#witchshadow

[virtualbeer]

I love no one but myself and I will always be alone !!!

[mhevarujta]

Quotes about The Rook King and Saria

“Are they owls or are they rooks?”

_______________________________

“I found a Paladin once called the Rook King. The same one I believe Iseult told you about. He lived in the Sirmayans a thousand years ago, in the Monastery where Iseult met his ghost. The woman he loved, however, lived here. She was also a Paladin. Their love was forbidden, and so they built this secret place where they could meet. One of many such places, actually.”

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And, perhaps most important of all, thus it was that Little Sister Owl became known as the cleverest of the gods. She was the only one to ever best Trickster, you see, and some say that is why he fell in love with her— although that is another story for another night.

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He wriggled and pried, he shoved and hissed. But his Bloodwitchery— even with the first soul’s help—was no match for Saria’s magic. She strode into view, walking like a queen. A familiar black bird stood on her shoulder. Its beak clacked, and no, no, no. Aeduan remembered that sound too.

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“I remember you now,” she says in her child’s voice. “You made me very sad.” “Which one?” “All of them.” He watches her glide over the snow toward him. She has always moved with an animal grace; it is especially strange in this child’s body. She pauses before him, on the opposite side of the stream. Cold, midnight waters trickle between them. “‘Stones in motion,’” she quotes. “‘Tools cleft in two. The wyrm fell to the daughter made of moonlight long ago. He just did not know it yet.’ Well, he certainly knows now, though I wonder why you killed him in the end.” He sniffs. “I had to ensure the job was done.” “Liar.” She laughs, a sound that echoes with who she’d been a thousand years ago. It makes his heart hurt to hear. “But that has always been your problem, hasn’t it? Keeping secrets. Playing a game without sharing the rules. Tell me, Trickster—” “Do not call me that.” “—is it hubris that makes you this way? Or is it that deep down, you are so lonely you want to be caught. That you have always wanted to be caught, just so someone would notice you are still here.” His teeth grind in his ears. “So you have come to gloat, have you?” “Not entirely.” She sighs and extends an open palm, watching as the snow lands upon her skin. “I have come to persuade. You have always controlled people sideways. Manipulating and guiding, but never directly confronting.” “Spoken like an Earthwitch.” “But in the end, no human can truly be another’s puppet—and no human can truly be a puppeteer. You would have been better served telling them the truth, just as you would have a thousand years ago with the Six. With me.” He glares at her now, unable to maintain his careful cool. She has always had this effect on him. “I was not the one to betray you, Saria. The Lament was wrong. The one who turned on five was never me.” “No,” she says with a sad smile. “I don’t think it was.” Her hand finally falls, and she turns away from the Rook King, away from the dark, whispering stream between them. “I tried to give the Cahr Awen an army,” he calls after her, more bitter than he wants to be—and certainly more bitter than he wants Saria to hear. “I tried to give them soldiers that would keep them safe, but they rejected my plans in the end.” “You mean they rejected you.” She glances back with her glittering teardrop eyes. “Just as She once did. Because you love no one but yourself and you will always be alone.” Then, as she strides away once more, leaving tiny footprints in her wake, a soft song ripples across the clearing: “Never trust what you see in the shadows, for Trickster he hides in darkness and dapples. High in a tree, deep underground, never trust when Trickster’s around.”

[mhevarujta]

Witchshadow, Susan Dennard

[safifonhasstrel]

what's your thoughts on sd's newsletter on witchshadow and ppl's reaction to it? art's meant to be analyzed and adored AND criticized and imo it's reasonable to express frustration when the book we paid for with our hard earned money doesn't live up to what's promised

Yeah honestly I am with you on this, anon. I think she's taking the criticism a bit too personally, which she really shouldn't. It's hard, I know that all too well. I am on my way to unlearn that too, so i know its easier said than done.

Every piece of media can, should, and will be criticised. That's just how it works. It's also very valid for the people who payed for said piece of media, not just with their money but also with their time, to be upset about things. I feel very bad for her and I know she went through a lot. I am glad everything worked out fine for her. But if I want to truthfully review something, I cannot think about what the creator might have went through. Then I wouldn't be able to give my honest opinion and we would have a whole bunch of 5 star rated books and reviews would no longer be valuable.

I myself have tried my best to be respectful in my review and give valid examples. I cannot speak for everyone though, and that people have contacted her personally is nuts. But people should be able to post freely on their own social media. I think, or I hope, that she knows that.

I am a bit annoyed about the bit saying it's fine if the book is confusing at first and readers will be able to catch up. It wasn't just confusing at first. Witchshadow genuinely made me feel stupid. Because some plot points were never mentioned before! Like the paladin who has taken over Aeduan, whose name I have already forgotten because that felt so random, and the hellbard loom. I did an entire reread of the series before starting Witchshadow, and non of these things were mentioned before. I even went back and checked again. That was one of my main complaint. Things that have never been mentioned before suddenly being more important than what we already know, and we as reader are just supposed to roll with it. Same with retconning relationships, and focusing on the wrong things/characters. Why was Iseult's book, a book she's been most excited for, centred around the Hellbards??? I genuinely couldn't care less about them, but I know a portion of the fandom loves them, but really? I was expecting to learn so must about nomatsi culture but we got so little. It didn't really feel like Iseult's book at all. I think that's incredibly valid criticism. I am not sure if she would agree with this, but it is what it is. Again, not to be taken personally please. We are all adults.

