are there any ships you like and/or dislike in the series?
I honestly like many ships, even rarepairs. I really listen and dont judge.
But I'll list a few ships I like.
Quinn x Lana. I was kind of bummed out to see that this didnt become the endgame ship. I thought they had good chemistry, and I feel like the ship dynamic was pretty cool. At first I didnt really like Sanjit x Lana, but ive started to like it. Quinn and Lana would've been cool, but I can't stay too mad.
Astrid x Orc. I thought they were pretty cute. I really wished that we got to see Orc and Astrid tutoring, maybe in a flashback or something? And if we ever get a show (which im doubting), I do hope to see them. They do have some flaws, but they both are flawed people, and Orc overall had a bit of a redemption arc. I honestly dont have much to say to this one besides I like it.
(One-sided) Howard and Orc. Ironic im putting this below Astrid x Orc. I do think Howard liked Orc romantically, though he would never admit that or come to terms with it. Hes definitely toxic, and I do think the reason he got Orc into drinking was selfish, but I also do think that there was love in there. At least the most love Howard could give. He wasn't cruel, just wasn't doing the right thing. Over the series their friendship gets destroyed, and then after it all Orc looks back on it. Howard liked Orc > Orc liked Astrid > Astrid was flattered but liked Sam > Howard dislikes Astrid > Astrid dislikes Howard. 🤷♀️ Honestly, I could yap about them for ages. Orc was clueless that Howard felt something like that to him, and Howard was clueless that it was love.
There's definitely more, and honestly I like most ships even the rarepairs like I said. Its hard for me to hate/dislike a ship, even if I dont like Sam x Astrid much I dont hate it, it just feels bland and toxic in a way thats not as layered as other toxic ships like Diana and Caine.
But for ships I dislike..
Drake x pretty much anyone. I honestly could give an exception to early book Drake and Caine, though thats for both laughs and also because their chemistry would be interesting in a toxic way.
But honestly, no one deserves Drake. Even if Penny and Drake got more screen time, Drake found her annoying and was/would manipulate her and using her attraction to him as an advantage. In all, I just can't ship Drake with many people because of how messed up any relationship with him would be, and pretty much every character he has interacted with he has hurt them in some way. I just can't see him with anyone.
And of course basic stuff like shipping Dekka with a man, or shipping Edilio with a girl 🤷♀️ though I can see why people might ship Edilio with a girl in the early books before it got figured out because it wasn't really hinted at, though I guess that was the point. (Or maybe its just a decision MG made later on. Who knows.)
Lord there's probably ships I hate that I havent mentioned, but I can't remember for the life of me, I just woke up and im sick lol so maybe my brain is a bit fuzzy.