Queen of Air and Darkness

Hey,

It's me, harboring conflicted feelings and listening to Cryaotic play Pokémon Platinum on a randomizer at https://www.twitch.tv/cryaotic. He's a gem. You should check him out.

Anyway, what we care about. I finished Queen of Air and Darkness, the final book in The Dark Artifices trilogy. There's. . . so much happening in this book. Basically, the first 200 pages are the Blackthorns grieving over the unnecessary death. Then, Emma and Julian have to go get the Black Volume out of Faerie because their government is corrupted as heck. They have to try and stop loving each other, but that's not new. Also, the Blackthorns have to go hide in their house. And, of course, they have to try and save everyone before they spontaneously combust, because the government is incompetent and prejudice.

I have so many feelings. I did only cry because I was happy and then sad about people's feelings. I'll kind of just go through some things. I did not enjoy soulless Julian. Normally, soulless people are hot, like soulless Stiles from Teen Wolf and soulless Sam from Supernatural, but I hated Julian. I wanted to just throat chop him. My threesome ship did some things, so that was definitely good. I love Ty more than anything, you know this, but I was a little annoyed at him in this one. I was rooting for Kit and he was one of the reasons I cried. He just. . . and he didn't. . . but he. . . huh. I hate that this book is so long and there's so much spoil material. This book is literally 893 pages. That's 2-3 books. Cassandra. No one told you to snap. OH!

This is from the book

THIS BOOK COMES WITH SOME ART! AND IT'S GORGEOUS. She SNAPPED snapped. Anyway. I'm glad Dru has more presence. I still love Ty, but I had to love Kit more. Because he had my feelings. Aline was kind of annoying. Hm. Giants are cool ;) Kieran's character arc is so good. Like, I hated him in the first book, and now I really like him. I also like how so many of The Mortal Instruments squad showed up. I love all of them with my heart and feelings.

Umm. I can't think of anything else without spoiling the whole book. It's so long. Go read it. If they don't have it in Portugal or wherever I'll write the country an angry letter on your behalf. I don't know Portuguese, but I'm sure they can feel the sentiment. Now I gotta decompress with a romance novel. Spoiler, we know who Alex is. See you later. Hopefully in a reasonable time. Finals are coming up and I have like three papers.

Livvy comforting Julian
By qissus

Ship: Emma and Julien, Kit and Ty, Cristina and Mark and Kieran, Alex and Magnus, Clary and Jace, Diana and Gwyn
Snake: Cohort, racists

10/10
Series: 10/10
~Book Panda

Lord of Shadows

Hello,

It's me. I was unable to sob, because my roommate, who I grow to despise with each passing day, showed up exactly as it happened. So I'll be crying myself to sleep instead. I did help cook today, which was fun. Love cooking with other black people, and I love watching all the other white people being confused about seasoning and stuff. Also. My roommate just got in the bed, got under the covers, and turned on her little iPad, instead of turning out the lights. I haven't gotten up since she came back. But. It's. FIne.

I finished Lord of Shadows today, with only two tears. Anyway, Emma has realized how perilous it is for Julian and her to love each other, literally, so she has devised a plan to get him to stop loving her. Through his brother. Then there's news of one of the Blackthorn friends getting executed in Faerie lands, so they all go off to rescue him. This starts a quest for The Black Book, a forbidden necromancy ridden book. Oh wait, there are also unexplained sea demons along the West coast? That's before the fae boy. The demons bring about a group of bigots, so that's always fun for them. Umm, yeah. I've had a lot of sugar tonight, and none of it is helping me in the brain department.

