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Interview Vampire Daily
Game Changer & Make Some Noise
occasionally subtle
Cosimo Galluzzi
h
oozey mess
if i look back, i am lost
The Stonewall Inn
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
Game of Thrones Daily
Jules of Nature
Noah Kahan
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Fai_Ryy
The Bowery Presents
RMH
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
Misplaced Lens Cap
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@autumnlacy
the fact that harper barely appears in the Forging Silver into Stars trilogy makes no sense
harper’s entire arc in the first trilogy is built around her getting too involved with the people of emberfall because helping others is such an important part of who she is
and now you're telling me that when her own family is facing serious problems, she does NOTHING? yeah, sure
i love ACDSAL with all my heart, but i really hate that brigid kemmerer chose to use the “not like other girls” trope with harper when she doesn’t actually fit it
the circumstances were different, not harper herself!!! ugh-
Say what you will, but the fact that people from Syhl Shallow say “women and men”—as opposed to “men and women”—is phenomenally subtle but effective worldbuilding, considering the way women are culturally above men in the matriarchal hierarchy of Syhl Shallow
in this essay I will
i’ve always found the idea of Syhl Shallow having a matriarchal hierarchy interesting, but i think BK could have developed that worldbuilding much further
for me, it stays very superficial
and there are moments that feel inconsistent with that narrative, like when in Sparking Fire Callyn says something about being tired of men telling her what to do, when that was never really a recurring situation for her…? like, it would’ve made sense (and even been kind of empowering) in a different context
I think the issue with that specific line is that Brigid realized that she made Alek—and by association, Callyn—too unlikable, so she tried to give Callyn a line reminiscent of Harper (who the line would have made WAY more sense for), without considering that “girl power” doesn’t work in a society where women already hold all the power. I agree with you though; that line felt really out of place, and like something that I think should have been offensive in universe, especially considering how close Cal is with Jax, who’s a man.
Speaking of Jax, I would’ve also LOVED to see more of his relationship with his masculinity, especially upon moving from matriarchy to patriarchy. That said, I would’ve liked if Brigid explored the matriarchy thing further, but I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily lacking. A few examples are the “women and men” phrasing I previously mentioned, how Callyn describes her mother as being the stereotypical breadwinner while her father stayed home with the kids, the whole “fell siralla/stupid man” thing, the way people consider Lia Mara a lesser queen in Vow for having a king to rule with her, the expression “men are best suited for hard labor and dying in battle”, and so forth. (Also consider how Lia Mara seemed so much faster to trust Callyn than to trust Jax at the end of FSIS, even though Callyn was just as, if not more, guilty for the Truthbringer thing than Jax was.)
i completely agree that Brigid tried to give Callyn many of Harper’s traits and failed. even her “enemies to lovers” thing with Alek feels like a bad copy of Rhen and Harper’s dynamic.
and i also agree it would’ve been really interesting to explore Jax’s relationship with his masculinity in a patriarchy like Emberfall’s, which doesn’t seem that rigid in its structure.
what i mean when i say Syhl Shallow’s matriarchal hierarchy feels superficial is that it seems to be structured from a very patriarchal perspective, which is ironic. even this idea that “men are best suited for hard labor and dying in battle” is quite patriarchal when you think about it.
even though it’s a matrilineal society, traits like kindness and compassion, associated with femininity, are still viewed as inferior. i know that’s part of lia mara’s arc, but i think it would be interesting to know when this matriarchy began and why the rulers before her governed from a perspective that, within this same universe, is considered “masculine”: aggressive and ruthless.
In theory, there’s nothing wrong with using the same character traits for different characters, but Harper’s traits being reused for Callyn feels strange, since Callyn’s motivations and challenges are so different from Harper’s. This problem is made more obvious by Jax, since his primary character arc of learning how to be strong in spite of physical limitations is so similar to Harper’s.
