#rr analysis

[rivreads]

ok my one other complaint abt this book isn't rly a complaint, more just personal preference - but i'm just generally bored of stories centered on royalty. i find stories focused on regular people much more compelling. there's been so much media focused on how difficult and constraining it is being royalty and i just don't care. i think political drama and intrigue can be interesting, but it's more interesting to me when it's not from the perspective of the people running everything. and the whole "princess in a gilded cage" thing has been done to death.

honestly it's a testament to the quality of the writing that i'm at all invested in shizuka's story despite her being an heiress. she has a good heart, but is flawed in realistic ways - her ego, her lack of understanding of qorin culture, her lack of real world experience. and i don't feel like the narrative glosses over those flaws. however, "cosseted heir to the throne" is a character trope i will never be particularly interested in.

at least with shefali, she's not part of the dominant culture despite being an heiress of sorts within her clan. i find her story much more compelling. she might be next in line to become the leader of her clan, but since the qorin are a nomadic and communal society, that means actually living amongst and working with and knowing her people. she's not privileged in the same way shizuka is.

i do think i see what the author is going for with their dynamic - they're both royalty within their respective communities, but that means something very different for both of them. there's also the cultural dynamic of the hokkaran being the oppressors of the qorin and how that affects their interpersonal relationships as well - shizuka is much more ignorant of qorin culture than shefali is of hokkaran culture. they come to their relationship as equals, but the narrative doesn't ignore the complicated dynamics between their respective communities.

this ended up more analysis than complaint but what can you do. i see what the author is doing with the dynamic between shizuka and shefali, but as a general rule i'm less interested in stories about royalty

[randomnoteforfuturereference]

thegreatorangedragon replied to your post “thegreatorangedragon replied to your...”

Think it could be an example of Gold culture and social Darwinist tendencies rubbing off on him?

Whether or not you’d consider that part of Gold culture, I’d say it’s something that’s inherent to himself. From the start, Darrow’s someone who has a meritocratic outlook on life; ie they deserved the Laurel because they earned it.

Peerless and grunts earn his respect because they are willing to fight and put themselves on the line. Now it’s not that he’ll have contempt for civilians who don’t in general (considering his interactions with his family); just those who thrive on inequitable lifestyle without they themselves lifting a finger or even considering the idea of sacrifice/hardship.  

He probably respects someone fighting for the Society with conviction more than someone else joining the Rising out of convenience. It’s also connected to his respect for Lorn and the Moon Lords, even when it’s clear that the latter are his enemies; what matters is that they are true to themselves.