"the world is an egg" insert war flashbacks from my genshin theory phase. Cosmic egg... How curious...
Btw remember how kse mentioned that he knew someone who was in a cult? It keeps bothering me that he remembered such a thing which can be assumed to be from his life in his world but like... Later on he comments on the fact that he in fact can't remember anything from that world
I've seen people say it's probably Mr. Viper (I'm sorry I cannot remember wtf his first name was again) but like if I remember right then kse specifically said that he doesn't actually know what much about his background
Just finished reading 'Above and Beyond' the sequel to one of the best modern 40k books (IMO) ' Outgunned. It is also an excellent book. Not quite as good as its predecessor, but still outstanding.
Simlex and Shard have both lost their arrogance, now both bitterly broken characters and both 100% pushed by forces outside of their control or even understanding.
Its a story of PSTD vets in an unending war, where knowing too much (or even a little bit) or saying the wrong thing will get you killed. Its a character driven tale, far less punctuated by combat then the average 40k novel (good) and layered in mysteries.
I strongly recommend both if you are a fan of 40k narratives.
As per usual I'll now write some cool bits that are telling about the setting and those within it, that fuel my imagination and intrigue me. Spoilers ahead.
Funny warp travel: how to know if you are in danger
53/ “Hard to say. If you see odd lights, or taste colours, or feel like your reflection is plotting against you, then there is no immediate cause for concern.”
Aeldari facing human xenophobia.
268/ Human :“The aggression if yours, you attacked us”
Aeldari: “Your creed decrees that my species should be slain for the crime of existence. How is the aggression mine?
Human: “This is not your world!”
Aeldari: “You think it your world. Do you know how long this planet existed before your kind? Or how long it will persist after the imperium fades. You think you are entitled to any of this?”
Aeldari on working with an inquisitor
364/ “Your kind are waning, your empire crumbling. But there are terrible things lurking in the void and beyond the veil, and my people lack the numbers to fight them without aid. Sadly, your society is founded on principals of xenophobia and violent ignorance, and you are so indoctrinated that few of you are capable of grasping the bigger picture.”
The rest are on the shittyness of the imperium.
27/ Of course they would kill her. Advancement in the imperium involved ascending a ladder built from the bones of those betrayed along the way
294/ She took another shot, I had never seen her drink like that “It was just darkness.” She said “Darkness and mouths. And I couldn't help but think out masters would kill for servants like that, soldiers willing to hurl themselves to their deaths without a thought.”
295/ “I don't care. Let them hear the truth. The Ecclesiarchy are crooks and liars and I know this because my brother is one of them, and he's as fat and content as a tick suckling on a grox. And whilst he pays lip service to the God-Emperor, I've noticed a curious phenomenon. Serving the God-Emperors will always seems to involve an outcome beneficial to my brother.
457/ “After all, is that not what the imperium is built upon (ed: lies). We are instructed that we can not permit the xenos, the witch or the heretic to live. Unless the xenos is employed by an inquisitor, or a commissar elects to transport a witch, or our commanders decide that condemning a planet for heresy is just too inconvenient and expensive.
And with that I'll wrap up and say I hope we get a third and round this out as a solid trilogy. The seeds are definitely there. Id also very much love a mini, Maybe one of those black library narrative sets. Lucille von Shard, Simlex, Plient and a trio of pet servo skulls. Please :)
Okay around three fourths of the way through goddess bless you from death and I can say unless they change up the series
This is a supernatural horror with romance not the other way around.I hope people don’t go in expecting Babe and Charlie level NC scenes. I expect any NC scenes not to come until the very end.
Most of the time our characters are fighting for their lives and they are falling in love. It isn’t a Khemjira level slow burn in the romance (which I love that series don’t get me wrong but it gives new definition to slow burn). It’s just the characters literally don’t have much time as the romance and action amp up at the same time.
