Listen I Don’t Even Know Anymore, You Tell Me

So, yeah. Shit it was good. I know Lily had thoughts on it being a post-apocalyptic hellscape kinda setting, and I thought it was a good theory. Turns out she’s right and I couldn’t be happier. Nature retaking Earth after the end is one of my favourite fantasy tropes, and I am so happy it’s happening here.

Minor gripes before we continue: the puzzle section isn’t too bad, but man there was a lot of errors in my book. Some sections had completely different answers, and there were a few misspellings (notable Lllama) so at points the book wasn’t the clearest. Now, this could be because of adaptations (I am British, not American) but even then it never really went away. I’m sure they will make an errata at some point or issue reprints, but still a sore point.

Anyway, back onto the positives: I love Sir Render’s character development! Starting off as miserable and self-centered, and ending with him being a hero for the knights and actually getting the girl! Bro is a foil for B and I love it! He starts like B ended (despondent, miserable, angry at the world) and ended like B started (hopeful, in love, ready to make the world a better place). I’m very happy they didn’t just repeat B’s storyline and kept Render a straight protagonist, albeit a flawed one.

As for Leigh, ooh she was good. Love me a Queen kicking ass, and the hint close to the end utilising her name being phonetically similar to “RipLEY”… ouch. But so good. Can’t believe I’m shipping something fully heterosexual in a G. T. Karber book lol (shoutout to the straights, you are cool, I just expect more gayness). Also, the title being “A Quest for the Queen” as in both a quest given by a queen and a quest a queen is taking is genius, believing it to the the former at the start and then slowly becoming both as it moves on. I love double names like that!

Speaking of names, I liked all the pun names in general, I think Sir Chistory got the biggest smile out of me (Search History), and I liked him being Charge’s boyfriend. You can’t catch me out with that “He was more than my comrade” talk, I’ve read Murdle Volume 1(“he was more than a friend!” “For publication reasons it’s better he stays a friend”). Also as a neat parallel, B also loses one of their followers close to the end of Bordergrams, but the way it’s addressed is completely different. Chistory is mourned by Render and Charge, whereas the unnamed fallen friend is unnamed and brushed aside. Really shows the difference between B and Render.

Speaking of B… B is Death! I called B being the “Praise Be Their Name” as soon as it was repeated more than once. Also B is just referred to as they/them in this book! Shoutout to evil nonbinary people! Anyway, I love how this book integrates the original Bordergrams Lore in with the weapons being Ripley’s tools for B (notable the Light being the Spark for me) and the Atlas being a tablet. Also Ty being the oracle is very :eyes: as the resident Letterinth fan. I’ve got my own theories on that and may write a fanfic about it, you’ll just have to wait and see…

I thought Friar Pan was alright, but his plot essentially being “Out of the frying pan into the fire” was really cool. His name being both a pun and foreshadowing his possession. Also man, being possessed by B/Death must suck. He never got out of his mindset.

Finally, I just wanted to give my two cents on the whole “Render is B’s descendent” thing because I do not think B would have kids. I fully believe it’s a case of Render finding B’s Compass and becoming linked to them that way. Less a descendant and more a spiritual successor, but it’s easier and more knightly to say descendant. I’m a Fire Emblem fan, I’ve worked with descendants not being true descendants (hi Anri and Marth).

Also as an FE fan I am very much used to the possessed character who is close to a protagonist having to die to be redeemed, so maybe that’s why I’m not as choked up as others are about Pan’s death (off the top of my head: Hi Lyon. Hi Darios. Hi Bruno).

But yeah it’s very good. Recommend.