#the devouring grey

[annelisreadingroom]

Good morning. I have a day off today and I'm on the train on my way to Gdansk. Have a good day everyone.

[observinginfinity]

This is mostly for me to be able to check back on, or for other people to be able to check on, in case I, or someone else, wants to ever deal with something involving the "Founders' Lullaby" while making things for this, fandom

Little children, led astray

Wandered through the woods one day.

Stumbled right into the Gray,

Never to return.

That place where nightmares dwell,

Only four have lived to tell.

That is why we have to stay:

Branches and stones, daggers and bones,

They locked the Beast away.

[observinginfinity]

The Devouring Gray, if one was to cross it over with another fandom, I can think of two ways how.

1st, Harper, we know she leaves for college, probably leaving Four Paths for good. In a setting where other characters or another character also go to college, the other character(s) being from that other fandom, we have an easy way for Harper to meet them, there's also a potential part-time job and random run in.

I can see Harper at first being an unknown, and slightly scary, lady with a sword?

2nd, someone notices something's off or inconsistent with things in Four Paths, and looks into it. Maybe before or after that line implying May gets powers again, either could be fun!

[observinginfinity]

So, you all remember my last post? About May getting powers once more?

The epilogue, it shows the forest is truly Alive, and not in the same way a normal forest is, and implies it is at least intelligent enough to know who saved it, and feel seemingly grateful.

Which means it could also remember the danger the Founders out it in, them taking it's power, them starting that infection. Would it try to keep that from happening again? Slowly but surely make the town Part of it, little leaves, and little comes in. Hawthornes and The Beast could get into someone's head, everyone in the town probably ends up touching part of the forest, they live there. Since the founders needed skin to skin contact/skin to whatever else to use their powers on something, though The Beast didn't to speak into one's head.

So, The Forest gets into people's heads, nudging them in certain directions when needed. To keep the town as little known as possible, keep The Forest safe. The town protects The Forest, and some things do need to be imported in or life is easier if it is imported in, so Four Paths stays known, but not very.

After all, people finding it made them hurt it, steal from it, but members of this town, Four Paths, gave it back that power.

Would it's presence stay affecting people after they leave if The Forest wants? Or would that fade and just have to rely on memories?

And for people already in town The Forest doesn't want to stay, again, nudge them a certain direction, wouldn't they rather live elsewhere? I mean the forest is just so creepy at night, and the city has so many more people, or that other town nearby could be a great fresh start!

[observinginfinity]

Spoilers for Deck of Omens, like, this is talking about the epilogue spoilers- so, haven't read Deck of Omens and don't want spoilers, wait to read!

Just finished rereading, oh gods Deck of Omens is better than I remember. Richard Sullivan/Ezra is a great antagonist and I want him dead. Augusta is interesting, not the best person, but Interesting.

But, what I want to talk about. These lines. And the line saying that something feels grateful.

May. May gets to have powers again! How will this work? Will the others gain their powers as well, or something else? Is this a gift or payment from the forest for saving it from that infection corruption thing? If so, how different will it be for it not to cause it?

Will it pass through families again? Or perhaps, every generation some people are unknowingly chosen for it? Again, I ask how shall this work?

Will they share they have powers again to others? Cause I could see them just trying to have a normal life, so avoiding doing so?

If people are getting powers again. Harper probably isn't getting powers, she's leaving, so would someone else get them? Like, only 4 people having powers at a time? Who would get them?

Would it be tied to the founding families? Or just the town itself? Honestly kinda want just the town and people staying there itself. The founding families are interesting, but could be fun to do the town itself.

[observinginfinity]

Okay, deck of Omens, amazing book. Very much recommend it and The Devouring Grey (maybe do like I did and read the second book first! gods that was confusing, but also super interesting? Maybe post about that later)

But anywho, spoiler point

The Beast was the original founders? Very unexpected! But also, very very interesting?

Also, the Hawthore siblings' father being one of the four founders, and how one still got power? I definitely enjoyed reading that reveal.

The creepy flowers? Yes, magic the trees trying to stab you? Amazing, also, Hawthorne ritual being the only one I think we don't have a good idea of what happens? Makes me want to think of what it is, based off what May did, but May did what Hetty Hawthorne did, not the ritual for descendents I think? Which are different (how else does children of two founding families not gain power from a ritual)

And, if Four Paths town was used in a crossover, whether before or after Deck of Omens and dealing with that whole mess, this town and it's secrecy problem could be fun, other fandom having outside perspective on this Town? Like what we got in The Devouring Grey with Violet, only no one is seeking to explain to them, because the perspective looking in isn't a Founder this time, there may not be a major issue going on. And if there is one? Potentially the town pushing the person new to town to leave?

What other secrets could it be hiding? How much fun could they be to play with?

[observinginfinity]

There is absolutely not enough "The Devouring Gray" fan content or posts related, so, here's a random post-

I have basically only found people recommending these books

Powers, what are the possibilities? Like we know the founding families have powers, and we know what the powers are tied to (each family having a theme, Saunders and the Dead, Hawthornes and mind/future, ect.)

How does the Saunders being around, messing with the dead, affect afterlife stuff in Four Paths?

What the hell happens to those killed, by The Beast for,,, plot reasons? How do their bodies end up the way they do?

If this is answered in book, I have completely forgotten-