#tbh i'm not sure who's read the grisha trilogy so... | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

padfootagain · 11 months

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Omg, when I saw your masterlist for the The Darkling, I go FERAL, said FINALLLLYYYYY

I thought you never write him, I'm really surprised. What's make you you decide to finally write him???

Hello anon!!!

I'm very happy you're excited that this new character joins my masterlist!

Alright, sorry for the rather explanation ahead 😅

Basically, what happened is that I read the SaB trilogy. And it changed everything. Because I love the Darkling in the show, but it's Ben, so it was hard for me to tell if I just liked him because Ben did an amazing job, or because the character in itself was great. I struggle a little with writing villains, so I didn't want to risk doing a bad job, or to get you all excited and then after a couple of tries decide to backpedale and to not write for him in the end. It's always a little stressful to me to write for new characters, and I've started writing again not so long ago, so I wasn't ready to take the risk after watching the show. (I have however already written for him, will post the fic next week, so I'm sure, we're good to go, don't worry)

The problem with the show, for me, is that I was not particularly interested in Alina's storyline tbh. I was more excited to see the Crows (like many viewers, I reckon). And I was excited to see the Darkling because it was Ben, but not really because it was the Darkling (do you know what I mean?). And I didn't realise in the show how terrible the situation for Grisha is literally everywhere, not just in Fjerda or Ravka. So I wasn't that passionate about the Darkling tbh, and my attachment to him was 90% caused by how awesome Ben was on this show.

But then I read the books, and several things changed:

- I now hate Alina with a passion and if I didn't like her in the show, I genuinely wanted her to die in the books (sorry to all the Alina stans... I can't with her...)

-The books to me showed better how Grisha are safe literally NOWHERE. Like... there is no safe place. They are rounded up and killed in Ravka the second the Darkling's power wavers and the Little Palace is compromised. They are experiments for scientists in Shu Han, they are burnt alive in Fjerda, they are bought as slaves in Kerch. And I didn't feel how desperate the situation was in the show. And that made me turn full on team Darkling, because then Alina's crazy hope that everyone is going to live happily ever after all of a sudden is plain ridiculous... it's been going for centuries, it's not gonna change all of a sudden. And no matter if the Darkling's methods are ruthless, he is the only one who managed to offer a semblance of safety to his people in centuries.

-And then there's the Darkling himself. I can't say that his portrayal was more appealing to me in the books than in the show (who can beat Ben on that? No one...). But there are details that I really liked in the books compared to the show, including how endangered being an amplifier makes him even among his own people, and the fact that no one knows his name in the books. I loved that, because it shows that despite his efforts with the Little Palace, even if he manages to take the throne, he will always be alone, and he was always alone. And I felt the toil of eternity a little bit more in the books. Which is always super fun to play with as a writer cause... angst... you know 😉 I also loved the call back in book three on the 'Fine, make me your villain' (I don't know if you've read the books, but I will explain): because at the end of book 3, The Darkling wants to lure Alina in the Fold, and for that he threatens to slaughter Grisha children that Alina had placed in Keramzin after the destruction of the Little Palace. Lots of things happen, but Alina does get into the Fold and she asks him where the children are and he basically answers 'well, they're probably having lunch or playing in the garden in the safe house where I've left them' and she's super confused by that like 'you said you were going to kill everyone!' And there there is a call back on the idea that... she made him her villain. He acted like one because it served his interests best, but now that she's convinced, he doesn't even need to actually do anything, the threat is enough. And i love how he just goes 'they are innocent Grisha children, why on earth would I do that? Don't you think enough people on our side have died already?' And I just... I love it. The manipulation of it. His image. The... everything, that scene is so important bfbfjfkfkfjfjkfnd (sorry... going into fangirl mode a bit)

In conclusion: I loved the Darkling for Ben in the show, and as I am not used to write for villains, I doubted myself too much to write for him. But now I've read the books and I have turned full on Team Darkling, he is now my baby, my child, my husband, I love him, I want to give hugs and kisses and keep him safe and help him commit genocides. So here we are...

