#but truly it's a masterpiece

[tbookblurbs]

Jade War - Fonda Lee

5/5 - More ambitious than the first, expands on international geopolitics, characters really start coming into their own

SPOILERS!

We jump back into the Green Bone saga to find time passing as it should. It jumps around a little bit more in this book, skipping months at a time instead of weeks, as in the first, but this makes sense for the type of conflict developing. The two clans, realizing they can't continue their battle in the streets without losing their civilian base, start fighting in other ways (propaganda, influence on national politics, (il)legal operations to increase their funding). This fundamentally changes how the book operates. I struggled with the change a bit at first because it's so much more cerebral and it plays out kind of like a chess game (I have never been good at chess). Thankfully though, the other characters also struggle to change their ways of thinking and prepare for all eventualities. All actions have consequences, including actions the characters took years in the past. Every detail still matters.

Meanwhile, we see Anden get sent to Espenia because he refuses to become a Green Bone. As he is one of my two favorite characters, the fact that he's depressed for a lot of this book made me quite sad. But the way he handles himself, developing relationships with the Port Massey Green Bones and fostering a relationship with the Pillar's son, are critical to his character development. From the beginning, there's this underlying current asking if Anden can really step out/away from clan life. Will he be independent? Does he want to be outside of the family in that way? And when he finally answers no, it's like the natural conclusion of what happens and all the more satisfying because he's really thought about it and considered all his options.

Shae's plotlines made me really proud of her and also really sad for her. She struggles with finding love and connection as the Weatherman of the clan and, on some level, as a woman who is more accomplished and smarter than most of the men that she interacts with. Her past with Espenia comes back to bite her, but you have to be proud of how she handles herself. She lost the duel (barely) but retains her dignity.

Hilo, on the other hand, has never been my favorite character and his actions in this book cemented that status for me. All of his actions are in character, but they're also infuriating. The ending of the story, with Wen near death and Anden putting on jade again, was thrilling in the extreme. Again, Hilo's response is completely in character, but again, infuriating. More on that in the next book because that's where this one ends.

The international geopolitics that Lee writes in here are just fabulous. the fact that it's a world undergoing globalization is integral to the plot, and the national politics of Kekon are of direct interest and have power over the main characters and antagonists. I strongly disliked Espenia for a lot of the book, but it's a former colonial power so what did I expect, really. I know that technically the Mountain is an antagonist because they are in opposition to our protagonists' goals, but its hard to dislike an entity when you know they're also trying to do what's right for their people. I might not agree with their methods but I can respect and understand their motivations.

An ideal sequel that might surpass the first book in my eyes. It's got everything the first delivers and more.

[curioscurio]

I'm rewatching Steven Universe and I will never forgive Fandom for what it did to her

[filipineapple]

one detail that i love is that lisa is less doctor frankenstein but more mary shelley despite the movie's title. lisa's introduction is her stone rubbing the creature's headstone while mary learned to write using her mother's gravestone. lisa isn't a scientist she's a seamstress which is closer to mary's profession as a writer. they're women who lost their mothers at a young age and were outcasts in their respective societies. both having an odd relationship with death, finding love and comfort in it. mary connects with her mother through her grave like how lisa does with the creature's. at it's core it's a movie about grief and the non-finality of death.

it's also a campy movie about a devoted zombie romantic who would chop dicks off for their goth wife which i think stays true to the spirit of mary shelley.

[petricorah]

scenes i loved from Real Enough to Get Me Through by @marriedzukka <333 [ids in alt]

[leawesomesloth]

"So how do I apologize And put the tears back in your eyes When every canvas that I paint Is a masterpiece made of my mistakes?" (Masterpiece by Motionless in White) HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAVEH. I'm sorry I drew you sad 😅

Note: We just opened donation form for @hkvthm-action! Fundraiser for 🇵🇸 where you donate and get fanart/fanfic in exchange! Please check out the post!

[sout999]

My Masters short film, "Beast King and Queen" is finally live, please give it a watch.

twt / store

[ghostlyarchaeologist]

Christian Kane Twirling Props: A Masterlist

Leverage

Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5

Leverage Redemption

Season 1 | Season 2

Kane's Kitchen

Season 1

The Librarians

Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4

Almost Paradise

Season 1 | Season 2

The Miscellaneous Section

Aka, the rest of his filmography!

[from-the-clouds]

but at least everyone in the last of us universe all got to experience the peak of cinema before the world went to shit

[lmanburgseulogy]

Lmancrew uno game yer gonna have to hear me out on this one alright . tommy swallows four cards (and counting!) while tubbo cheers him on, Fundy is writing very. fun messages on all of Jack’s cards while he’s not looking, wilbur is in the corner singing hamiltoIMMMMM KEEPING MY CARDS CLOSE TO MY CHEST . Niki has an entire hand of +4s (no she’s not cheating why would you say that) that all land on jack. and eret is looking in through the window and crying. for many reasons

[frogprinsen]

So in Season 1, during the intimate scene, we saw more than we need to because it was showcasing how we are invading their privacy by watching.

In Season 2, it faded to black after they closed the curtains because this moment is only for them and no one else should be able to watch them now.

Following this, I honestly expected that they wouldn’t have shown us more than they did in season 1 cause they did it before with a purpose BUT I WAS WRONG.

Now that I think about it, it’s completely fitting that they showed is these scenes explicitly and not just implied some of the things happening like in previous seasons. I thought it would’ve been for no reason to do so anymore but I completely went over the fact that this is how it is. THEY ARE PUBLIC NOW. Everything they do, there are people watching. They no longer have actual privacy, everyone will be able to see them and make comments and assumptions whether they want to or not.

And I think it’s just amazing how these intimate scenes are written based on the stages of their relationship.

[aprito]

“Aesthetics and symbols are important,” he states simply, and by now she's learned that Sasori’s aesthetics differ widely from her mother’s optics. It’s not about maintaining a perfect image for external validation or finding a balance to please the senses. “What is the point of living if you just walk blind without trying to see the bigger picture? We're particles of dust, meaningless compared to the eternity of the universe.“  "You're really obsessed with eternity and beauty. Is this some kind of god complex?"

sos yappathon scene from the amazing @seoulfulnights's fic koi no yokan. please check it out!! <3

[sirbird]

Grief and Rage

(Small piece from chapter 24 of AFM II)

[tau1tvec]

Isa moved to Twinbrook.

[ass-attorney]

playing aj:aa is not enough i need to inject it into my veins

[hemmohaze]

can we pls discuss the youngblood era more. like their music and outfits were on POINT.

[marymekpop]

a daily dose of sunshine & wisdom