Come to the Dark Side

I have a folder of these on my phone... I'm not sure what that says about me!

this is life changing information

this has bothered me MY ENTIRE LIFE

I AM ALMOST 50

(And yes, I already know the 360 McTwisty, 0 fucks given, he still SUCKS.)

Because:

1. First, and foremost, FUCK HIM.

2. Second, BULLSHIT marrying Paedyn is the only way to keep her alive. Absolutely everyone else from the same event has been released and is free. One is actively advising him. Absolute bullshit.

3. Please see point #1.

4. He obviously doesn't even want to be with her and can barely bring himself to treat her with the slightest bit of interest. How exactly is he thinking this is going to pan out?

5. He knows 100% knows his brother is ass-over-el ows for the girl but just keeps his bullshit up.

6. Please see point #3.

7. He's now letting his nobles call the shots, putting her through a series of trials with AT BEST vague information as a warning, truthfully just dumping everything on her at the last minute with an audience and doing the same to his brother. Because he gives that much of a shit.

8. So now she goes through these trials and risks life and limb and the big prize at the end is an unwanted forced marriage to this absolute tool.

9. Don't even give me the "united Ilya" bullshit. What's happening to all the underprivileged while all Kitt's and the other wealthy asshole's bullshit is going on? Same ol' same ol'. You cannot convince me they couldn't do at least as much good letting these assholes collapse in on themselves and setting up a refuge for escapees elsewhere or honestly? Practically anything other than what's happening at this point in the plot.

**cackles like Azula**

Because

11. After walking away from that first post I remembered when his brother first returned home and he just let him walk into the throne room to the immediate announcement of the forced betrothal as if the FUCKING KING can't figure out a way to somehow consult with the top officer of the nation WHO IS ALSO A PRINCE before making major policy proclamations like what? WHAT?!?

FUCK this guy.

ABSOLUTELY. FUCK. THIS. GUY.

Fuck all of 'em.

Pour out some gasoline and throw a match over your shoulder while you leave, doll.

My Brother In Christ, your world is LOUSY with ordinaries. All you'd have to do is marry literally almost anyone else. Shit, there's royalty in other places, why not arrange a marriage with one of them like a normal royal person?

This should probably feel like a much bigger McTwisty, but I'm so filled with irritation at Kitt - yes, I still am - that I'm honestly just kind of, eh.

Except I have big "don't go in the basement!" feeling about her leaving the man knocked out, alone, not even tied up, with ALL the evidence in his reach.

12. Kitt is now having a temper tantrum because his brother loves a girl and also him. Kitt is not getting enough of the attention and affection. Poor sad Kitt.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this guy.

OMG YOU GUYS

The Controller power was a red herring the whole time

The author was NEVER going to redeem this bitch

Holy shit

You know what

I've kind of gone on a 360 McTwisty myself because I respect the hustle

FUUUUUUUUUUUCK this guy.

She wasn't.

(And yes, I already know the 360 McTwisty, 0 fucks given, he still SUCKS.)

Because:

1. First, and foremost, FUCK HIM.

2. Second, BULLSHIT marrying Paedyn is the only way to keep her alive. Absolutely everyone else from the same event has been released and is free. One is actively advising him. Absolute bullshit.

3. Please see point #1.

4. He obviously doesn't even want to be with her and can barely bring himself to treat her with the slightest bit of interest. How exactly is he thinking this is going to pan out?

5. He knows 100% knows his brother is ass-over-el ows for the girl but just keeps his bullshit up.

6. Please see point #3.

7. He's now letting his nobles call the shots, putting her through a series of trials with AT BEST vague information as a warning, truthfully just dumping everything on her at the last minute with an audience and doing the same to his brother. Because he gives that much of a shit.

8. So now she goes through these trials and risks life and limb and the big prize at the end is an unwanted forced marriage to this absolute tool.

