reading Kushiel's Dart right now and really enjoying it. you’ve gotta read epic fantasy bullshit every now and then where every page has five names to remember connected to seventeen dynasties with inter-tangled loyalties, and so on. and I find it funny that the central thread of such a complex story is "there is a lady who is hornier than all the other ladies about bdsm because she has a magic eye"
one thing that’s been tripping me up is the use of the word “weeping” or “wept”. because in my mind, that’s full on guttural sobs, so I thought the main character was just constantly having these semi-public breakdowns? but I finally figured out that in the author’s mind, “weeping” = shedding a beautiful little tear that glistens artistically on your cheek. I’m pretty sure. which means all the people’s non-reactions to her make a lot more sense in retrospect
I do also like that everyone treats the main character like a mythical creature, comparing her to a singing trout and a "wolf with the silverest fur", but her special power is just that she's a masochist. like people are throwing themselves after her sobbing, gifting her rings that were reserved for their future wives, etc, but all she's really doing is walking around in a "don't bully me, I'll cum" shirt. except that the shirt is her magical masochism eyeball.
finished it now, what a great book. she literally won a war by being a submissive bottom. this is insanely good propaganda for my people
