thought. Just like last time” (83). Well, to be fair, they are her parents . . . but selling her spirit animal is still such an abusive thing to do???

“The man had made the village an offer: Let him take Suka, in exchange for a hefty bag of coins. Her parents had refused, of course” (83). Then why is Anuqi mad at them . . . ? Her parents refused, didn’t they?

“The last thing Anuqi had seen before blacking out from the pain was her mother accepting the bag of coins that the sneering girl offered her” (84). Is that why she’s mad??? But they fought . . . and if they’d won, they wouldn’t’ve handed over Suka??? And accepting the coins is better than not accepting the coins, right??? It wouldn’t have changed anything if they hadn’t taken the bag . . .

“‘Well, you’re obviously not going to Eura,’ her mother said with a laugh” (85). To be clear, I don’t think Anuqi’s parents are good. But the Suka example was a terrible example. This is a better one.

“ . . . when she let it envelop her, Anuqi could sense that, somewhere, Suka was still out there” (87). I know this is probably just a metaphor, but taken literally, could it mean that even after having the bond ripped apart, the natural spirit animal bond still prevails over the Wyrm?

“Anuqi had suffered through their snoring . . . for all her life. Now, whatever else happened, at least she would have a break from that” (87). Anuqi is so petty, it’s honestly a bit funny.

“This outsider might be another liar, but she was determined” (88). I mean . . . shouldn’t she have been given just a bit more information???

“She glared at him . . . feeling the color rise in her face at having to admit that” (91). The juxtaposition is hilarious.

“The boy scowled at first, then grinned. He hopped down from the bed and performed a mock bow” (92). This guy is giving major theater kid energy.

“‘But the girl who helped Zerif steal her from you is [here]. And she has other spirit animals, stolen from others like you’” (93). How does Raisha have the stolen spirit animals??? They belong to Zerif, right???

“‘I never even got to touch him’” (94). Oh my god . . . wow, that’s just. That’s just sad.

“‘I’ll never force someone to serve against their will. Those days are in my past’” (95). Okay, obviously Talon was a Conqueror, but like. I need to know her story??? What exactly did she do?

“‘I just needed to know if you would actually let me go. If you were telling the truth’” (96). Honestly, fair. At least she’s not stupid.

“‘Shouldn’t those cursed Greencloaks be taking care of this?’” (96). She has a point . . . why don’t the Greencloaks know about Raisha and Zerif yet???

“‘The Keeper and a whole party of them are headed toward Brecksbury, a day’s journey from here . . . ’” (96). The mysterious Keeper strikes again. Who is this guy???

I like Anuqi’s views on the Greencloaks. The writers did a good job of making sure they didn’t make the Greencloaks seem like the most perfect organization to ever exist, ever.

“If nothing else, Talon and Grif had given her the chance to fight back” (99). I like that Anuqi doesn’t get all emotional and charge Raisha the second she sees her, ruining the plan. I hate it when characters ruin a perfectly good plan.

“ . . . Talon emerged from under the stage, grabbing the first boy and girl and their spirit animals and pulling them with her” (100). She just grabbed a yak???

Why did they sabotage the guards??? I thought they were after the mercenaries?

“‘We’ll see who the predators are . . . and who are the prey,’ Grif said darkly” (105). Cringy-ass line, and made even funnier by the fact that he’s completely serious.

“‘You may not be a fighter, but you’ve a cunning to you’” (105). I like that they didn’t immediately make her a ridiculously good fighter for plot convenience the first moment it was needed.

“If she went down fighting, at least she wouldn’t have to worry about the emptiness inside her where Suka had been” (107). Wow, she’s lowkey suicidal???

“There, over to the right, just a stone’s throw from their tracks, was another set in parallel” (107). How did they not notice it, then? Maybe they were tired . . .

The fact that if they had just blown the horn this could’ve been avoided is just. So sad.

“Raisha was behind Talon. A sharp dirk gleaming at Talon’s throat” (107). That was weirdly grammatically inaccurate. Strange . . .

“Was she really going to let herself be captured for someone she’d only just met?” (108). I like how she actually tried to run. Most protagonists would’ve done the “noble” thing.

How did Grif and Anuqi not notice anything weird about Talon’s appearance? Shouldn’t she have merged with a bird of some sort?

Anuqi feeling remorse is very. Protagonist of her.

“Talon appeared to be making friends with a robin in a nearby cage . . . ” (109). Can Talon speak bird???

Anuqi has so much character development and trust-building . . . wow.

“A few blows to the floorboards . . . revealed the dark ground passing by below” (111). Why didn’t Grif just use the ax to jump Anuqi and Talon out?

