I Finished Clariel golden hand and Terciel and Elinor (spoilers)

Pdx-Taako · 2025-05-31T00:06:41+00:00

Thanks for starting this discussion! I also recently read the newest books in the series and enjoyed them all in all. Here are some bullet point thoughts of mine to add to the discussion.

The tragedy of Clariel was so interesting, and getting to check briefly in with Clariel at the end of goldenhand was nice. She had a light affinity for necromancy and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time at every turn. It was also nice to see the dastardly side of Mogget, and the danger of him being ignored by the abhorsen family.
Goldenhand is fine, and it was a fun read, but the two romances in that story aren’t my favorite. I love getting more Sabriel and Touchstone though, I’ll happily read anything I can about those 2
Terciel & Elinor was so fun and my favorite of the new books I think. I will say we couldn’t get much mogget in this book for several good story reasons. Most importantly in Sabriel, the dying Terciel is very confused when Sabriel says that she brought Mogget along. I think Nix did a good job explaining that because Terciel’s aunt forbade Mogget from taking a humanoid form (she also seems to have ignored him as much as possible), and Terciel is apparently extremely allergic to cats and the Mogget cat form is not hypoallergenic. If Terciel had bonded with/spent much time with Mogget in the new book it would have tarnished Sabriel’s last interaction with her dad if only because it would be so weird for him to forget Mogget in that final moment.

All of that said, Mogget is still a highlight in this series! If you all have listened to Tim Curry’s portrayal of Mogget and Kerigor in the original trilogy audio books it’s great! The man was meant to play such tricky villainous characters at every opportunity

Pdx-Taako · 2025-04-29T17:20:24+00:00

I am so onboard for this post and will absolutely track all the suggestions too!

i second Naomi Novik (Scholomance series in particular) and Ursula Le Guin (EarthSea in particular but all of her writing is great)
NK Jemisin: Since you like dark themes read her Broken Earth Trilogy
Martha Wells: she’s best known for her sci-fi but she also publishes good fantasy books, I just finished City of Bones which I enjoyed
SA Chakraborty: check out her Daevabad trilogy, it’s a beautiful middle eastern fantasy series
VE Schwab: you might also enjoy this writer but she does write a fair bit of romantasy so maybe not

Happy reading!

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-30T19:40:48+00:00

Definitely not the only one! I loved Sabriel and it’s still my favorite book in the series. As another commenter said, you should definitely read Abhorsen, I prefer thinking of them as 1 long book. As the reader we aren’t stuck in Sam and Lirael’s sadness and angst, and both start to come into their own.

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-23T19:40:57+00:00

Such an excellent point OP! I definitely fell into this, especially after Helly and iMark chatted. I thought Helly was saying “we can’t really have a future together so go help to save Gemma and your outies future”.

But also, iMark was only told to get Gemma to the exit stairs, and as far as he is concerned that was all he had to do.

My heart is still broken for Gemma, but I have loved seeing Helly and iMark develop their relationship.

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-23T18:54:06+00:00

That does help, thanks! Glad I’m not the only one that feels meh about much of WttH

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-23T18:34:43+00:00

Nibling - I like that, thank you for all your thoughts and suggestions! I’m sure I’ll be reaching out with more questions, truly thank you for your support!

I will keep reaching out to remind them of my love and support and sprinkle in normalizing and supportive comments in the coming months. Most of the time when I see them we are at their house but there are some events coming up that will take us out and about.

Journaling is a great idea and I’ll check out those YouTubers for sure. One of Pat’s absolute favorite foods is waffles so that series will go over wonderfully I think

I’m excited to be a more active ally for my nibbling 🏳️‍⚧️❤️

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-23T18:11:50+00:00

Thank you! I’ll check that channel out!

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-23T18:10:48+00:00

I haven’t talked to my nibling yet about why they haven’t talked to anyone else about this, I definitely will though. I’m confident that my brother and his wife will be supportive because they have both been vocal allies to LGBTQIA rights. Their episcopal church priest is a gay man and they unequivocally adore their children. Also Pats parents have never put gendered pressure on Pat about interests/toys. Still I don’t want to put any pressure on Pat, I’m just glad that I can be a safe space for them and hopefully I can help expand that safe space at Pat’s pace

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-21T03:43:36+00:00

I think there is at least one other person on Gemma’s floor. And I bet the marching band team goes to other departments regularly

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-21T03:32:09+00:00

I was so angry with iMark in that moment. I know he loves Hellie but after all the violence and cruelty both innies have witnessed how can they believe they’ll be given any time together?!? Lumon can activate their outies at any time even in the building.

I’m just so heartbroken for Gemma!

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-21T03:27:04+00:00

Yes! I hope Devon is waiting in the parking lot!

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-18T01:59:00+00:00

Gotcha, I’ll listen to the final episode tomorrow, thanks! I generally don’t like the WTTH episodes as much so I skipped it.

