Unsounded First Thoughts (Continued)
I have finished Chapters 5, 6, and 7 and whew!! I think I have plenty to talk about and I wanted to make another post, so much has happened! I might take a little break for a week from reading and I think this would be a good place to leave off, but excited for more!
Warning, this is going to be a longer and more rambling than the first 😅
I've noticed that Sette has some sway over things associated with the Khert for a bit now. Examples include Boo, who takes a shine to her, Quigley's cloak (which he was surprised about), and the little small eel creatures in the Khert realm. In addition, she was able to effect the Khert world with her bare hands when the knife wasn't able to (again, to the surprise of others).
I have seen the lion creature from later chapters, but I can see through the context of Chapters 1 through 7 that there is some religious significance to the lion, specifically it seems to the Ssaelit. Duane had a lion on his robes and there were many lion statues in the background.
I add this under the bit about Sette having an effect on the Khert because she of course has a lion's tail! So it connects her to the divine. I also noticed that the color green seems to be between her and Duane; Sette's eyes, Mikaila's eyes, Duane's old robes...
This brings me to what I've gleaned about Ssael. He is said to have slain the Gefendur Gods and freed mankind from the Khert, that he was able to keep his memories. I almost wonder if Sette has a similar capability, but I haven't seen if she remembers her experience there yet! It seems like Duane didn't when he woke up but perhaps I am mistaken.
It reminds me of the Demiurge and Monad deal. With the Monad being the Khert and the Demiurge being the Gefendur Gods.
Another thing I was thinking a lot about in the Khert realm was how much it reminded me of Chaos in Paradise Lost! And the Hindu Brahman. What a vivid and striking place, I really appreciated its depiction. I have so many thoughts about the Khert and what it is but I will have to save it because it'd be too much rambling.
I wrote before in my first notes that Sette comments on how strange it was that Duane burned Cara. It seems the Gefendur bury their dead to return to Yerta while the Ssaelit burn their dead? At first I thought this could be so they avoid becoming plods but now I wonder if it is because they refuse the return to Yerta and wish to be freed from a cycle of rebirth. I wonder where they believe they go, if anywhere?
It's interesting to me how Tirna and Ssael seem to have similar associations of being rebellious or outside the norm. I'm seeing a theme of children rebelling against parents in general, as told by Timofey in his poem, Mikaila's stubborn spirit, Sette struggling with her task, Tirna, Matty, etc.
Real quick, the bit about rebirth reminds me of how much Mikaila is associated with butterflies; rebirth is the symbol that comes to mind. What form will she take in this rebirth? A part of me hopes I am reading into that too much and that she has truly moved on but something I noticed was in the last panel of Duane's murder I didn't see Mikaila... she could've just been out of frame though because her gloved hand was just before.
Another thing that I hope isn't true and I'm jumping the gun on is Lemuel possibly knowing something about the hit that was put on Duane... I did see Winalils being sus in the crowd before too.
I really love Sette's comments on Duane's memories: "I think he was only a Da all along" and also that she didn't want to know so much about him. It's easier to lie and manipulate a mindless attack zombie than Duane, the guy who died trying to protect his daughter!
Just making note that the first book was called the Corpse with No Eyes. Duane's eyes are usually shaded in the story but here we see they were poked out before he died. It's interesting to me especially since the Weeping Plague is said to be contagious through the eyes.
How unfortunately pertinent is the whole Alderode racial situation?? And the issues with borders brought up in Cresce? Just. Excellent worldbuilding. I have met people who would unironically agree with the line "Better they obliterate us entirely than insult us with minority status."
It is fascinating how idealistic Duane is to the point where he believes earnestly in the unity of the Aldish people where he says "How can we injure ourselves to heal a wound?" Which. I agree in principle with the sentiment. BUT, saying that about religious coexistence while society around him is heavily segregated by haircolor and even stratified by gender is just... wow. I adore the depth/illogical thinking because it makes him feel very human, especially when you can see how frustration is simmering under everything he does!! His pride and sense of superiority are at war with the reality around him and he just. Doesn't reconcile them!
Ok ok rapid fire things I loved:
Mikaila... 😭 omg her relationship with Duane was so special, it hurt when the inevitable happened. Hell, even Duane and Leysa's relationship was so wonderfully depicted. I really felt like I knew their little family even though I only saw a little bit of their life!
All the re-contextualization! We hear so much horrible stuff about the Black Tongues but already we're seeing there's more to it. Everything seems to have another viewpoint.
The way Duane and Quigley compliment and contrast each other is mwah, delicious. I want to pick them both apart.
Just. I wasn't surprised to enjoy Duane and Sette's dynamic because I knew enough about them to appreciate them before I read, but I'm excited/happy that I find I'm interested in the other characters! While I am eager to get back to the main duo, I am not disappointed at all to follow other characters for a while!
I have a lot more I could say but I don't want to make this too long 😅 I am not the most concise. BUT I did want to say that I am noticing a ton of thematic similarities/worldbuilding similarities between Unsounded and Elden Ring. Should I make a post about that? 🤔
If you read this far, appreciate <3