#Erandir’s Reckoning

[urban-hart]

My half of an art trade with @lady-merian, featuring her ocs Caliam and Raya! They're a great brother-sister duo, they both work so hard to support each other, and I love them very much. They deserve all the good things.

Bonus sketch studies. :)

[isfjmel-phleg]

A project long intended: a recording from @lady-merian's WIP Erandir's Reckoning!

This is a selection from Chapter 2, in which Merian tells her story to Erandir.

It's not perfect, it was recorded on my phone in a closet and I breathe too much, but I hope you do get some kind of enjoyment out of it!

[allisonreader]

@lady-merian I have conglomerated my thoughts about Erandir's Reckoning. It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve read it now, but it hasn’t been overly far from my brain because I really have wanted to give my fuller thoughts on your story. I’m putting it mostly below the cut, just because there may possibly be spoilers or hints of spoilers who those who haven’t read it yet.

First of all, my main two big thoughts are; I love Wynn. At this point he might be my favourite character. (Don’t get me wrong, I love the main characters too, but as a side character Wynn has captured my heart.) What a wonderful teddy bear of a kind, caring man, who CLEARLY knows some things. And then also Erandir's the prince isn’t he? (Please tell me I’m not imagining things and those are the clues being laid down.) He has to be and Wynn KNOWS. (Plus, you might be aware that I have a thing for hidden royalty, you know, just a little. Not like you can tell from my own writing at all. No…) [Also, Erandir almost gives off Flynn Rider vibes in a vague running from the law way.]

I really enjoyed the prologue and how it introduces both Aremor and Faldur. Both of them have a very distinct feel to them. Faldur feels a bit like he’d be willing to overthrow Aremor in the right circumstance, as long as it benefited him, but not for anyone else. Both are cutthroat in their own ways. There was also the details of the crowns, which I thought was incredibly vivid, both in imagery and description. As was the difference between the two men. It clearly paints the differences in the way the two men live.

There were some characters introduced at this time that I need to spend more time with before I can gush fully about them, but I can see that as that happens that I will grow attached to them. Mainly Raya and her brother, but it’s been such a short time with them at the moment, there just hasn’t been enough for me to latch onto them yet. Though they are likeable.

I found that everything is making sense so far in the story. The descriptions paint a vivid picture in my mind and I could really just sink into reading it. It played out like a movie in my head. I could so clearly picture the surroundings and the action within the scenes. Even the descriptions about Merian's hair give the story such texture to the story. Also her hair problems, completely relatable.

At this point, without rereading it and making notes along the way, I think that’s about as much detail I can go into. Though if you have any more direct questions that you were curious about, I’d be willing to try and answer them.

[valiantarcher]

The Year So Far Book Ask

Tagged by @Lady-Merian - thank you!

1. Best book you have read in 2021 so far? I’ve done a lot of rereads so far this year (more than I thought), which means most of them were good enough to warrant a second read. I’m getting more out of my LotR reread than I have before, though, thanks to discussion in the readalong Lady-Merian mentioned. Of the new reads, I can’t think of a “best” book so far, but Grit by Angela Duckworthy had some good points.

2. Best sequel you have read in 2021 so far? It’s not technically a sequel but Harold North and the Spacepirates by @lover-of-the-starkindler is an installment in a series, so it’s gonna count.

3. A new release you want to check out? My immediate answers are stories that are still being written, but I did find a book on my to-read-from-the-library shelf that was released last year - When Time Stopped by Ariana Neumann, a memoir about her father’s survival of WWII.

4. Most anticipated book release of the second half of the year? *confused expression* You guys know what books are being released this year? I’ve been pretty bad at keeping track of book releases of late, but I know I will be looking out for updates on stories from certain authors! :)

5. Biggest disappointment? Hmm. There was a book earlier this year that ended with justice being perverted - that was less-than-satisfying.

6. Biggest surprise? The Man Who Was Magic by Paul Gallico. It had some underwhelming elements, but also some elements that it seemed to just get so right and that I haven’t finish wrapping my mind around.

7. Favourite new author (either new to you or debut)? Elijah David.

8. Favourite new fictional crush? I’m not even sure how to answer this one. I wouldn’t define it as a “crush”, but there’s a certain type of noble character - friendly and admirable, but can also be noble (and ‘nobly’ secretive) at the most infuriating times and circumstances - that I have a soft spot for, and I am tentatively sizing Erandir from @Lady-Merian’s Erandir’s Reckoning up to see if he will fit into that category.

9. Newest favorite character? I don’t think I really knew about her prior to this year, so I’m going to say Rachel Doncath from Book One of @isfjmel-phleg‘s The Blackberry Bushes.

10. A book that made you cry? I don’t remember crying over any books this year, but I may’ve. If I did, it probably would’ve been one of a couple books about the Bosnian War, one of several books about WWII, or Fox’s Book of Martyrs.

11. A book that made you happy? Harold North and the Spacepirates, along with a number of the rereads. Also, Author! Author! by P.G. Wodehouse had some great observations and comments, as one would expect.

12. Most beautiful book you have bought or received this year? Mmmm, I believe the only books I’ve bought this year have been clearance second-hand books and they’re not really that pretty cover-wise (and the closest to being interesting has the wrong title printed on the cover o_O). But I did receive a novella draft (without cover art) to beta-read and, writing-wise, that had some beautiful bits.

13. What book do you need to read by the end of the year? The on-hold library books that are coming in. I should really read at least another book or two that I own and haven’t read, as well as finish some series reads/rereads (notably, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Fairy Tale Novels; I have also been meaning to reread at least the first half of The Heroes of Olympus since January...).

Tagging: @idratherdreamofjune, @sunheart, @morfinwen, @ladysnowangellikes​, @worldwithinworld, and anyone who sees this and thinks it looks fun!

[urban-hart]

@lady-merian ErANdirRrrRRR!!!

[urban-hart]

I sure hope @lady-merian doesn't mind that I stole her oc for smol warmup sketch >:3

[urban-hart]

“I suppose you must think me lacking in manners,” he said, deliberately talking around a mouthful of food. “If you must know, I had not noticed. Until now.” He grinned. “That’s why I did it.” She shot him an exasperated look.

A small part of an exchange from Erandir’s Reckoning by @lady-merian. Erandir is usually quite gentlemanly, actually.

Loving his and Merian’s dynamic so far, and I look forward to the plot’s unfolding!

[isfjmel-phleg]

Continuing Closet Cosplay: Mutuals’ OCs Edition with @lady-merian’s Merian from Erandir’s Reckoning (and presumably other stories).

Merian’s attire is very fantasy-medieval, which regrettably I don’t have a lot of. My one medieval outfit wasn’t right for her, so I had to get a bit creative. This, I think, is something she might wear on an ordinary day. Not too fancy but not practical enough for traveling.

I started with a black linen shirt that laces in front and one of my longest skirts (which also laces, but you can’t tell) and added a bell-sleeved sweater dress to act as a tunic. A wide belt, a gold pendant on a thick chain, and flat Mary Janes (that remind me a little of Renaissance-era shoes) complete the look. The basket chest is for sewing supplies (and does indeed hold my spare fabric), and the lavender, which has medicinal properties, is a nod to her skill with herbs.