Siavahda’s Comments (group member since Jan 10, 2022)

Siavahda’s comments from the The Tarot Sequence 2022 Readalong group.

This is the readalong/discussion thread for The Hanged Man as a whole - no need to limit your thoughts to specific chapters! Here's where you can share your thoughts and questions about the whole book, and how it fits into the series/builds upon things raised earlier in The Last Sun or The Sunken Mall!

This is the readalong/discussion thread for Chapter 5 (The Greek Docks) for Week 5! Please limit your comments to the events and characters that appear in those chapters.

This is the readalong/discussion thread for Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 (Jirvan - The Dawncreeks) for Week 5! Please limit your comments to the events and characters that appear in those chapters.

This is the readalong/discussion thread for Prologue to Chapter 1 (Sun Estate) for Week 5! Please limit your comments to the events and characters that appear in those chapters.

Moxi 🛼 wrote: "I love The Sunken Mall with all its 80’s references and I hope to see the mannequins from Under Atlantis pop up in future novels. One observation; Rune was very, very upset when his family was put ..."

Throughout the whole series so far Rune has lost it wherever mind control or geasa have come up, and I would bet my next paycheck that it's extremely significant.

Hannah wrote: "I'm curious to know why Rune has a stronger resistance to mental attacks. Is it just that he practiced more, or something else?"

It's possible that it's one of his bloodline things - like how he's good at sensing magic, which we're told is an inherited ability, not something all scions can do.

But I wouldn't be surprised if he put a lot of effort into practice, either.

Meghan wrote: "Yes, yes!!
The Principalities have SO MUCH potential. And considering how much time Ciaran is starting to spend with the gang, I think we're going to need to know more very soon. :D

The family tha..."

Queenie should absolutely embroider that on a cushion for Half-House!

M wrote: "I just need to throw this out there because it’s been making me nervous since I originally finished the series (this far), and The Sunken Mall re-read made me nervous again:

We all agree that Add..."

I think it's been heavily implied that an Aspect is...very much a reflection of the person whose Aspect it is. Which I personally take to mean that Addam's Aspect literally being a white knight...does, in fact, mean that he is a literal white knight.

He's too good to be true, but he is true anyway!

Also, my husband has just pointed out that her name is literally Queen.

I am very embarrassed I didn't notice that XD

Queenie has some kind of influencing/mind-magic going on - no one knows what she looks like, and any time anyone asks Rune how long she's been with them he says 'She's been with us forever.' Word for word, every time. I think he's been magically influenced to say that, and never think about Queenie's origins too hard.

I suspect the Emperor and Empress had/have the ability to influence Atlanteans somewhat. It seems like the only way they would be able to keep the Arcanum under control. Not full mind-control or anything, but something significant.

This could be why Queenie only talks in questions - maybe if she speaks in full sentences, her magic treats it like an order/compulsion, and any Atlantean she's speaking to has to obey.

Also, she stood up to Lord Tower when he wanted to send Rune to the Westlands. No normal housekeeper would do that, and Lord Tower wouldn't let any normal person get away with talking to him that way. (I don't think he recognises Queenie as the Empress, just that her Empress-magic kept him from flipping out at her.)

I think the prophecy about Rune - which we learn more about in Hanged Man - gives the Empress good reason to keep an eye on him and protect him.

Thus, Queenie :D

Moxi 🛼 wrote: "I think Addam is the real deal. I mean, look at his aspect; glowing chain mail and wielding a giant sword. He’s a regular knight in shining armour. I also think he is Rune’s talla and that Rune jus..."

I agree that Addam's the real deal. I don't know about the talla thing, though. I'm very worried that the reason Rune 'knows' Addam can't be his talla is that he knows he was damaged in some way that means he can't have a talla bond. (He can't have a talla already, because he was wondering what it would be like to have one when they were in the Hierophant's house, and he wouldn't have to wonder if he had one already.)

F wrote: "Siavahda wrote: "Honestly I feel bad for fans of the series who don't know about Sunken Mall (and the other novellas). The conversation Addam and Rune have about how their relationship started feel..."

THIS!

Honestly I feel bad for fans of the series who don't know about Sunken Mall (and the other novellas). The conversation Addam and Rune have about how their relationship started feels important.

I guess technically you're not missing anything vital, if you don't read the novellas. But I think you're still missing out.

Given that Ciaran is a Principality, it seems odd that he's so...protective of the Magician's reputation? I mean, he clearly respects Lord Tower, but I got the vibe that that was an exception, not that Principalities in general were on good terms with the Arcana in general?

I really wish we knew other Principalities! It's hard to extrapolate how they all act+think if we only see one! ...Although there's no certainty that Principalities all share a common mindset. By definition, they're wild cards (...UNINTENTIONAL PUN) so they're probably all different. Gah!

I will never get over

a) How sweet it is that Rune and Brand decide Max Needs Presents

and

b) Instead of going to the shops like normal people, they arm themselves to the teeth to breach a dubiously safe, underground, translocated mall (when the backwash of translocation magic that made New Atlantis CREATED THE WESTLANDS and there's no reason to assume to mall hasn't been similarly affected)

FAMILY BONDING TIME DOESN'T HAVE TO BE POTENTIALLY-LIFE-OR-DEATH GUYS

What do you think of the fact that we GOT an entire novella for free as part of this series??? Have you ever read another series where the author did this? Do you think Sunken Mall adds a lot to the series, or is it just fun indulgence?

And how badly would you love a print copy??? (I can't be the only one!)

This is the readalong/discussion thread for The Sunken Mall as a whole! Here is where you can discuss or comment on any and all aspects of the novella, rather than just the events of a specific chapter.

This is the readalong/discussion thread for the final chapter, Chapter 7, for Week 4! Please limit your comments to the events and characters that appear in those chapters.

This is the readalong/discussion thread for Chapters 4-6 for Week 4! Please limit your comments to the events and characters that appear in those chapters.

This is the readalong/discussion thread for Chapters 1-3 for Week 4! Please limit your comments to the events and characters that appear in those chapters.