Normally, when I know things in books, it takes me a while to read them, because of nerves and everything. I couldn't do that with this one. Why? Because it's so good. Like, sooooo good. Ms. Clare has no right to this type of power. And yet, here she is. Anyway, Julian and Emma are still so good. Julian is the most heartless and heartwarming bitch, and I love him. Emma is fierce. We adore.  We finally get Kit! I adore him too. He's like Jace, but smol and good and less self-destructive. Also comes from a less loving home, and he kind of feels like Emma, like they don't really need her, but you know who needs him? Ty. You know who I love more than I love myself? Ty. Tiberius Nero Blackthorn deserves every single good thing in the Shadowhunter world. Everything. But Kit, he's so bi/pan and it's so good. He's so cute. I also have this headcanon that Julian is bisexual, but that's neither here nor there. Kit just needs somewhere to belong and a nice BOY. Maybe one with, black hair and gray eyes. Maybe one that deserves the world. And he can give him the world. TY. He's the sweetest boy and I love him so much. Ugh. I wish he was real so I can befriend him. I want to hear about his animal facts, dammit. There are not enough words to describe how much I adore Ty. Not enough. Also, I have a new thing. So, I'm not normally a polyamorous shipper. But. Cristina and Mark and Kieran? You can't have one without the other, and you can't cut one out without the other two being like, they deserve nice things. Sooooo. Cassie? There's like, 900 pages for triple relationship.

Julian and his baby baby
By taratjah

Okay. Here's what needs to happen in Queen of Air and Darkness, or I'm going to be upset. No more main deaths. Magnus. All the Blackthorns need to be okay. Ty needs to be okay. Then he needs to love Kit. And Kit needs to love Ty. And they need to kiss. If they become parabatai, I will literally fight the first person I see. Emma and Julian need to fix their curse so I can breathe again. Dru needs to find a friend, and not freaking Jaime, who's like 18, 19, 20. No. Baby, you're 13. Find a 13-year-old friend. Tavvy's kind of psychic. I want them to discover this. Clary needs to not die. If she dies Jace will be distraught, which means I will be distraught. I won't recover. I mean, I will, but he won't. I'll carry more easily accessible sadness around in my heart for all my days. It won't be okay. Zara and her father need to be beheaded pronto. I have other things, but I wanna watch this Spanish girl draw and play my Pokémon dress-up game. Bye, queens and kings. I'll see you when I see you.

Ship: Ty and Kit, Emma and Julian, Cristina and Mark and Kieran (my first poly ship?!?!), Diana and Gwyn
My Heart: Ty
Snakes: Zara, Manuel, Dearborns in general
No Longer Snakes: Diana, Mark,
I like: Gwyn

10/10
~Book Panda

Lady Midnight

Hi lovelies,

Happy Easter, to those who celebrate. To those who don't, happy 420. And to those who don't care about either of those, whassup? I'm writing this, both impatiently and to delay the inevitable.

Today I finished Lady Midnight, Cassandra Clare's first book in the Dark Artifices trilogy. Taking place in 2012 in at the Los Angeles, we have Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn, parabatai. Ever since the Dark Wars, Emma has sought revenge over the deaths of her parents. The Clave told her Sebastian killed them, but she knows otherwise. Julian has been taking care of his four younger siblings since he was twelve when his father and both of his older, half-fae siblings were sent away. He's harboring secrets upon secrets, and that's no good. Enter Mark Blackthorn, one of said castaway half-fae siblings. The fae, pariahed after the war with the Cold Peace, are asking for the Blackthorn's help in solving a string of murders in Los Angeles in exchange for their brother, who had been taken by the Wild Hunt. And so Mark becomes another secret along with everything else.

Whew. So, this book? So good. Much like literally everything Cassandra writes. Like, how do you get that much talent in your body? Anyway, I reread this book, but it was basically new. Emma? Great. We stan a sarcastic queen. Julian? I love him. Not many people can do what he does and my heart breaks for him, but I also want to love him forever.

I—you know what? I'm just gonna detail my thoughts on all characters in the hopes that it'll stop me from spoiling.

Mark is kind of a dick. I know he's been through a lot and he has to adjust, but even when he's adjusted, he's a dick. Wants all the rewards without working for it. Like, leave. But not literally. Diana is also a piece of work. I kind of know why, I don't remember everything, but she expects things she doesn't give and I don't vibe with that. They all might as well be without an adult. Cristina is kind of like a study abroad student. Her presence is so comforting. Tavvy is the baby. Sometimes he's older than seven, in his words, but that's okay. Even queens must have flaws. Dru is quirky and great. Livvy. *sigh* She's so sweet, I'm so upset. That's all. I adore Ty with all my heart. He's such a good boy and if anyone hurts him I'm calling the police. I'll also probably cry.

