Soooooo is this a reaction I had to a YouTuber reviewing Age of Scorpius. Originally it was gonna be a comment on their videos but I just kept having more and more thoughts! So it's a Tumblr post instead. This isn't a review or anything. Just my thoughts. Being that it is just my unfiltered thoughts, here are the Videos I was watching so you can get more context for what I'm yapping about
Learn more about Audra Winter's controversy:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq9o2KsQc_4&t=1s&ab_channel=ReadswithRachelhttps://www.youtube.c
The more reviews I watch about Age of Scorpius....The more I notice how bad the world-building isš
First of all, according to the world, Earth started over because we played too much. People all over the world came together to regroup, right? Okay.....why did they all agree on the Western Zodiac? The Chinese Zodiac also exists. Celtic, Mayan, Vedic, etc also exist. How did we land on Western? And only Western?
Second, Scorpios are in power yet also.... oppressed? I mean it can happen. But I don't really see why any of the Scorpio characters would expose the fact that the Code is a lie. Scorpios seem to break the code pretty normally and nothing happens. More specifically Rika and her family really don't have a reason to interfere. Rika breaks the code all the time(and so does her mom) and nothing happens!
How the hell is Rika's Dad a Water mage and a dream seeker? Also why? How did they JUST find that out now? I feel like that's not just....something that pops up after raising your kids for years?
From what I've gathered, Different public leaders know the Scorpio Code is a lie. Why....are these young adults the ones exposing this rather than the higher-ups? Apparently, it's because no one wants another war. But....that STILL doesn't make sense? The other signs don't like the code nor the fact that Scorpios use it to stay in power. Even Scorpios hate the code. There would be conflict, sure. But I doubt a whole war with come from it.
Within the book, Signs have to wear clothes that match their sign. But Rika and her Mom can "Shapeshift"(I would also argue that it's transmogrification but mkay) their clothes. They do that for her Father so he can pass as a different sign. Nara dresses up as a Scorpio when she's another sign too. So....why don't Scorpios also do this?
Kaia's brother seems to be the only person to get got for breaking this code.
How the hell do all these main characters know Rika? Rather why?? Like Nara knows Rika because they went to school together and they were saving people. Kaia knows her because she saved her brother....why?
Why and how are Arc powers hereditary? That's....Huh? I suppose, it can make sense. Traits can skip generations. But since powers are connected to the Zodiac sign a person is born...it kinda feels clunky to me.
Why the hell are Scorpio children being born? I understand accidents happen and such. But it feels like Scorpios and signs who hate them, would have figured out the start and end of the Scorpio time frame. So.....they would try to avoid that at one point. There isn't a law that states that Scorpios have to have more? Healers can also help end the pregnancy earlier! So....why?
How the hell can Rika change someone's sign?? That's....NOT HOW THAT WORKSš®āšØ Zodiac's are based on one's birthday. I guess Rika can change their magic but like....I feel like that has a lot of repercussions. Those people would still be documented as their original sign? So how does the Government handle that?
Audra....how the fuck can someone transfer immortality? What?
Rika is a Mary Sue. I hate the term and I don't like applying it to characters. But I honestly have no words better to describe her. She has broken the code multiple times in front of others and as a teen revealed she has a forbidden arc power. That girl should have been dead as hell. But she just keeps getting slaps on the wrist? At this point, I have no reason to believe that Rika or her family are like royalty or anyone of importance who could get away with it so....make it make sense.
So Rika changed Nara's sign as a Younger teen and then Nara wiped her memory? Okay. But this was triggered by a guard threatening them....why would the guard want this to happen???
Why is Libra Healing banned? But not healing in general?
WHY DOES EVERYONE IN THIS TRAVEL PARTY HAVE A FORBIDDEN POWER???
The whole love triangle(?) subplot confused me. I'm not sure which child is related to whom.
Why are the immortals letting TEENAGERS handle this issue? Why?!
Why are we lying to Chase about Nara and his mom? That feels fucked up and unnecessary. Definitely so when he figures it out himself because of a small slip-up.
The fact that the Creature backs off when Chase and Kaia use their powers together proves that Chase should have been paired with Kaia rather than Avia. Why is he paired with Avia?
Damn near all the Adults in this book are useless, stupid, or horrible. Literally NONE of this quest needed the main cast. They are related to the conflict by blood but their parents could have easily handled it.