“Anuqi would have expected her to sound more pleased that they were being rescued” (112). Talon’s fear of the Greencloaks makes sense . . . but what specifically happened?

“‘Tell them you were captured separately. It will go easier for you that way’” (112). So the Greencloaks appear to know Talon personally??? How?

“‘That’s the Keeper,’ Talon said, pointing to a young figure resplendent in tellunum armor . . . ” (113). I need to know more about this guy.

“‘And over there - that one is Keith’ . . . ‘Looks like he finally learned how to fight’” (113). Which implies that Talon knows Keith. Did they ever fight? Did Talon defeat Keith?

“Let Zerif, Raisha, and the Greencloaks take care of each other, leaving their usual trail of destruction. Anuqi had all the friends she needed” (114). I like how she still doesn’t like the Greencloaks, like it’s really realistic.

Kovo

“Takoda couldn’t honestly remember what Sodu had even said” (118). What is it with Sodu and being a piece of shit, anyway? Why is he constantly the bad guy? What’s his backstory?

“Willing to go into battle against the Conquerors for their family” (118). Takoda’s rage at his parents’ deaths should have been explored more in the main story, in my opinion.

“‘Takoda, meet Nambi. Nambi, meet Takoda. I think you’ll be friends’” (120). This implies Nambi can hear her in passive state, so I might be right about the whole spirit-animals-in-passive-state-are-still-aware-of-what’s-going-on theory.

“At first, it made Takoda angry, that what was once Sodu’s punishment was now his own” (121). Is Sodu not going to be punished for insulting Takoda???

“ . . . the same red eyes stared wildly at him from the top of the dark stairs” (124). I interpreted the “wildly” to mean that Kovo was also taken by surprise. Like he probably didn’t expect this either???

“The gorilla pinched the rim with its hairy knuckles, muffling the sound” (125). That’s hilarious. He just decided the bell was annoying and stopped it.

“Suddenly, Takoda didn’t want to run. He wanted to fight” (125). Since you’re supposed to feel like your spirit animal for a second after bonding, does this mean that Kovo just . . . constantly wants to fight?

Takoda and Kovo screaming at each other is so funny.

Why did the monks lock Takoda in a silo???

“What kind of spirit did Takoda have to be bonded with such a creature? Kovo was the most villainous, conniving wretch in the history of Erdas” (127). Yeah, how exactly are spirit animals “assigned”?

I like that they explore what happens if you don’t touch your spirit animal.

“The stories of the ape had always said he was very clever - if Kovo was trying to knock the wall down, he should have pounded the same few stones until they cracked” (129). Is he trying to use the blood to paint the picture of the Wyrm?

“Instead, he noticed one image repeated again and again” (131). So I was right. Slay.

“Some inner strength he thought had died with his mother had found its way back to him” (131). Another theory could be that people who need the support a spirit animal provides are the only ones that get one?

“Takoda reached out and pressed his smaller fist to Kovo’s” (132). And . . . they bonded by fist-bumping,

“Takoda tried again to engage the ape with questions, but he was almost entirely unresponsive” (133). That’s funny considering he was the one who pushed for the touch-and-bond thing.

“Then Kovo turned and continued watching out the far window of the bell tower . . . ” (134). Maybe he’s watching for the Wyrm?

“Walking on, Takoda was nearly certain he noticed a brief smile appear on Kovo’s menacing face” (135). Can Kovo feel Takoda’s hatred for Sodu? Because otherwise, Sodu’s just a random monk, right?

“‘You have a spirit animal now,’ she said. ‘You should dress accordingly’” (136). There’s a dress code for spirit animal summoners???

“He gaped at the heroic duo, then flushed when the boy nodded at him” (136). The Heroes’ fame never fails to make me laugh.

“And yet the young Greencloak seemed to be wrestling with his anger . . . ” (137). Angry Conor is the best kind of Conor.

“[Conor’s] blue eyes met Takoda’s . . . ” (137). I know I’m still hung up over that one time Conor’s eyes were described as green compared to the other five or six times they’re described as blue, but that time was the first time.

“Takoda had nothing but questions for Conor” (138). This reminds me of that time in the main series where Abeke doesn’t know what to think of all of Tasha’s questions for her and Rollan.

“‘Now you get to run’” (139). Something something the symbolism doesn’t really hit the mark because running in a free way is different from running in a trapped way something something.

Also, I need Takoda and Abeke to bond over their shared love of running???

“Behind him, Takoda heard Kovo’s chains jangling as he knuckled along” (141). Okay, why didn’t they remove Kovo’s chain entirely???

“Whatever Kovo’s reasons, Takoda was grateful” (144). I wonder if the spirit animal bond can force a level of protectiveness???