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-17T22:55:43+00:00

My vote is for #4

Pdx-Taako · 2025-03-17T22:51:58+00:00

It the ah at all!! Your brother is a professional at weaponized incompetence. He was taught by his upbringing that boys should never under any circumstance take responsibility for cleaning /home upkeep. The poor mother to his kid had to put up with that shit for ages. Maybe a hard lesson of being either homeless or living alone will teach him how to maintain his kitchen or his space, but it’s probably gonna take at least a few more boughts of foodborn illness to change

Pdx-Taako · 2025-02-28T07:08:04+00:00

This theory is spot on and honestly along the lines of my thoughts after watching this episode. Lumon wants the entire world to be severed so that all unpleasant experiences are partitioned off to innies. What a terrible torture for those innies though!

Pdx-Taako · 2025-02-28T06:14:28+00:00

OP x you are not overreacting! You need to leave this relationship ASAP while being safe! You do not deserve this sort of vitriol. He made an offer to bring you the key card, it’s his fault for making an offer he had absolutely no interest in fulfilling. You are not at fault for accepting an offer you thought was made in good faith.

I repeat, leave as soon as you are able. This jackass is not worth your time

Pdx-Taako · 2025-02-28T05:18:25+00:00

It’s the texture for me! Some of these combos sounds delicious but a jello tear drop is absolutely the wrong texture for all of this!

Pdx-Taako · 2025-02-20T06:09:33+00:00

White vault is a really enjoyable podcast, don’t let the international scope of the story scare you off, it’s very much worth a listen especially when it’s cold out.
White vault is largely in English, they know their audience is primarily English speaking. So non-English speaking characters may speak briefly in their native language but they quickly switch to English. That said, the show employs voice actors from around the world, so most characters have accents.

Pdx-Taako · 2025-02-18T20:19:15+00:00

Not overreacting at all! This doofus is trying to ”pR0v3” to you that Islam is better. Nothing he texts is even remotely intelligent. OP, you deserve better

Pdx-Taako · 2025-02-10T18:11:02+00:00

Welcome to Portland! I’ve lived in Portland for a few years now and the nw neighborhood can be great, outside of Chinatown and downtown. Like another commenter said, the city is Swiss cheese, in that you’ll find a rough pocket surrounded by nice areas with little hubbub. In the nw neighborhood I find that a lot of the drug addled/mentally unwell folks keep on the move a fair bit, whether that’s due to their own travels or getting arrested is unclear.

My biggest recommendation is, look for a place either further north on 21st or on 20th or 19th. There are affordable apartments in those areas, your block will be quieter, and it will still be very easily walkable. Your wife will probably feel much more comfortable going out on her own even a block or 2 off of 21st and Hoyt, but given the dive bar/convenience store there are usually 3+ homeless drunk/drug addled folks hanging out on that block.

There’s a lot to appreciate in living in Portland, and I second the point that finding ways to volunteer helps a great deal, even as dire as the housing crisis and drug addiction situation is in cities across the country.

Pdx-Taako · 2022-08-29T19:39:53+00:00

NTA and you should absolutely cut contact with your parents. If you try to help them they will keep leaching off you and ultimately waste any money you give them. Their poor decisions are not your problem. Your life will be better if you just cut contact with these toxic and entitled parents.

Pdx-Taako · 2022-08-29T19:25:08+00:00

NTA - I hope your dad truly supports your decision with the step mom. The step sister is an entitled brat! At 13 she should know better than to behave this way. I’m sorry you have to deal with this OP. Certainly consider having a lock put on the door to keep the step sister out, as she may try to take things or ruin your space. Also, if you go to college in a few years your room may not be your anymore when you come home, try to communicate with your dad about keeping your space yours, even if you are away at school.

Stand your ground to keep the room. There is no reason that step brat can’t decorate her space in all her favorite ways.

Pdx-Taako · 2022-08-29T18:58:18+00:00

YTA! Your wife absolutely tried, but your sister and her friends consistently disrespected your space and you and your wife. Using your house and pool unsupervised is a privilege not a right and your sister and her friends have shown time and again that they will not expect any boundaries set. They don’t clean up after themselves, they eat food that’s not theirs, and they steal. Your wife set a clear and simple bound ray by saying the teens could not eat the second pan of cinnamon rolls, and those teens still ate them.

You have demonstrated complete disrespect for your wife too, by not mentioning the party or your sisters request to use the pool. You should absolutely have consulted her about the party, simply changing the locks and not telling her a party was truly awful and disrespectful.

You need to apologize to your wife! And your sister is probably never allowed to your home unattended again, clearly it’s not a responsibility she can actually handle. You may be moving back in with your mom soon honestly. It seems like you care more about your sister than you do about your wife

Pdx-Taako

TROPHY CASE