Emma and Julian
by cameocamille

In the vaguest terms possible, to avoid spoilers and frustrate you so you go read it if you haven't, here's what I want/need to happen. I need Ty to flourish, follow his dreams, and fall in love, in no particular order. I need curses to be cured. Period. I need Julian to be okay and happy because he deserves it. I also want someone not to die. I will be devastated. And then I'll start crying all over again because he'll be devastated and it will all be a hot mess.

I think that's all I have to say at the moment. Also, sorry it's been so long. I kind of stalled reading this first one, because I knew I was eventually going to be sad. Also, I finished writing that horrible thing I was writing for Dion. Yay for that. Anyways, I'll read the next 700-page book as soon as possible. Bye, love you.

Ship: Emma and Julian
Love: Ty, Julian, Tavvy
Snek: *spoiler*, Robert, Mark, Diana

10/10
~Book Panda

Once a King

Hey it's me,

So stressed I'm calm because I keep procrastinating the 3.5 papers I have to finish this weekend. The half is not something I HAVE to do but is also something I have to do. Dion wants it, I gotta get it to her. But it's so bad that I don't really want to look at it ever again. But I must. *sigh*

Once a King is about this summit of competitions thing the land has to bring together all the leaders of all the different lands. Aodren, the king, is trying to figure out what's happening in his kingdom while trying to leverage his way to winning the summit to bring Malam together. Lirra is trying to figure out what her father is up to by finishing this job to the best of her abilities. Aodren is trying to welcome Channelers back into Malamian society, but there's this thing that's hindering the process. He asks Lirra for help and she's hesitant, but she's also nosy, so she helps.

Do you understand how many times I almost stopped reading this book? At least three. That's three too many. First of all, Erin had to audacity to try and kill of Leif, the best character in all of these books. I literally almost put this book in my bag to go back to the library and started reading about villains and whatnot. For the people, I looked to see if he lived, and he did. So I finished. Then, though this book was supposed to happen in the time span of about two weeks it was going so slow. I didn't care what was happening, I didn't care who was selling bad oil. I was sure it was her dad but didn't really care. Then there's the fact that Erin blatantly lied. I'm not gay, I'm ace but like, het-ace, which is kind of disappointing. But still. If you're going to tell the people there will be LGBTQ themes in the future and then there aren't, I feel offended, I'm sure they feel offended. There are just bad feelings all around. No one likes that.

Between all of that, I was just kind of fed up with this book. If I hadn't finished this book last night, I'm not sure if I would have. I had a villain anthology and The Dark Artifices in my shelf. Those are much more interesting. I have nothing else to say about this book. It didn't hit.

Ship: no
Like: no

4/10
Series: 5.7/10
~Book Panda

Ever the Brave

Hello,

It's me, I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet. To go over this book I finished. You liked that transition? I know it sucked. I'm sooooorry.

I finished Ever the Brave, the end of Britta and Cohen's story but not the end of the series. Actually, I'm kind of confused about that, but it's fine. In this book, Britta literally just wants to live by herself in her father's cottage. Unfortunately, the king has other ideas. Britta saved King Aodren from the mysterious Spiriter's influence and is now intent on making her a noblewoman. He also has an unwanted crush. Cohen is out here just being a pain. I forget what he does at the beginning of the book, only that it's annoying. There are also people out there who want to influence Britta to the dark side. Can she resist the temptation? Will she get the quiet forest life she craves? (Spoiler alert: the answer to that last question is no.)


