Manda > Recent Status Updates

... I'm going to be playing the, "Is This Sexual Assault?"'game a lot in this book, aren't I? (Also that was a very graphic yet unclimatic way to lose your virginity - no puns).

All of these people bidding to bed this virginal white-haired pretty boy was.. awkward.

Hahahaha nothing like good 'ol 18th century racism. Can't wait to see how Jamie will talk about African and Native Americans in future installments. [/sarcasm]

Also nice on educated and progressive Claire to correct him on his ignorance! Oh wait...

Did I just read two twins having ceremonial temple sex?

Welp, R.I.P. Geilie (I guess).

Pertaining to Claire's decision to go back or stay with Jamie: "[...] I concluded that in this situation reason was of little use, I would have to rely on something else; just what, I wasn't sure." Human rights laws. BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS YOU DINGUS.

Oh boy selkie talk. I dig that!

"Don't worry, Claire. I'm progressive enough a 18th century man to know that religion is sexist. Now have sex with me for the 18th time today." - Jamie

Lol Claire describing how she tried finding a way back to the present and her predicament with Jamie and Clan Mackenzie and how she was ultimately happy while conveniently leaving out how she got the shit beat out of her for that one attempt.

Finished part 3, and I've. Never. Cringed. So. Much.

Srsly, WTF? I Can't respect either of these people or their relationship anymore tbh. Like, this is the moral event horizon for me - AND I'M ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE *FIRST* BOOK SO THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT OTHER B.S. THEY'LL BE UP TO.

Still reminding us of how bad Jamie beat Claire, I see. I suppose we're to laugh if off at this point since Jamie recited the domestic abuser's mantra ("It'll never happen again. Promise."). /s

"I totally forgive my husband beating the shit out of me for almost getting raped by the anti-Frank because the anti-Frank wants to rape my husband since he's a sadist and all. Btw my husband still enjoyed beating me (and also wanted to rape me in the middle of it) - like a sadist would. Still gonna have sex with his tender but hot Scottish highlander virgin ass, tho."

PEACHY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP MATERIAL

It also doesn't help that he enjoyed it. Wtf man?

Honestly this whole marriage situation is wack a.f. b/c for someone who desperately wants to get home to her husband Claire sure is taking full advantage of letting a 23 year old virgin bang her with no restraint.

It might be because I'm just a dumb, 21st century progressive, but suffice to say I have mixed feelings about this "Claire getting her ass literally beat by her husband" storyline and the "it's okay because your husband was punished and humiliated in worst ways in the past for far less" lesson that goes with it.

Ya know, despite it being a hot button topic in modern writing and how more POC SFF authors are gaining exposure, it will always boggle my mind how prevalent the "othered, suspicious-looking, scimitar-wielding dark skinned people" trope is in fantasy.

I already said that this book can be heavy with exposition so it's easy for me to zone out when new characters are introduced with limited dialogue but as soon as the characters begin talking - and especially about the sociology between Gorhaut and Arbonne - I am sufficiently glued.

Catalina... I'm suppose to feel sympathy for her and I suppose I will (as her popular yet tragic historic figure invokes) but it's hard to at this point.

"Henry remembered that this was a girl who had seen the treasure of the Incas cast at her feet." But the Spanish didn't enter Inca territory until the 1530s. This chapter takes place in 1501.

Oh boy let's hear about that fuckboy Christopher Columbus.

Would it be wrong of me to say how giddy I was when Margaret got up in Catalina's face? No, of course it wouldn't.

Aww little Infanta is being racist again.

I'm getting a Rocannon's World vibe already.

First chapter impressions: Catalina/Katherine is a mixed bag, Arthur is a woobie, Henry Sr. is a dog and Henry Jr. - oh lordy. Not a Joffrey, not yet. Still a Tommen.

Having read part one, I can say thay there isn't much character-to-character dialogue as compared to exposition and internal dialogue, but I enjoy learning about the culture and sociology of this world.

"What was even more ominous was that the obvious leader [...] was rangy, dark-skinned, moustachioed Arimondan." lol that's a little bit racist, Blaise.

At least the sexism in this story is so brazen that it's basically satire. At least, that's what it appears to be doing (I mean, what with one kingdom being woman-driven and the other being misogynistic).

If this throne room is being described like a pigsty, I don't want to know how the rest of the kingdom looks like.