I wouldn’t call it patriarchal, but I think the “men are best suited for hard labor and dying is battle” seeks to acknowledge that on average, men’s bodies are generally built with more physical strength than women’s (which isn’t necessarily sexist, just a statistic), and so people from Syhl Shallow consider physical strength the singular ideal trait in a man. Women have more leeway, as their ideal traits range from lithe and athletic to smart and calculated. I’d argue against the kindness and compassion thing, since while they’re associated with femininity in our society, they don’t seem to be associated with either gender in Syhl Shallow at all, since mercy and kindness aren’t idealized traits in Syhl Shallow. The way it reads to me is that in Syhl Shallow’s culture, everyone is expected to be ruthless and cruel, but different genders just tend to approach that differently: men through strength and women through strategy.
Small tangent: This would also be a really interesting talking point regarding how their upbringing subconsciously affected Callyn’s and Jax’s differing tastes in men, and why Callyn (who’s more traditional) likes Alek, even when he’s a cruel jerk, following Syssal culture—while Jax (who’s more oppressed, both bc of his gender and his disability) likes Tycho, who is probably the most compassionate person in the entire Cursebreakers universe, contradicting Syssal culture.
curiously, i think Jax and Harper approach their disabilities in different ways. i would’ve loved to see more interactions between them.
”it’s just a statistic”… huh, okay.
anyway… yeah, traits like kindness are associated with femininity in our society, but also in the world of these nations. it’s clearly not as globalized as ours, but even Syhl Shallow’s neighboring country works that way. the way i see it, their matriarchy replicates traits of a patriarchy, and my conclusion is that it has to do with the influence of other nations. i would’ve been interesting if Syhl Shallow’s whole social structure had been built differently at its core.
rhen is demisexual.
i don’t even say it as a headcanon, and i could elaborate but it’s painfully obvious.
so... i'll elaborate.
Demisexuality: Sexual orientation in which sexual attraction only arises after forming a strong and meaningful emotional bond with another person.
"Different from the others" - Vulnerability and connection
Harper is portrayed as “different” from the other girls who have arrived at Ironrose, but it's not that she is entirely different; rather, the situation itself is entirely different. This is what prevents Rhen from simply wooing her and acting as the perfect prince.
Both characters present themselves as real and imperfect, and they are faced with difficult circumstances that force them to be vulnerable and to develop a bond.
Rhen’s curiosity is awakened from the moment Harper challenges him, and little by little his feelings for her grow, leading to a desire for physical contact.
“I touched her without thinking. So very careless. She was right—I have had over three hundred women to practice on. I should have known better. But for one brief moment, I forgot the curse. I forgot that she is not some simple girl who sparks intrigue with every other word from her tongue. And for one brief moment, I remembered. I remembered what it was like to want to touch a girl, not as part of a carefully planned seduction designed to lure her into breaking this curse.” - A Curse So Dark And Lonely. Chapter Eighteen - Rhen's POV.
Rhen acknowledges that he has previously felt the desire to touch someone for reasons that were not superficial or calculated.
“I want so desperately to turn it into more, to see where this blossoming attraction will lead. But I have come close before. I have found this moment before. The only difference is that I have never wanted it so badly.” “All I know is that I long to take her hand and lead her into her chambers, to sit at her side and share secrets. To run my fingers through her hair and discover the taste of her skin. I cannot remember the last time I’ve felt this longing. In truth, I’m not sure I ever have.” - A Curse So Dark And Lonely. Chapter Thirty-Two - Rhen's POV.
These last two excerpts, taken together with what is established in the passage from Chapter Eighteen, confirm that Rhen has experienced attraction toward other people before, but never to the point of longing for it. In other words, with these other people he had not developed the bond necessary to experience sexual attraction.
That is to say, he does not experience primary sexual attraction, the kind that arises from immediate factors such as another person’s physical appearance.
Rhen’s upbringing and the night with Lilith
So then, how did Rhen spend a night with Lilith if he is demisexual? There are two key points that must be addressed to answer this question. The first concerns how Rhen was raised: he grew up separated from his sisters, his mother never played a significant role in his life, and his sole role model was always his father. This man was cold, ruthless, and, above all, a womanizer.