9. Don't even give me the "united Ilya" bullshit. What's happening to all the underprivileged while all Kitt's and the other wealthy asshole's bullshit is going on? Same ol' same ol'. You cannot convince me they couldn't do at least as much good letting these assholes collapse in on themselves and setting up a refuge for escapees elsewhere or honestly? Practically anything other than what's happening at this point in the plot.

**cackles like Azula**

Because

11. After walking away from that first post I remembered when his brother first returned home and he just let him walk into the throne room to the immediate announcement of the forced betrothal as if the FUCKING KING can't figure out a way to somehow consult with the top officer of the nation WHO IS ALSO A PRINCE before making major policy proclamations like what? WHAT?!?

FUCK this guy.

ABSOLUTELY. FUCK. THIS. GUY.

Fuck all of 'em.

Pour out some gasoline and throw a match over your shoulder while you leave, doll.

My Brother In Christ, your world is LOUSY with ordinaries. All you'd have to do is marry literally almost anyone else. Shit, there's royalty in other places, why not arrange a marriage with one of them like a normal royal person?

This should probably feel like a much bigger McTwisty, but I'm so filled with irritation at Kitt - yes, I still am - that I'm honestly just kind of, eh.

Except I have big "don't go in the basement!" feeling about her leaving the man knocked out, alone, not even tied up, with ALL the evidence in his reach.

12. Kitt is now having a temper tantrum because his brother loves a girl and also him. Kitt is not getting enough of the attention and affection. Poor sad Kitt.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this guy.

OMG YOU GUYS

The Controller power was a red herring the whole time

The author was NEVER going to redeem this bitch

Holy shit

You know what

I've kind of gone on a 360 McTwisty myself because I respect the hustle

FUUUUUUUUUUUCK this guy.

(And yes, I already know the 360 McTwisty, 0 fucks given, he still SUCKS.)

Because:

1. First, and foremost, FUCK HIM.

2. Second, BULLSHIT marrying Paedyn is the only way to keep her alive. Absolutely everyone else from the same event has been released and is free. One is actively advising him. Absolute bullshit.

3. Please see point #1.

4. He obviously doesn't even want to be with her and can barely bring himself to treat her with the slightest bit of interest. How exactly is he thinking this is going to pan out?

5. He knows 100% knows his brother is ass-over-el ows for the girl but just keeps his bullshit up.

6. Please see point #3.

7. He's now letting his nobles call the shots, putting her through a series of trials with AT BEST vague information as a warning, truthfully just dumping everything on her at the last minute with an audience and doing the same to his brother. Because he gives that much of a shit.

8. So now she goes through these trials and risks life and limb and the big prize at the end is an unwanted forced marriage to this absolute tool.

9. Don't even give me the "united Ilya" bullshit. What's happening to all the underprivileged while all Kitt's and the other wealthy asshole's bullshit is going on? Same ol' same ol'. You cannot convince me they couldn't do at least as much good letting these assholes collapse in on themselves and setting up a refuge for escapees elsewhere or honestly? Practically anything other than what's happening at this point in the plot.

**cackles like Azula**

Because

11. After walking away from that first post I remembered when his brother first returned home and he just let him walk into the throne room to the immediate announcement of the forced betrothal as if the FUCKING KING can't figure out a way to somehow consult with the top officer of the nation WHO IS ALSO A PRINCE before making major policy proclamations like what? WHAT?!?

FUCK this guy.

ABSOLUTELY. FUCK. THIS. GUY.

Fuck all of 'em.

Pour out some gasoline and throw a match over your shoulder while you leave, doll.

My Brother In Christ, your world is LOUSY with ordinaries. All you'd have to do is marry literally almost anyone else. Shit, there's royalty in other places, why not arrange a marriage with one of them like a normal royal person?

This should probably feel like a much bigger McTwisty, but I'm so filled with irritation at Kitt - yes, I still am - that I'm honestly just kind of, eh.

Except I have big "don't go in the basement!" feeling about her leaving the man knocked out, alone, not even tied up, with ALL the evidence in his reach.