#ask #i stg this man

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capinejghafa · 2 years

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"But I never thought, I never believed … all those people…” [David] struggled to find the words. Finally, he held out his ink-stained hands and said, almost pleadingly. “I make things. I don’t destroy them.”

SIEGE & STORM | CHAPTER 16

#sabedit #shadow and bone #shadowandboneedit #zavens #userbecca #userrlucie #useremerald #tuserkay #tuserlauri #userbeccaa #david kostyk #davidkostykedit #siege and storm #shadowandbonecentral #sabmen #tbh i'm not sure who's read the grisha trilogy so...#mygifs14

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blazethecheeto · 2 years

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A King of Scars RANT (Extremely Long)

So I finished King of Scars and am reading Rule of Wolves now. But before I talk about ROW, I need to spill all of my thoughts on KOS or idk I'll combust- SO, I liked this book in all. It wasn't on SoC level of amazing, but it was not TgT level of bad. So I want to say all the things I liked about this book first, before I break it down and roast it to death.

One big thing was I loved how Zoya was written. As an absolute hater of Zoya in the Grisha trilogy, I was pleasantly surprised. I got spoiled of Zoyalai early on when I was reading Ruin & Rising and I was like MY PRECIOUS NIKOLAI?? WITH THIS BITCH?!?! But I actually found myself liking their relationship, and Zoya. I think it's definitely bc of Sujaya she was so amazing as Zoya that I was like, okay she deserves rights now.

And it's so amazing to see Nina again. I love how this duology gives her a chance to shine on her own, without her relying on Matthias for her POV like in SoC. Oh speaking of Matthias 😭😭😭 I'm just still emotionally destroyed. Tbh every damn time Nina mentions one of the Crows I just put the book down and scream through my tears.

AND HER AND HANNE- I love how bi Nina is, and I am living for more sapphic relationships. I also got spoiled that Hanne is trans. Which I don't particularly agree with... please don't hate me. All I see is a tomboy lesbian who just wants to be herself without her father trying to mold her into a feminine girl. Hanne is gender non conforming to me but idk I'll guess I'll see in ROW.

And the whole logic of all Grisha being able to control everything was kind of cool. And the Saints in the Fold was super trippy but I liked it. I really wished we had seen more of Grigori. Idk, I'm a softie for shapeshifting, genderfluid characters :) It seems like Juris and Lizabeta got so much development and Grigori got like what, two lines? Yeesh.

Isaak's storyline was so sad guys. I really liked Isaak, I love characters who are 'nobodies' and peasants that are supposed to be sidekicks/extras instead of the cHoseN oNes. He deserved better. And that whole Romeo Juliet thing with Mayu was fricken sad.

NOW I will roast this book and say all of my complaints/rants.

I really wished that Nikolai got more, idk, ✨ development ✨. And that's kinda unfair bc he did get more of that, he did confront his demons in the end and I liked seeing his childhood with Dominik and all that, but idk, it feels like Zoya has more main character vibe than him. Which is a bit sad bc the moment I heard Nikolai had a book I was like YES KING-

But one of my biggest complaints about this was Genya. She should have had a POV, and a main character role in this. She was also scarred by the Darkling, I thought maybe she would at least have some more role in purging the shadow power from Nikolai. I thought she would have POV. Tbh she has more scars and more interesting/complexity than Zoya, she should have had a POV and development instead of her. If anyone was close to Nikolai, I expected it to be Genya, as she literally went through the same thing. Instead she's treated as a side character that shows up for like a quarter of the book. Tolya and Tamar had more screen time than her. I'm mad.

On that note, I really don't get why Zoya was closer to Nikolai than all the others. You know what I would like instead of forced het romance between two characters that didn't even interact for the whole trilogy? The Triumvirate. Zoya, Genya, and David were the trio that I wanted to see. The dynamic, the budding friendship. I'm SURE there was tension between them at first, but then it became sweet and wholesome. Show me that! They should have been a team, a trio! Tbh I ship Zoya and Genya so maybe it's just my bias, but come on!