“I imagine her criticizing my father this way. I then imagine him backhanding her across the other side of her face. If he were here right now, he would likely backhand me for not doing the same.” - A Curse So Dark And Lonely. Chapter Nine - Rhen's POV.
“My visits to the kitchen stopped—and my nurse disappeared—when I asked my father what it meant that no girl could hold his eye longer than a fortnight, or why that would make my mother a pitiable thing.” - A Curse So Dark And Lonely. Chapter Fourteen - Rhen's POV.
Rhen’s father was the one who shaped his character through fear and under the pretext of Rhen’s obligation to be a worthy successor to the throne. In doing so, he imposed his own beliefs, tendencies, and expectations onto him. Rhen grew up with the expectation of becoming like his father, which meant imitating him in every sense, even when it was not what he truly wanted.
This is where Lilith comes into the picture. Although demisexual people do not experience primary sexual attraction, they may experience aesthetic attraction, that is, attraction to another person’s appearance that is not connected to a desire to act on it, whether sexually or romantically. Rhen describes Lilith solely as someone who is beautiful to look at.
“Soft skin, pink cheeks, rose-colored lips that always seem to be keeping a secret. Hair the color of a raven’s wing, perfect curls falling over her shoulder. An emerald silk dress clings to every curve, accentuating her narrow waist, the soft rise of her breasts. The color brings out the green in her eyes. In the sunlight pouring through the windows overhead, she’s exquisite. She turned my head once, for all the wrong reasons.” - A Curse So Dark And Lonely. Chapter Five - Rhen's POV.
He danced with her, as he had with many other girls even before the curse, but he had no intention of taking things further. However, the expectations surrounding who he was supposed to be and how he was supposed to behave led him to follow his father’s example and allow her to stay once he found her in his chambers.
"The only time it´s ever meant so much."
“I told Harper that it’s been a very long time, but being with her was like the first time. The only time it’s ever meant so much.” - A Vow So Bold And Deadly. Chapter Twenty-four - Rhen's POV.
As a final point, demisexual people may choose to have sex even in the absence of sexual attraction toward the other person, but the experience is fundamentally different from when such attraction is present.
Say what you will, but the fact that people from Syhl Shallow say “women and men”—as opposed to “men and women”—is phenomenally subtle but effective worldbuilding, considering the way women are culturally above men in the matriarchal hierarchy of Syhl Shallow
in this essay I will
i’ve always found the idea of Syhl Shallow having a matriarchal hierarchy interesting, but i think BK could have developed that worldbuilding much further
for me, it stays very superficial
and there are moments that feel inconsistent with that narrative, like when in Sparking Fire Callyn says something about being tired of men telling her what to do, when that was never really a recurring situation for her…? like, it would’ve made sense (and even been kind of empowering) in a different context
I think the issue with that specific line is that Brigid realized that she made Alek—and by association, Callyn—too unlikable, so she tried to give Callyn a line reminiscent of Harper (who the line would have made WAY more sense for), without considering that “girl power” doesn’t work in a society where women already hold all the power. I agree with you though; that line felt really out of place, and like something that I think should have been offensive in universe, especially considering how close Cal is with Jax, who’s a man.
Speaking of Jax, I would’ve also LOVED to see more of his relationship with his masculinity, especially upon moving from matriarchy to patriarchy. That said, I would’ve liked if Brigid explored the matriarchy thing further, but I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily lacking. A few examples are the “women and men” phrasing I previously mentioned, how Callyn describes her mother as being the stereotypical breadwinner while her father stayed home with the kids, the whole “fell siralla/stupid man” thing, the way people consider Lia Mara a lesser queen in Vow for having a king to rule with her, the expression “men are best suited for hard labor and dying in battle”, and so forth. (Also consider how Lia Mara seemed so much faster to trust Callyn than to trust Jax at the end of FSIS, even though Callyn was just as, if not more, guilty for the Truthbringer thing than Jax was.)
i completely agree that Brigid tried to give Callyn many of Harper’s traits and failed. even her “enemies to lovers” thing with Alek feels like a bad copy of Rhen and Harper’s dynamic.
