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bigcats-birds-and-books · 1 year

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Books of 2023. THE SKYBOUND SAGA by Alex London. I bought these because they seemed Perfectly Like My Jam (and because the author was doing some pandemic promotions from afar--there’s a signed bookplate in RED SKIES FALLING).

Unfortunately: I’m almost done with BLACK WINGS BEATING, and it is, tragically, Not Perfectly My Jam :( I appreciate that so far it’s very queer norm! That’s nice! And my girl Kylee is giving off big aro vibes (as an aro myself, I’m hesitant to fall head over heels for that until it’s more solidly confirmed in canon, because I have been Disappointed Too Many Times, but so far it’s looking promising!). But Brysen gets a lot more interiority than Kylee does, which is a bummer because he’s very milquetoast. And there’s a lot of child abuse, so brace for that. And I’ve got quibbles about some of the Bird Stuff (but most of the bird stuff is nitpicky, so I suspect your average reader won’t be bothered by it).

I’m definitely going to finish the trilogy (I have them all, after all, and they’re quick reads that I can mostly put down at bedtime), but sadly I cannot give it Glowing Reviews. This may also just be a Me Problem, since I’ve drifted away from both YA and fantasy, so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt the size of a Great-horned Owl, or a ghost eagle if one’s handy.

#books of 2023 #books #book photography #skybound #alex london #black wings beating #red skies falling #gold wings rising #it ALSO bothers me that the texture on the covers isn't quite the same #and it bothers me that the cover motifs don't feel quite unified #and it bothers me that its WINGS SKIES WINGS lmao #i really really wanted to love these #i'm having a mediocre time about it #i can see the edges of his bird research and i don't love that #(it's not his fault but like. cmon. it's a falconry oriented world.)#(i'm allowed to nitpick the birds i think)#(i'm still salty that a hunting goshawk would've knocked icicles down lmao sir she definitely would Never)#she's a forest bird for one she's Excellent at maneuvarability #for two: icicles?? really??? definitely an injury hazard #she's not going to risk it #not even for food #and don't get me started about keeping owls the same way the rest of them keep hawks #there's a reason owls are NOT prominent in falconry lolol #(they're not like hawks and their brains are wired very differently)#(much harder to train)#i get that the Owl Mothers are Special but. they're not that special lol #AND THAT'S TOO MANY OWLS COEXISTING #anyway i have some beef but aren't books 1 and 2 Pretty #(this is also helping me feel better about driscoll lol)#the skybound saga

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