Also, taking advice from someone about a series you are writing, who hasn't read said series, even if they are your friend, is a CHOICE. While I loath time jumps in general, they CAN work for some stories. But the Witchlands is simply too complex for that.

And oh boy, that got way too long. But valid criticism is supposed to help you grow. And as my boss told me when I was facing a lot of difficulties and hard choices, that, too, is incredibly valuable for you to grow as a person. It sounds harsh at first, but it's true.

Anyway, I hope no one is going to come after me or any person who has criticised the book. I really don't want Susan to feel bad, but readers negative feelings are valid too.

Now I am gonna shut up.

[safifonhasstrel]

Hi!

I’m not sure if you’re still in the witchlands fandom anymore but I saw I post where you said the fandom died after witchshadow and it kind of concerned me. I just joined the fandom recently and I’ve almost finished bloodwitch. I’m obsessed with literally everything but I’ve seen so many people say witchshadow sucks so I’m pretty worried. But is the fandom truly dead rn? I don’t see many people talking about it online but I just assumed it was always like this before I joined. And what do I need to emotionally prepare myself for when I read witchshadow?

Oh anon, I am so sorry. I guess I am still kinda in the fandom? I still have this url after all, but I am definitely a lot less active than I uses to be and witchshadow is definitely the reason for that. I believe for quite a few people it must have been the same. I know from several people on here that they felt led down by the book. The fandom has never been huge, like for six of crows for example, but it definitely used to be more active. It especially seems like the people who used to create a lot of content were disappointed in witchshadow, because all the edits and art kind of faded out and disappeared. I like to joke that witchshadow is the equivalent to game of thrones season 8, but it's not really a joke at all. But I don't want to scare you. There are definitely people who liked the book well enough. (Even though I do question the reading comprehension of the people giving it 5 stars on goodreads.) Just be prepared that a lot of things will not make sense and several things will come out of nowhere or have been retconned even. Especially if you have read the previous books back to back...(like I did with my reread) But hey, maybe you enjoy it well enough! Depending on which characters you like best. But if not feel free to rant in my inbox!

[thiscrazywonderland]

A little trouble I keep having with the witchlands series is that throughout the books we keep getting told that when Safi and Iseult are together they're just this incredible team and can pull off just about everything and whatever, but... When do we really see that?

I mean, they do have a great friendship, but can they actually work together tho??? I don't know if I'm not remembering things correctly (I'm on the final book currently) but I just don't remember a moment in the books in which they actually manage to pull off one of their plans, It always seems like they end up being too reckless and everything ends up going wrong.

To me it just seems like they are best friends but can't find common ground on their personalities when working together. Safi, on her part, is super active and reckless and she is always pushing Iseult to do things she's not comfortable with, even when she knows she's not a good strategist. On the other hand, I think Iseult let's herself be overpowered by Safi and doesn't trust in herself enough to be able to push back on her when she's not thinking things through, so Iseult ultimately allows her loyalty for Safi to cloud her judgement.

Listen, I'm not saying they don't have good chemistry or that they aren't amazing friends, but I do think that the books keep trying to tell us that they have a certain type of dynamic that I'm just not sure is there

[sxfik]

Hiiii oh my god you've read it!!! The conversation surrounding Witchshadow is honestly so exhausting emotionally for me because I feel as if I need to justify both liking the series despite it and liking some elements of the book to myself. I'm definitely of those holding out for the last book (and shamelessly seeing nuance that isn't there in the threadsisters thing—totally could just be a way to say best friend (it isn't)) but it's interesting to see your thoughts and I'm glad you're back!

-@un-empressed

heyyy!! yes, finally after like seven years, i read (reread) the whole series including witchshadow. i completely understand where you're coming from, bc ive avoided reading the book for so long because of the same thing. and even now, i feel like this emotional ping ponging between loving so many elements of this series and feeling let down by witchshadow? the witchlands was such a special series for me, with it starting off this tumblr account itself and encouraging me to start my ao3, and making so many mutuals and friends on here, and idk witchshadow really kinda soured it for me.

i'm still going to support susan though, bc from what i understand there were a lot of publisher/editor/industry issues, and i still love the series for what it was. i hope that the book was just a dip, and that the rest of the series wraps up well!! maybe i can start writing for safik/baesult again (and fix up my old fics bc jesus christ)

[un-empressed]

Imagine being part of the other Foxes crew, the one aboard Baile's Blessing. You're just receiving news over Voicewitch like "captain gone" okay that's a little weird "crown reclaimed, revolution started" saw that coming tbh "raider horde dealt with, temporary alliance with the empress of Marstok" can we go back— "we're all wanted for treason" Your Majesty—