and i also agree it would’ve been really interesting to explore Jax’s relationship with his masculinity in a patriarchy like Emberfall’s, which doesn’t seem that rigid in its structure.
what i mean when i say Syhl Shallow’s matriarchal hierarchy feels superficial is that it seems to be structured from a very patriarchal perspective, which is ironic. even this idea that “men are best suited for hard labor and dying in battle” is quite patriarchal when you think about it.
even though it’s a matrilineal society, traits like kindness and compassion, associated with femininity, are still viewed as inferior. i know that’s part of lia mara’s arc, but i think it would be interesting to know when this matriarchy began and why the rulers before her governed from a perspective that, within this same universe, is considered “masculine”: aggressive and ruthless.
Say what you will, but the fact that people from Syhl Shallow say “women and men”—as opposed to “men and women”—is phenomenally subtle but effective worldbuilding, considering the way women are culturally above men in the matriarchal hierarchy of Syhl Shallow
in this essay I will
i’ve always found the idea of Syhl Shallow having a matriarchal hierarchy interesting, but i think BK could have developed that worldbuilding much further
for me, it stays very superficial
and there are moments that feel inconsistent with that narrative, like when in Sparking Fire Callyn says something about being tired of men telling her what to do, when that was never really a recurring situation for her…? like, it would’ve made sense (and even been kind of empowering) in a different context
rhen is demisexual.
i don’t even say it as a headcanon, and i could elaborate but it’s painfully obvious.
i’ve always thought that if grey had been raised to be king from birth he would’ve been much, like much, worse than rhen was before the curse.
a lot of rhen’s spoiled prince behavior was just a facade.
grey on the other hand, has always been selfish and i don’t think he ever truly shows any real remorse for his actions or behavior.
my biggest issue with him is that he doesn’t have any flaws and the ones he DOES have are never acknowledged.
the thing is, grey lacks personality, but he has a ton of flaws, more than rhen, they’re just less obvious and no one ever points them out, and he doesn’t acknowledge them either.
since he has no real personality, he never makes decisions on his own, or they end up being dictated by others, which means he’s never really held accountable for his actions.
he’s selfish; i’d even say he’s lazy when something doesn’t interest him; his so-called loyalty comes from guilt and regret; and his mindset is way colder than rhen’s.
headcanon that cinder and wolf still spar together whenever they can
i’ve always thought that if grey had been raised to be king from birth he would’ve been much, like much, worse than rhen was before the curse.
a lot of rhen’s spoiled prince behavior was just a facade.
grey on the other hand, has always been selfish and i don’t think he ever truly shows any real remorse for his actions or behavior.
i'll forever be mourning rhen and tycho’s friendship
it had so much potential :(
omggg another rhen stan!!
yuppp, hi!!!
I blindly love this guy so much 😭
the fact that he’s more flawed, human and relatable than Grey is. The fact that he acknowledges his mistakes.
THE FACT THAT JAKE AND GREY WHINE ABOUT HOW “RHEN WAS NEVER HIS FRIEND” WHEN RHEN ENDURED LITERAL TORTURE FOR HIM OMG
the fact that NO ONE talks about (until years later) how Grey was only protecting himself during the lashings. not minimizing what Rhen did but STILL
i love him with my whole heart, i swear.
i will never understand the hype around grey. the guy has no personality and is unbelievably selfish! i can’t stand him, or lia Mara, or jake. they’re all just hypocritical.
rhen is the best character in the series, period. he’s the only one who consistently puts everyone else before himself.
harper does NOT really fit the whole “not like other girls” thing
i'll always be mad that the author went with that trope when what was different were the circumstances!!!
omggg another rhen stan!!
yuppp, hi!!!
Harper, Princess of Disi, Queen of My Heart, I will forever love you and I still think you deserved more screen time
brigid kemmerer did it again!
opening a trilogy with an incredible book (a curse so dark and lonely, forging silver into stars) and then giving it the most mediocre ending possible (a vow so bold and deadly, sparking fire out of fate)
one day people will wake up and realize grey was never the better brother, and the world will heal
