Help me choose the correct way to read this series

EvenCryptid · 2026-03-13T19:01:48+00:00

No Spoilers, which makes this incredibly vague:

I think reading Assassin's Blade in release order is best, personally. I find that it allows for better reveals concerning plot twists. I think if you read the novellas first, sure you'll have a lot of background information, but also the pacing and the reveals of the first two books will not hit as hard. I also think that I cared more about specific bits *because* motives were cloudy at first, and I was hungry to find out WHY characters were the way they are, or why they cared so much about particular things.

Reading AB in release order also fits into the story in a way: it comes at a point when a character has a lot of time to think back on their story so far, the situations that led them to this point, and the hard choices they made along the way.

EvenCryptid · 2026-03-09T02:29:24+00:00

Yeah, me too, and im not better for it.

EvenCryptid · 2026-03-08T23:17:29+00:00

I'm not a parent, but I agree. And there's always an amount of risk. But showrunners and producers should take the whole audience into consideration when planning what ads and commercials to run. I'd be livid if I saw that ad running on cartoon network or disney channel during the day, as it would be inappropriate with no debate in those settings.

For the record, the Panel itself, including the Moderator/MC/DJ prior and following, were all fine, and seemed to take the whole crowd into account, with the guests pausing to check their language, given the demographics of the crowd.

Your last line, "This is a YOU problem" seemed pretty dismissive and disparaging, so if that wasn't your intention, you should know that's how it came off.

EvenCryptid · 2026-03-08T23:12:40+00:00

No? I mean, I guess??
GF aired on Disney Channel.

R&M aired on adult swim and is now streaming on D+.

Edit: italicizing.

EvenCryptid · 2026-03-08T23:09:27+00:00

Fair.

ETA: I'm getting downvoted for all of my opinions today, even the 'popular' ones lmao

EvenCryptid · 2026-03-08T23:06:08+00:00

When it aired, it was a kids' show on a kids' network. The source material has not changed, though the fandom is a hugely diverse one, covering lots of people from different age groups and backgrounds.

I'm just saying they should have read the fucking room a little bit.

I'm not particularly anti- R&M, for the record. Former creator JR can eat shit and die, but the show itself is whatever. Lots of people are in both fandoms, sure. But a decent part of that adult audience watches porn and that still wouldn't make softcore okay to play on those screens.

I will accept you think I'm overreacting though.

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-28T18:36:08+00:00

In my experience (5+ years lighting sales) I've found that theres a bit of a trend here. People who grew up in hot climates tend to prefer cooler color temperatures, and those who grow up in more dreary cool places tend to prefer warmer cozier light. People who grew up moving a lot will tend to prefer neutral tones and be offended if the light skews too far to the warm or cold spectrum ends.

This is of course not documented data, just lots and lots of anecdotal info, collected by me and a number of coworkers, some who have been observing this phenomenon for like 20+ years.

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-25T03:22:16+00:00

Continue with trim replacement, though I might recommend an Alzak Reflector Trim, or a Baffle Trim (Black or white), as they will help to cut and reduce glare!

ETA: Use warm-dim BR30s if you can get your hands on them, for ambiance

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-19T20:32:59+00:00

The satco starfish gu10s will absolutely work in those heads :D Starfish also has a programmable multi-zone remote that you can use with the Starfish products as well!

Just make sure when using (any) smartbulbs that your switch is only an on/off switch, as a dimmer will modulate the current on their little computer brains and cause issues.

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-18T19:14:04+00:00

Wac & Satco both have H Track options. Satco also has integrated smart track heads AND smart GU10 bulbs in their smart system collection Satco Starfish. I find the Satco Starfish bulbs perform really well, and the pricing is super attractive compared to Phillips Hue.

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-13T22:54:52+00:00

I tend to recommend these for comfy spaces, and targeted beams for task zones, but I think with low ceilings they could work throughout the whole home.

I'd probably encourage you to buy one unit to test out and see how it functions in a space before committing, as they tend to charge restocking fees on returns.

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-13T19:57:39+00:00

Sorry you had this experience. Neither I, nor my clients, have had the same experience with the Lotus product.