“‘Kalani! Get the boat ready for launch!’” (144). EYYYY, Kalani’s here??? I don’t remember that.

“His dark tunic was open at his chest . . . ” (145). I know Zerif has a reason and whatnot, but he still gives bad-boy-who-thinks-he’s-too-cool-for-school energy.

“He grabbed the wolf by the scruff of his neck and managed to lift the massive animal off the ground as he stood” (147). How??? All his animals are in passive state . . .

“He’s wondering if I’m worth it, Takdoa realized bleakly” (149). I love this line so much. It shows that Conor isn’t the perfect, gentle person everyone thinks he is, and I honestly feel annoyed that this wasn’t further explored in the main series. Conor’s feelings about Takoda and whether he feels Kovo was worth it were just. Never talked about.

Gerathon

“Urban’s precious mule might have to pitch in” (154). Yes, Raisha is an objectively bad person, but her thoughts are hilarious.

“ . . . the Mire, a Greencloak prison built on an island of much in the midst of a tropical swamp” (154). Honestly, it’s a missed opportunity that Dante, the Greencloak that Rollan and Abeke meet up with in The Return, never makes an appearance. It would be so much cooler to see his personality go against Raisha’s because we know that he is more violence-happy. He’s also canonically worked at the Mire before, so it kind of works.

“‘I’m twelve,’ . . . ‘I was used’” (155). I like that Raisha’s smart enough to milk her age for all it’s worth. Not that it got her that far.

“‘You helped to separate people from their spirit animals,’ Urban accused. ‘Is any crime more despicable?’ ‘It’s a favor if your spirit animal is a mule,’ Raisha said, panting” (155). Again, Raisha is cruel, but hilarious.

“Who needed to scale walls if the guards took you on a walk through the jungle every other day?” (156). Yeah, I get that the guards are secure in their ability to keep prisoners in line, but that just seems dumb. Why don’t they just build another wall around the place where the water is, so escape is impossible?

“Anonymity no longer protected her” (159). The fact that nobody saw Raisha coming is just. Honestly a bit weird?

“The vines had collapsed around her like a dozen constrictors. No. It was netting - a trap concealed in the vines” (160). Okay, so there are precautions, even if they aren’t as foolproof as a wall.

“Working for Zerif had been a glorious, empowering game. Before Zerif entered her life, Raisha had always felt ignored” (162). Is that her reason??? She felt invisible? Wow, that’s just. That’s so . . . I don’t even know. Like, I thought she’d have a backstory of hating the Greencloaks or something, but apparently not.

“Was there any chance he would come for her now? No. With her cover blown, she would be of little use to him” (162). So she’s not stupid, yet she still partnered with him knowing this?

“Creatures of legend, taken as easily as if they’d been dogs in the street” (162). I wonder if Raisha was one of those people that didn’t believe in the Great Beasts before the Second Devourer War.

“Without that secret, who would she have been? Nobody” (163). This is so ironic in hindsight. But honestly, her motivations are halfway to understandable.

“‘This smells fishy.’ ‘It’s mildew,’ Raisha corrected” (167). Raisha is winning me over through humor alone, honestly.

“Was his look meant to convey sympathy? Did he want her to trust him? Was he out of his mind?” (168). Honestly, Raisha should’ve taken Urban’s offer of working together, if only to have a chance at escape.

“No, there was no need. Raisha had served him well. She would still serve him. Why separate her from the snake? But would he see it that way?” (169). Raisha literally admitted to herself that Zerif wouldn’t come for her, and now she’s trying to convince herself that Zerif won’t steal Gerathon???

“It seemed like Gerathon wanted to go. That was good enough for Raisha, who felt no path was clearly better than the others” (172). Raisha at least learned to trust her spirit animal quickly.

“Raisha asked for no elaboration about the guard. She assumed Dorell had killed him and dumped the body in the swamp” (174). Why does she just immediately assume that? Because it’s what Zerif would do?

“‘Go ahead and kill me. See how far you two get in the swamp alone at night. No? Then get down.’ The cobra loosed her hold of him and dropped to the bottom of the skiff” (176). Why didn’t Gerathon just stay on him without killing him?

“Raisha wondered if Gerathon could still use her venom to control people, like the stories of the Great Serpent had said” (176). By “venom” . . . she means the Bile, right??? Is the Bile just Gerathon’s venom?

“‘Why?’ he asked. ‘I trust the cobra,’ Raisha said” (179). Yeah, Gerathon definitely knew he was working for Zerif.

“The voice filled her with a sickly mixture of excitement and dread” (180). Oof.

“‘Though Dorell did work for me’” (181). How did Zerif even recruit Dorell?