I will say Pooh’s character, Thup, is an absolute cinnamon roll.
mc living in a different world they read, thriving amidst all the danger and chaos because there was something they could cherish here. And despite how selfish it sounds, they didn't want to return to their own world.
before we get into this, i'm going to shorted Exiled Rebels as ERS. because this is my blog and i do what i want. I've heard that they translate WWX's cultivation name better in this one. And also it's easier for me to read and type at the same time like this lol.
Anyways, obligatory spoiler warning. I am making note of my thoughts while reading through the MDZS novels. If you have not read them, you will see spoilers below the cut.
No water in the room. Only basin-like container is probably meant for toilet purposes and not cleaning.
Door is latched from the outside to keep him in.
WWX: "None of these things made him feel the joy of reincarnation at all!" (he's literally so dramatic in an intentionally funny way lol. i really do love him)
He meditates for a full day. HE MEDITATES FOR A FULL DAY. Without being forced into it, even. Stop making it seem as if he's incapable of performing the most fundamental part of culitivation.
After cultivation for a literal day, nonstop, he stands up and gets lightheaded (happens to me too dw wwx)
WWX - mxy's spiritual powers are so insignificant they shouldn't be affecting my control of this body. so why's it not working right??
WWX: literally forgets that he needs to eat to function normally (...same)
"If the didn't scavenge for food, he might become the first villainous ghoul who starved to death upon arrival." (ERS)
(i ofc know that he specifies that the body hasn't practiced inedia, and that's why it feels hunger, but it's really funny to know that he forgets he's supposed to eat lol)
Door of room has a mini door at the bottom so food can be pushed through.
Food is unpleasant looking, and the servants are rude as fuck to mxy (now wwx)
wwx feels quite bitter about all of this lol
my fave quote so far:
"The Yiling Patriarch had just returned to the mortal world, but the first thing he came upon was a kick and a scolding, not to mention the leftovers that served as his welcoming-meal. Where were the blood and gore? The ruthless slaughter? The absolute destruction? Who would believe him? He was like the tiger in a flatland, the dragon in shallow water, the phoenix without feathers, losing his advantage and belittled by those weaker than him." (ERS)
i just know he's pouting while thinking this and picking at the food passive-aggressively lol
name of the servant bringing him food - A-Tong
2nd servant - A-Ding
A-Ding remarks that A-Tong only has to deliver one meal a day. (... man i really feel so bad for mxy...)
They mention that there a lot of walking corpses about.
usually dull-eyed and sluggish, unless the dead person held a lot of resentment, but they are enough to harm the average person, esp their awful smell
WWX literally thinks of them as the most obeying puppets, and feels a sense of familiarity when he hears about them. (weirdo /affectionate)
A-Ding mentions cultivators from a prominent clan came to Mo Village to deal with the corpses.
Madam is talking w them in the main hall, and everyone in town is watching.
WWX listens attentively, ponders for a moment, this stands and kicks the door down (lmao love him)
Scares the two servants badly enough that they start screaming lmao
A-Tong tries to save face in front of the girl he likes, by waving his hands about like he's shooing a dog away. (noted that by narrator that "A-Tong treated [MXY] even worse than he treated a beggar or a fly" (ERS) and that most of the servants also treated mxy like this bc he never resisted)
WWX gives him a light kick and knocks him over, then laughs "How daring of a mere errand-running child to humiliate others like this." (ugh i love him)
WWX interrupts the meeting with the cultivators, and he seems to do a great job at playing the lunatic lmao
Notices that the cultivators are older teens, from Gusu Lan, and that they all were blood-relations to the Lan family, as their ribbons all had cloud patters sewn onto them.
"Wei Wuxian got toothaches whenever he saw anybody from the Lan clan." (ERS) (...yeah buddy, i bet you do. you sure have a lot to say about the lans lol)
Madam Mo gets her husband to try and remove WWX. And WWX drops to the ground and tightly clings to the floor. Nobody can get him up, even when they call for more help (lmao #1 tantrum thrower)
ppl in the crowd know that Mo family had a "young master who lost his marbles"(ERS), and that mxy hid in that dark room for a cpl of years, scared to go outside.