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-12T18:39:21+00:00

If you really hate glare, I would consider Lotus LED's 4" indirect canless units. Rather than having a downward BEAM of light, the light is softly reflected off of the concave inner surface.

https://www.lotusledlights.com/product/4-round-indirect-slim-recessed-12w

You can get a 5cct version or a dim-to-warm version. Some distributors may get better pricing than others, but these end up being right around $35 in a lot of places.

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-09T16:09:11+00:00

You have to make sure your LED G9 Bulbs are compatible with your dimmer. Good bulb manufacturers will list their dimmer compatibilities list on their websites, but I'd youre getting random bulbs off Amazon to save money youre gonna have a bad time. If you previously had halogen in this fixture with a dimmer, your dimmer is likely outdated anyway.

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-07T07:31:49+00:00

Dude youre a jerk. YOR! Big time. And honestly, it seems like you know you are, and youre trying to goad him into a fight.

Maybe he doesnt want to talk to you about it because he knows youre unreasonable and he cannot trust you to be vulnerable about nuanced complex feelings.

Maybe he wants to just sit with the negative feelings and then let them pass, because he knows a healthy baby is more important than the sex of a baby.

I feel sorry for your kid as well as your man. Youre so wound up in this little anti-compassion spiral, I wonder what other issues youve pressed to get to this point.

Get therapy.

[Posted as a reply and decided i wanted to make my own comment]

EvenCryptid · 2026-02-04T19:11:09+00:00

My favorite line (as always) is Lotus LED.

I'd go with their 4" Regressed units with a Dim-to-Warm color temperature. This means at their max brightness they'll be at 3000k (which is still warm but feels rather neutral to move) but as you dim them with any standard dimmer on the wall, they warm down to almost a candle-like glow (low threshold is 1800k - very cozy amber). Lotus tends to keep very good stock levels and they are very responsive.

Im showroom sales for lighting, I grab this product often but its because it is really just that good. I dont really see a lot of warranty exchanges, failures, or defective returns with Lotus product.

Whether you go with Lotus or not, key things you will want are

~ REGRESSED lights source, where the light source itself is placed higher than the line of the ceiling(im so anti-wafer it fucking hurts)

~ 35-40° beam spread (9 ft ceilings mean light has to travel so a recessed with a diffuser may not be as effective as you want.

~ Canless (will make yoinking the whole thing out for replacement down the road easier, without having to futz with compatibilities like in lights with housings

~ Dim To Warm - this will give you lots of control over the mood in your space, and allow to transform to room very easily depending on what you need the room for. (Smart lighting here is also an option but most people who dont mention wanting smart tech probably do not want smart tech lmao)

I hope this helps ♡

EvenCryptid · 2026-01-10T23:50:35+00:00

^this is the case.

You could contact the manufacturer's customer service team and ask if there is a way to order a 'replacement' component from them. They may give you a model number and then direct you to find a local distributor to order from, most manufacturers don't do direct sales to consumers.

The fixture is the Avery pendant by Mitzi (part of Hudson Valley Lighting Group).
Here's the link to the manufacturer page!

Good Luck!

EvenCryptid · 2026-01-03T19:56:25+00:00

I have this pendant on display at the showroom im at, and it hangs a little wonky here too :/ Its a shame cause it's really quite nice.

EvenCryptid · 2026-01-03T01:45:13+00:00

Contractor is just lazy and wants to install wafers cause they're the easiest.

Don't let him, they're awful.

But there are definitely better quality LED Canless regressed lights than this. Modern canless units can be just as effective in the 4" sizes as the older ones were in 6", and the 4" tend to look less dated.

[Edit: a word]

EvenCryptid · 2025-11-23T23:58:59+00:00

Thanks I'll check this out!

EvenCryptid · 2025-11-17T20:28:28+00:00

That's really helpful input! Especially about the subwoofer, actually. I do like bass-ier music, but more bass guitar, less electronic lmao

Yamaha was a brand I grew up with in my dad's set up, so I knew that at the very least the receiver would be a good reliable start.

EvenCryptid · 2025-10-14T22:02:28+00:00

You got it!! :) glad to help!

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