Wren reads The Age of Scorpius by Audra Winter (2/?):
Okay, so this book is kind of a mess, unsurprisingly, but it's not bad! I'm really enjoying reading it, I know some people saw it as a chore to get through or gave up, but so far, I'm having so much fun! I like the dry sense of humor in some of the dialogue, I see the potential in the plot, I think the world is incredibly flawed (like I don't know how'd you fix it type flawed) but I can personally forgive a flawed world (my suspension of disbelief is abundant) with good characters and an interesting plot....
Chapter one starts, and I immediately had questions. "I'd only recorded the lower carvings, my arms too short to reach the tallest stones." Why didn't Reika just use another stone, clearly shown in the artwork, to use as a stool?
This idea is never thought of, and instead, the only idea Rieka has is to get help from someone taller than her. When she's unable to get help from family (and never thinks to wait until she can get help from them), she recruits a random guy she just met for help on this very secretive, very illegal mission?? I do like how Chase is described as "Conveniently tall." though, I thought it was funny.
While we're discussing Rieka recruiting a guy she just met, Rieka is way too trusting! I am fantastic at suspending my disbelief and taking things at face value in fiction (perks of growing up a comic book fan), but the thing that always takes me out is how trusting all of the characters are in this book, except the "bad guys" of course.
The Scorpio Code: never show emotions, never befriend others, never fall in love. Rieka accidentally breaks the first law multiple times in public. Union Law: only marry within your Union (multiple Zodiacs make up a Union, I forget how many Unions there are). Rieka's mom and step-dad are in separate Unions. Scorpios cannot raise their non-scorpio children. Rieka's mother, a Scorpio, raised Rieka's sister, an Aries. Rieka and her family break the law so easily, it's hard to feel any tension.
There is a "Glossary Terms" section at the end of the book, along with a page on the "Government Systems" but I'm trying really hard NOT to look at them. I want to judge the book purely on the book itself and not Audra's TikTik of cheatsheets (my word choice, not Audra's), and it's HARD. This book throws so many new ideas at you, and while it does try to explain it, it's hard to keep track of everything.
I can easily forgive the name "Chase" in a medieval fantasy world (that actually takes place in the future), I'm familiar with the Aerith and Bob Trope. But reading "wearing a white polo", multiple "dudes", "boxers", and I'm sure I'm missing more, is shocking, to say the least!
(Block the tag #wrenreadsaos if you don't want to see more of this)
Okay so logically Neil’s hair would be brittle and dry from dying it so much, so imagine Allison forcing him to go to a proper stylist and Neil coming out with model hair
Elle being forced to smile and nod and pretend her abuser saved her just so he doesn’t hurt her again puts me in physical pain. I love her too much for this.
Is anyone gonna talk about how sad it is that they almost got the good ending? I mean, yeah, it’s very likely the apocalypse would’ve still happened, but Vanya would’ve found out about Leonard early on. Klaus opened up about Dave and got closer to Diego. Allison and Luther would’ve been happy together back in California.
Elle’s “I’ll make sure you get what’s coming to you, I promise” to Allie is the best fucking thing. She can’t overtly say “I’ll fix this” with Campbell there so instead she makes Allie a promise to save her.
I just love the image of Elle killing her abuser and saving everyone bc she’s the best fucking person in this show
We don’t appreciate Helena enough. I’m so positive she’s lying to her fuck of a boyfriend. I’m so positive she’s working from the inside. I just can’t believe she’d do that.