WWX confront MZY about him stealing his(mxy's) things
MZY tries to kick WWX again, but one of the Lan boys stops him ("moved his fingers slightly, and Mo Ziyuan's feet slipped" (ERS))
WWX stills acts like he was actually kicks, and shows off the footprint MZY made the day before
The crowd, while enjoying the show, begins to think that MXY wasn't this insane when he first came back and that the abuse he faces made him worse
Madam Mo seems to realize that MXY(wwx) is doing this on purpose, and remarks that he's clearheaded
The also refers to MZY and MXY as being brothers and that as the older brother, MXY should share (ugh i HATED hearing this growing up. idc if i'm the older sibling, i shouldn't be forced to give my things away just to get destroyed)
WWX.... really plays up MXY being into men here lmao. "Everyone knows that I am into men. Even if he was not ashamed, I knew to not look suspicious."(ERS)
he is... really loving not having to worry about his status here XD how freeing this must feel. able to act like the gremlin he really is and not have to worry about anyone but himself
"I don't care about your reputation, but don't ruin my innocence! I still want to find a good man!"(ERS) -WWX (don't worry bby, you will soon)
WWX successfully provokes MZY into more violence, then hides behind the Lan boys, who stop MZY.
Mdm Mo tries to convince the Lans that MXY is insane and shouldn't be taken seriously, to which WWX responds "Who said that my words shouldn't be taken seriously? Next time, try stealing anything from me again. You steal once, and I cut off one of your hands!" (ERS) -wwx... babe... foreshadowing loves you...
WWX makes a hasty escape, and one of the Lans tells Mdm Mo that they'll be in the West Courtyard for the night, and for them to not go outside at night, close all windows, and avoid that courtyard.
WWX, walking around the village, "finally realized the delight of being a lunatic" (ERS) and was even starting to like the makeup resembling a hanged ghost. (he's the number 1 brat for sure lmao)
WWX notes that the cuts on his arm haven't healed, so the humiliation of the family isn't enough to satisfy the ritual.
He heads back to the Mo family's West Courtyard, where the Lan discipled are standing on the roofs and walls.
another great quote here:
"Although the Gusu Lan contributed greatly during the siege on him, at that time, these juniors were either not born yet or still young children. He shouldn't direct his hate towards them, so Wei Wuxian decided to linger around and observe what they were going to do."(ERS)
>he's a gremlin, but he's a good person. A lesser man would have taken this opportunity to harm/kill the kids to get back at the clan that participated his death. But he acknowledges that they were probably literal babies when it happened, so it wouldn't be right to be angry at them. And then he proceeds to assign himself as their babysitter lol
WWX notices that they're using Phantom Attraction Flags/Black Wind Flags (and also notes what they do and stuff)
How does he recognize them? Bc he was the creator. So although the cultivation world hated him, they sure were eager to use his inventions.
One of the Lans tries to send him away (WWX notes that the disciple is using a kind tone)
WWX steals one of the flags and starts acting out again
disciple catches him and threatens to hit him
leader of the boys comes over and scolds the disciple, telling him to not make a fuss and take the flag (this disciple being scolded is ofc Jingyi, our precious loudmouthed Lan)
and the leader of the disciples is none other than Lan Sizhui, goodest boy ever.
anyways, wwx manages to look over the flag and verifies that it was drawn correctly, and that whoever drew it was lacking experience so it wouldn't draw in from too far away (seriously... kids are part of a clan that helped kill him and here he is making sure they're being safe on a nighthunt! wwx they can never make me hate you)
LSZ gently tries to ask him to leave, believing ofc that MXY is MXY. WWX notes he is "fair and refined, with a dignified appearance and smiling faintly." (ERS). wwx silently approves of him.
