NO favorites post about Shadows Return because it was sad and upsetting (complimentary) and made me sad and upset
kidding! kidding. april fool's. however a majority of these are from like the first 20% of the book because it is very hard to point to any of the many upsetting happenings as "favorites" and also it's hard to talk about any of them without major spoilers. that said. favorite parts of Shadows Return.
there's a bit at the very beginning talking about how because of the political happenings in traitor's moon, Aurënfaie clothing/fashion/hairstyles/music/etc. have fallen out of favor. it's just such a neat bit of worldbuilding and something that I feel like a lot of fantasy never stops to consider, that fashions change and that that's something that would link back to Bigger Political Themes. also Seregil responds to long hair going out of style by growing his hair even longer. iconic
Illia knit sweaters for Alec and Seregil!!! sweaters! I know how much work those are! she made sweaters for her uncles! she's knitting socks for Beka! they're gonna be so warm because there's so much love in those!
okay I lied. I do actually have one noteworthy bit from later in the book. (minor spoilers) so when Seregil is in the middle of orchestrating his escape, he steals some clothing. and then when he's waiting out the day until it's dark again he spends it altering the clothing so it will actually fit him and Alec and not look obviously stolen. and I kind of went, huh, I wouldn't have noticed its absence, but yeah, that does make sense that that's a skill he would both need and have as a spy! (okay yeah there's clearly a recurring theme here with Lynn Flewelling having a really strong understanding of and respect for skills and aspects of society that are traditionally feminine and often undervalued and overlooked. it's all connected and it's all important and the author knows it!)
alright. on a completely different topic. Seregil poking fun at Alec for being annoyed with him over a hickey. sexy little detail and also A+ character moment. has the ring of a half-serious argument they've had several times over and will continue to repeat.
okay I do have one other from later in the book. I really loved Micum getting to go adventuring again. another one for the unending list of things I'm singing Lynn Flewelling's praises for but I really really appreciate that 1) Micum is written to be, y'know, permanently disabled by something that would realistically be permanently disabling instead of it getting handwaved away with "healing", and 2) being disabled simultaneously does slow him down and meaningfully impact his life but does not stop him. I know I sound like a broken record but these books are so! good! in so many ways!