12. Kitt is now having a temper tantrum because his brother loves a girl and also him. Kitt is not getting enough of the attention and affection. Poor sad Kitt.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this guy.

OMG YOU GUYS

The Controller power was a red herring the whole time

The author was NEVER going to redeem this bitch

Holy shit

You know what

I've kind of gone on a 360 McTwisty myself because I respect the hustle

FUUUUUUUUUUUCK this guy.

(And yes, I already know the 360 McTwisty, 0 fucks given, he still SUCKS.)

Because:

1. First, and foremost, FUCK HIM.

2. Second, BULLSHIT marrying Paedyn is the only way to keep her alive. Absolutely everyone else from the same event has been released and is free. One is actively advising him. Absolute bullshit.

3. Please see point #1.

4. He obviously doesn't even want to be with her and can barely bring himself to treat her with the slightest bit of interest. How exactly is he thinking this is going to pan out?

5. He knows 100% knows his brother is ass-over-el ows for the girl but just keeps his bullshit up.

6. Please see point #3.

7. He's now letting his nobles call the shots, putting her through a series of trials with AT BEST vague information as a warning, truthfully just dumping everything on her at the last minute with an audience and doing the same to his brother. Because he gives that much of a shit.

8. So now she goes through these trials and risks life and limb and the big prize at the end is an unwanted forced marriage to this absolute tool.

9. Don't even give me the "united Ilya" bullshit. What's happening to all the underprivileged while all Kitt's and the other wealthy asshole's bullshit is going on? Same ol' same ol'. You cannot convince me they couldn't do at least as much good letting these assholes collapse in on themselves and setting up a refuge for escapees elsewhere or honestly? Practically anything other than what's happening at this point in the plot.

**cackles like Azula**

Because

11. After walking away from that first post I remembered when his brother first returned home and he just let him walk into the throne room to the immediate announcement of the forced betrothal as if the FUCKING KING can't figure out a way to somehow consult with the top officer of the nation WHO IS ALSO A PRINCE before making major policy proclamations like what? WHAT?!?

FUCK this guy.

ABSOLUTELY. FUCK. THIS. GUY.

Fuck all of 'em.

Pour out some gasoline and throw a match over your shoulder while you leave, doll.

My Brother In Christ, your world is LOUSY with ordinaries. All you'd have to do is marry literally almost anyone else. Shit, there's royalty in other places, why not arrange a marriage with one of them like a normal royal person?

This should probably feel like a much bigger McTwisty, but I'm so filled with irritation at Kitt - yes, I still am - that I'm honestly just kind of, eh.

Except I have big "don't go in the basement!" feeling about her leaving the man knocked out, alone, not even tied up, with ALL the evidence in his reach.

12. Kitt is now having a temper tantrum because his brother loves a girl and also him. Kitt is not getting enough of the attention and affection. Poor sad Kitt.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this guy.

It's easy to think of the American people as easily led, and perhaps a certain population is; but there's always a line. Where that line is differs depending on who you are, but he keeps crossing the line for more and more groups of people. Larger and larger groups of people.

And that's when we become ungovernable - because our government was deliberately constructed to avoid too much power getting into one person's hands. And I love that for us.

Here's the thing: I've been oblivious. You've been oblivious. It's happened to all of us. But the SCALE tho.

Raihn and his stupid protectiveness is the whole way she got him into the Kejari in novel #1. Then as soon as she used it ONCE to get what she wanted, she immediately forgot all about it.

(Also, is anyone else having a hard time squaring the person we've been getting to know since with that action?)

So she leaves his kingdom as if she won't get caught and he won't just immediately do 10,000 stupid things just to save her. Dumb.

She finds him at the Melume celebration, explains nothing and honestly hoped he would just - go, I guess? Because she said so? Without explanation?

Then she runs into him AGAIN, surprise, still doesn't explain fuck all, just expects him to go.

She finally compels him to leave for his own safety.