The flag formation was set well, and his mannerisms were respectful, making him a "disciple with astonishing potential" (ERS)
"He didn't know that, at a conservative clan such as the Lan clan, who on Earth brought up such a junior."(ERS) (wow.... i wonder who among the Lan could possibly raised him. who could it be???? /s)
WWX gives the flag back, and wanders around before heading back to MXY's room. And what does he do?????? He sits down to MEDITATE again.
before daylight comes, he's pulled out of meditation by people coming to MXY's courtyard yelling about notifying officers, dragging him out, and possibly beating him to death.
ch ends on someone yelling "Drag the insane murderer to the Main Hall and make him pay for it with his life!"
wwx... your luck is truly spectacular lol
SO. some fanon stuff being disproven, only 3 chapters in.
Honestly.. where did the idea that "WWX can't do regular meditation easily" come from and why is so popular? 3 chapters in, and he's meditated twice already - the first time for 24hrs straight, and the 2nd time he fully intended to meditate all night! And he does this easily! Doesn't mention difficulty sitting still or anything like that.
Also. Again, we're shown in here that he's not someone who acts without thinking. He's acting the lunatic, but he's doing everything intentionally.
He's also remarkably willing to let go of grudges, easily. I noted it above, but this would have been the prime opportunity to get revenge on Gusu Lan for helping to kill him, but instead he makes sure these kids set up the flags correctly and are being safe.
He also tries to just humiliate the Mo family, rather than jumping straight to murder, though I will admit he doesn't seem too fazed about possibly having to kill them.
So he's someone who can and will resort to violence, but really only as a last resort.
Also he is a very dramatic and chaotic gremlin at heart, and I imagine getting to mess around like this is very liberating in a way. (remember, I watched the donghua all the way through. i know it's not perfect, but still) After his last life went the way it did, having no responsibilities and no one who's life depends on his behavior and not showing any weakness, this has got to be so fun.
Of course, once he does have his fun, he goes and assigns himself as basically the babysitter for the Lan juniors lol
okay that's probably all for tonight. if you've made it this far - thanks. sorry you had to put up with my formatting but I just can't be bothered to make it look pretty lol
feel free to leave your own thoughts in stuff in the comments as well!
honestly, for as much as I harp on how terrible the novel is, Kim and Chay’s dynamics in the book is just something I’ve grown so damn attached to, lol I love their dynamics in the show a lot more, but their relationship in the book occupies a small corner of my heart~
I think it’s because Kim is a sly motherfucker in the book, and Jeff definitely leaned into that, yknow? 🤔 Amongst other things, Ofc ahaha
For example, in some of the crumbs we get of KimChay in the book, it’s very noticeable how Kim makes a conscious effort to keep Korn’s eagle eye attention away from him and Chay and continuously on Kinn and Porsche (and sometimes Tankhun, for that matter) instead. Like that one dinner scene when Khun calls him out directly and Kinn is all, “Huh? //grabs more rice” (which—same, Kinn, same)
Like, Korn is aware of Kim’s relationship with Chay, and while there is a scene or two of Kim taking care of Chay right in front of Korn’s salad, he’s more often than not secluding himself and Chay away, either in his room or Chay’s room.
Attic wife!Chay vibes? Nahhh, a few steps still shy of that (although this may have bumped up a notch or two due to recent developments in the TimeTayTem novel), since Kim is ultimately all about keeping Chay happy in the novel, but the instinct pheromones to attic wife coming from him be jumping off the page, imo
either way, all I know is that one day we’ll be earning those “terrifying love” tags soon enough
Still reading this book. To be honest I got to a point about halfway through and started feeling like I'm reading the same point over and over. And I'm getting a little bit sick of reading the word "body" ... but I want to make sure I'm getting the point of it so I'm going to go back over what I've read so far and take better notes this time.