I have to say, I'm a little peeved. In the evidence to the right, Erin CLEARLY says there's a character set up to be some sort of gay. And so, I read this book. Searching, searching. Where's the gay? Where are they? I was so sure it was Leif, because he was blushy around the king, but then he hooks up with Gillian at the end. Aodren likes Britta and shows no bisexual tendencies. Everyone else is tragically straight. So I'm still left unfulfilled. Where. Is. The. Gay? They don't exist. It could possibly be Lirra, but she was too busy being rude and grating on my nerves to show any gayness. Also, she was checking Cohen out in the first one. Not that she could not be bisexual too, but she doesn't show a liking for girls. I've been jebaited and I don't appreciate it. Also, a bunch of annoying female characters were added to this book that I also don't appreciate. Maybe I wasn't reading as I should have, but I thought Gillian from the end was the matronly healer woman. Then it turns out she's a maid? And an annoying tit of a woman. She's the human equivalent of a little yappy dog. She never shuts up or stops nagging. And apparently, Britta's okay with that? Like, Britta's personality does not fit her, and no matter how long they've been living together, I can't see her adjusting to her at all. But Erin makes her. Then there's Lirra, who's just ornery and rubs me the wrong way and ugh. I don't like her at all. Like, go home.

Plots kind of wild. It pales in comparison to the character issues I have, so I guess it's fine. All those other English elements that my professor feels he has to teach me about because I don't remember them from third grade are a thing. I don't are about them though.

If you couldn't tell, characters mean a lot to me. They play a big part in whether or not I like the book. I don't really like the new characters in this book. They annoy me to no end. Can't say I vibe with them. I'll still read the last one though. Gotta do it for the fans.

Ship: :/
Snakes: Jamis, Phelia, Lirra, half of Malam tbh
Babe: Finn (needs protection), Leif

6/10
~Book Panda

Ever the Hunted

Hey Tim,

It's Dew. What's up with you man? Haven't seen you in ages. Hope you're doing well. Call me back so I know you're not dead. Ha. That's a reference to a video game. I don't know what video game, only that they played it on Late Night With Cry and Russ on Twitch. A lovely group of gentlemen, if I do say so myself. Also, I have a paper to write, but I have no clue what it's about so. . . books.

I finished Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill this morning. It's about a girl named Britta Flannery searching for justice for her father. Circumstances of her birth have made her an outcast to society and the only people she cared about left. Cohen, her friend and father's apprentice, broke her heart when he left after promising to come back. He never did. Her father was murdered two months ago. A brush with the law gives her the chance to find the killer, except the killer is Cohen. Oh, what will happen next?

I liked this book. Britta is both dry and awkward and just wants stability and to be loved. It's a little too real. Of course, I had a few issues. Cohen for example. His whole character irked me. With his track record, you'd think he'd listen to someone? Especially when that someone is clearly better than you. But you don't, because you're dumb. And then he's just. . . ugh. I have so many feelings, but I started reading the next book before I started writing this and I'm listening to Gladys Knight slay my whole life and so I can't focus. I do think it's rude that Erin would give my girl Britta someone and then snatch them away. That's rude and ungrateful. Also, someone on Goodreads asked if there were any LGBTQ characters and/or themes in this book and Erin said a character was set up to be so. So. I was trying to identify the gay the whole time. My guess is that it's either the king or Leif. Oh! I kind of wanted Leif and Britta to be together. I thought it would be good. He's kind of complicit, but I think he's cute. Or maybe Jacinda? She could be gay. Hm. I have things to think about. Now nostalgia is about to take me away, so let me sign off.

I liked this book. Captain Omar is going to be the death of me, but alas, it must be so. If you like magic, woods living, and whodunit's go read this book. Kay bye. I can't live, can't breathe without air.

Ship: Britta and Leif tbh

Snake: Tomas, Omar

Cool: Enat, Jacinda

7/10

~Book Panda

Freedom's Slave

Hey what's up you guys?

Yes. So, I finished the book yesterday, but I was very tired, so ya girl just went to bed. In other news, I finished the awful piece of writing I was doing for the magazine I'm working on. It's a fairy tale and it didn't work out how I thought it would. But it's fiiiiiine. Dion's gonna be like, OMG it's so good. And I'm going to be like, thanks, but like the kid who got an avocado for Christmas did. But it's fine.