Then The Darkling. I have mixed feelings. First, that dynamic is always fun, with the Darkling forced to kind of chill while the main characters screech at him, but it kinda erases all of what happened in the final battle? Like Alina is pissed probably lol. And I swear, if Genya doesn't get a part where she roasts his ass off and deals with the trauma he gave her... Like if they only focus on how Zoya is so betrayed but not Genya i swear- GUYS GIVE GENYA POV NOW.

Ooh and I wish that Nina found out that Leoni was saved by Jesper's mother. Like first, that would break my heart when Nina realizes that Jesper's mother died for her, and just uggh the feels. And the SoC referencess-

All in all I enjoyed it! This whole rant was mostly about Genya lmao- I feel like 50% of my problems with this book would be solved if Genya had a POV and more importance in the story. I give it a 7/10

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wearethecyclones · 6 years

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you're my bon iver buddy so I trust your judgement, what are some books you're into right now? I'm struggling to get back into reading but everything I've picked up hasn't been appealing. Help me

Hello love! I’ve been sitting on this ask to give it thorough consideration.

I’m not sure what genres you’re into, so if this is like oFF BASE then I apologize. If you have a specific genre in mind that I don’t touch on, let me know! But I’m working off the reading slump part.

I find that I have a few methods for breaking slumps. Sometimes I just need to get into a good series that I can tear through. Sometimes I need YA contemporary. Or I need to go with what my heart desires in terms of story type. Hope this gives you a place to start!

Series:

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo (First book: Shadow and Bone) - So this is a Fantasy Series dealing with a class of people who perform Avatar-like magic in a heavily Russian inspired country. There’s intrigue! Romance! Revolution! Characters you’d die for! The books look a little meaty but not Lord of the Rings length by any means, and it’s so so so readable and fun. (OR you can read the Six of Crows duology, which is the same author and same ‘verse but just… different characters in a steam punk heist situation.) (Features: fantasy setting diversity, the gays)

Warcross by Marie Lu - It’s the first in a duology, but the second book hasn’t come out yet. It takes place in the near future where a virtual reality game and the system its played on has become a part of everyone’s daily lives and there’s a big tournament every year (lowkey Hunger Games vibe, no teens are harmed tho). It has a really awesome female lead and a dangerously sexy, dark and mysterious romantic interest/super genius guy. It’s very cool, easy to read, PAGE TURNER af. (Features: DIVERSITY done RIGHT)

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater - Do I even really need to go into it? I stan hard for this series. I’m sure you’ve either read it already or have seen plenty about it around Tumblr. (features: the gays)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan - This is solidly a Middle Grade series, so it’s insanely easy to read. If you had a Greek mythology phase ever in your life, you’ll have a good time with this. And then maybe be stuck reading every book Rick Riordan ever publishes after that. I read the entire five book series in one week over a winter break in college, it’s a super quick read. But if you’re not in the mood for something that leans toward the age group its geared for, avoid. Read Magnus Chase by RIck instead. Magnus Chase plays with Norse mythology and features a very sweet and tolerant main with his hijab wearing Muslim best friend and gender fluid love interest.

Have you considered a Harry Potter re-read? Because I was healed by my Harry Potter reread last year.

YA Stuff:

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (or The Sky is Everywhere by her too tbh, both are good)

A Million Junes by Emily Henry

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater (or Scorpio Races)

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Turtles all the Way Down by John Green (or any of his books but I ain’t wanna hear one whine about the other books LOL)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

More Adult Stuff, I guessss:

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (my absolute favorite standalone read of the year so far)

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang

Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman

Circe by Madeline Miller

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (or any Neil Gaiman tbh)

#book recs #book rec #what's my damn tag for books again ?#hey nonny nonny #lol que?

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