But she thinks RAIHN is dumb.

It's like all of her good qualities kind of went out the window and got reduced to "chatty sunshine," with sporadic moments of plot-fueled, alleged "brilliance."

Yes, Raihn's a bit dumb, but he has more bite to back it up. More grit. We know where his moments of stupidity come from and why they come.

When Mische talks, half the time I just badly want her to shut up. It's such an unpleasant surprise given how much I enjoyed her in the Nightborn duet, but I think she's better suited to being a side character than a leading lady.

The underworld storyline doesn't suit her at all. The rage towards Malach and the Shadowborn—and the entirety of the Shadowborn themselves—has been completely sidelined for some Clash of the Titans bs and I'll be honest: I hate it. The underworld plotlines just make it feel like every other war of the gods book, drama, or film ever written.

By far one of Mische's more interesting and promising moments was unleashing on Malach, and then we just...never really mentioned it or talked about it again. We were supposed to care about this "bigger" trauma with Atroxus, but it didn't land. The gods, too, are more interesting when they're sidelined. They felt like real threats: powerful and looming.

I'm pretty unimpressed with Mische in general. She's certainly the least sympathetic character from CB (in my opinion). I'm a bit baffled by both hers and Asar's arrogance in this.

I don't hate her. I've just come to the conclusion she can't lead this duology, and that's partly because it no longer feels like it's even her story.

Oraya's story was always 100% Oraya's.

Raihn's story was always 100% Raihn's.

Lilith's and Vale's? That was still entirely their own story despite being technically "in" other characters' duologies.

Although... I guess not the sonogram appointments.

But what about single moms? Moms of deployed partners?

IDK, I know I'm looking at this from one of the least important perspectives, but even if one were to agree with him philosophically he's just SO FUCKING WRONG GAH.

Also I've had that ultrasound of which OP speaks. The wait until they finally let you pee is god-awful. You do enjoy a chuckle or two with the technician after you pee (they take more images with the bladder emptied, IIRC), but at what cost?

I hope OP finds out what's going on so she can feel better.

I am filled with a sense of foreboding

I mean these books often fill you with a sense of foreboding but like

A REAL SENSE OF FOREBODING like

really the whole thing might actually end in a disaster where all my poor little meow meows don't get any kind of happy ending at all

I'm reading Mother of Death and Dawn and Aefe and Caduan are fiiiiiiiiiiinally about to bone and that man says

he says

“You terrify me because you make me want what I cannot have.”

Girl, listen, get what you can right now, no doubt, but after a day or two of solid shenanigans you need to think real hard about this because this man is neurodivergent as HEEEEEELLLLL iykwim. There is no way he is saying something like that and there isn't some really, really horrible reason for it.

That man even doubles down:

“There is nothing you can not have,” I said...

“...This is not true,” he whispered...

Girl. You gon DIE. Most likely he will too, trying to keep it from happening, but you got to MAKE THAT MAN ADMIT SOME THINGS.

That seems... potentially surmountable?

But they went together, which is... something?

I am filled with a sense of foreboding

I mean these books often fill you with a sense of foreboding but like

A REAL SENSE OF FOREBODING like

really the whole thing might actually end in a disaster where all my poor little meow meows don't get any kind of happy ending at all

I'm reading Mother of Death and Dawn and Aefe and Caduan are fiiiiiiiiiiinally about to bone and that man says

he says

“You terrify me because you make me want what I cannot have.”

Girl, listen, get what you can right now, no doubt, but after a day or two of solid shenanigans you need to think real hard about this because this man is neurodivergent as HEEEEEELLLLL iykwim. There is no way he is saying something like that and there isn't some really, really horrible reason for it.

That man even doubles down:

“There is nothing you can not have,” I said...

“...This is not true,” he whispered...

Girl. You gon DIE. Most likely he will too, trying to keep it from happening, but you got to MAKE THAT MAN ADMIT SOME THINGS.

That seems... potentially surmountable?