“‘But whenever possible, I prefer a sure bet. This will leave no room for error’” (181). Why didn’t Zerif turn Raisha before? Maybe turned individuals are incapable of calling a spirit animal and Zerif wanted Raisha to call Gerathon before turning her?

“‘This isn’t right! I called her. Gerathon! Gerathon, where are you?’” (181). Well. Here we are. Honestly, no words for this. I wish that, after the war, the other Great Beast summoners would come to learn of what happened to Raisha and celebrate it and rub it in her face, but that never happens in canon, sadly.

“‘I’m sorry!’ Raisha called to the cobra” (182). Sorry for the just the cobra, or for other people, too?

“Was this what she had been doing to people? Faces flashed through her mind. The hopeful, seafaring Cordalles and goofy Dawson Trunswick. Spritely Grif and stern Anuqi” (183). Wow, I’m surprised she remembers their names. Also, all these kids get taken by the Redcloaks, so I feel like they should all become friends, united in their hatred of Raisha. Also, does she actually experience remorse???

“It was too late to be sorry, but that didn’t stop her” (183). I want to know what happened to Raisha after the war. She got back Gerathon, right? Would the Greencloaks have re-arrested her? Did she go willingly? Did they instead send her to Greenhaven to train, once they realized she was truly remorseful? What about Urban??? So many questions . . .

Final thoughts and rating (longer than usual, sorry):

Alright, in terms of ranking the stories, my favorite was definitely Devin’s chapter. Not only do we follow an established character, the story is also surprisingly good at developing Devin from his mean old self to his new Redcloak self. Devin’s anger problems coming full circle and becoming the basis for his plan is just. Ingenious writing and character development. The way Devin uses his weaknesses and makes it his strength is such an impeccable way of demonstrating his development. I also like that it comes full circle, because Devin as a Conqueror fought Great Beast Rumfuss. Then, newly redeemed Devin saves Rumfuss. Him realizing he used to be a bully is done so well, and I found the dynamic between Karmo and Devin to be entertaining, as well. My next favorite is Halawir’s chapter. I wish that all of the chapters, aside from Devin’s and Anuqi’s, had been told from the spirit animal’s perspective, and Halawir’s is the only chapter that delivered. Halawir was such a joy to follow, from his comedic thoughts, to his development, and despite that, we still understand Cordalles as well (her issues involving her parents’ trust). I feel like Cordalles would have trust issues as a result of this chapter, seeing as the first new person she meets (Raisha) turned out to be a traitor (but that’s something to explore later). I like Halawir’s recognition of Zerif and how it’s confirmed that it’s the spirit animal’s choice to give their powers over to the human partner. Overall, a very good chapter. My next favorite was Raisha’s. Despite the fact that it does follow the tired formula of person-with-a-spirit-animal-goes-on-an-adventure, Raisha’s vileness makes a difference, because it’s not an adventure for the good of society, but for the good of herself. This story being at the end also was a perfect full-circle moment because the whole story, we’ve been seeing Raisha through other characters’ eyes. I liked that Raisha wasn’t (that) stupid and she ended up (kind of) feeling remorse in the end. I do wish this story had followed Gerathon’s perspective, instead. It would’ve made the story much better, in my opinion.

My second-to-least favorite was Anuqi’s chapter. It was called “Suka and Arax”, so I expected it to be dual perspective. I feel like it should’ve been. We could’ve seen what happened after Grif escaped the wagon. We also could’ve felt Grif’s pain and seen him cause chaos during the ceremony. This story would’ve been better in a dual perspective format, but they didn’t go that route, so it felt empty. Grif’s an interesting character, so it would’ve been good to explore that. I also wish the story would have shown Talon trusting Grif and Anuqi with her story. She seems particularly interesting, and this would’ve been a prime time to let her show vulnerability and trust toward the kids to build a connection. Several clues and hints are dropped about her, but we never get her full story and that frustrated me. It did stray from the beaten-down path by not having Grif and Anuqi have spirit animals, but I still feel it could’ve done a bit better. And my least favorite of the stories. Takoda’s. I don’t have a particular problem with it except that the entire story could’ve been covered in the main series. Takoda’s anger and then coming to terms with it was a big part of the main story. Conor’s frustration toward Takoda is hinted at, but never expanded in the main story, so it was a waste of potential. Everything covered in this short story could’ve been covered in the main story. It took away from what could’ve been an interesting arc for Conor in the main story (coming to terms with the frustration of becoming the Wyrm’s slave because of Kovo). Instead of this story, we could’ve instead had a longer version of the Suka and Arax chapter told in multiple perspectives, including Talon’s backstory. Sacrificing that for a story which should’ve instead been a part of the main story is my biggest gripe with the Kovo chapter. The entire chapter is pretty much pointless.

Rating: 8/10

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