Freedom's Slave is the final book in the trilogy. So, Nalia and Zarani are helping a whole entire army get through the Eye, a dead space that connects the human world and Arjinna. No one has passed through this way since a long distant ancestor or Nalia's. This one is like, the war is coming to a head. Raif has to try and lead the tavrai while his world is falling apart. There's a resistance of Ifrits that are also working to usurp Calar, and then there's Nalia who's just traipsing around the Eye because the gods are both rude and ungrateful.

This was a good book, but I have a lot of beef with Heather. Starting with Kesmir and Tazlim. Why did she feel the need to create the whole lovely ship, a beautiful ship, made me fall in love with them, and then smash it against a cliff face? Like, what the hell, Heather. And what game is she playing with Raif, the loml? Like, why did she feel the need to almost kill Nalia like seven times so he can break more and more? That's cruel. And. . . I had another grievance. . . OH! Shirin? No. She was literally there just to be a pain in the ass. Raif was never yours, he was never going to be with you, it was never meant to be. Let it go, sis. And she had this

Shirin with Yurik or whatever

wonderful heterochromia-ed male that just wanted to love her forever and she was like, you know, I kind of feel things for him, but I'm going to suppress that. Then with Raif she was like, please destroy my entire self-esteem, thanks. Like, sis. No. ALSO. Why did she get a happy ship when she tried to kill him, but KES AND TAZ DIDN'T?? What world do you live in? God. Get with the program. And the whole "slave to the land" crap? Do not vibe. I understand what you were trying to do, with the whole servant leader thing, but no. Nobody should be a slave to anyone or anything. I call bs.

This is all I can remember from my rant last night. Thanks for coming to my TedTalk,

Ship: Kesmir and Tazlim, Nalia and Raif, Zanari and Phara

Snake: Shirin, Calar, jinn gods

Like: Aisha, Yurik, Touman

8/10
Series: 8/10
~Book Panda

Blood Passage

Hello,

I finished a book in a reasonable time for the first time since January. How are you? I four books on hold at the library and I can't get them until tomorrow, because my anxiety won't let me get on a bus today. Plus I have a meeting. And I have to write three papers. Yay! To the book.

I finished Blood Passage, the second book in the Dark Caravan Cycle series, this morning. In this book, Nalia is physically free but she's still wish-bound to pos Malek to take him to Solomon's ring or whatever. This is a big problem, because we hate Malek and because she made an oath with Raif, the love of both of our lives, to also take him to the ring. This must go on while the Ifrit are still after Nalia, who poses a threat to the empress because she's alive. Unfortunately, we have to read in Malek's point of view as well as everyone else. His past catches up with him and now he feels things. No one feels bad for him except Nalia, and she has no control over that.

This book, once again, slapped. Slapped is a good thing, for my non-American reader(s). Nalia is a victim of life and no one can tell me any different. I just want her to have good things, and by good things, I mean Raif. I wanted her to tell him about his friend as soon as possible so they could get back together as soon as possible. Completely forgot about that one thing, the spoiler thing. That messed me up. Malek was being annoying the whole time and I wanted him to leave. He has no positive traits, not one. I think it's so crazy that he thinks that someone who he unapologetically enslaved and tortured would love him. Like, hello? What world do you live in? Raif can have the moon and the stars. I love him. He does no wrong, none at all. Well, like one wrong, but he got over that relatively quickly so it's fine. Zanari is cool, but she's pretty stubborn. I kind of wanted to shake her a little bit, she also eventually got over that. She also got a present, so that's good.

So I just finished eating lunch, and I guess eating has left me unable to make "intelligent" thoughts and statements. Just know, the book is good. Go read it. Also, unrelated, but it's supposed to be spring, and yet it's a high of 48 degrees Fareheneheit today? Like, who did this and who's going to fix it? Sorry, weather talk is boring. I have a headache. Bye.

Ship: Nalia and Raif, Phara and Zanari
Snake: Malek

8/10
~Book Panda