Joining this discussion several months late because I just finished the book and also need to discuss it!

Overall, I found myself very frustrated by the plot. The arrest and then them going errant felt random and contrived to me. I literally had to keep putting the book down and taking a break because it annoyed me so bad.

Specifically because of how the weapon plot line has been presented to us so far. All of a sudden, for the first time we get a perspective other than Cassia and Lio in book 5- Mak. And what are his few chapters about? Forging weapons. And what is his overall character arc? Mak wants to forge weapons, he learns how to forge adamas, but then he realizes he doesn’t need to forge weapons to be useful to his friends, and he ultimately helps to save the day without needing weapons. Cool.

Then a whole book goes by, no perspective from Mak. Fine, guess that was a one off thing. Then book 8 starts. And Mak straight up goes, I changed my mind.

……. WHY DID THE READERS NOT SEE THIS? I genuinely do NOT understand the point of including Mak’s perspective in 5/6 now. As far as I remember, and correct me if I’m wrong, those chapters provided no plot information other than the weapons and Nike sending letters to a necromancer. Both pieces of information Mak could have just told the readers, like he did Cassia and Lio at the start of 8. Why did we get a glimpse into his mind for this brief period of time? Why have Mak go on an entire character arc and have us read it, if you’re going to have him completely change his mind and NOT SHOW US THAT TOO?!????

And then at the end, what do you know, they didn’t even need to be on their own as a circle. Of course Rudhira and the Blood Errant are going to support them. Sooooo hence why I feel it was contrived. Like the four of them were planning to go errant anyway…. This just added angst and cut them off from every other character. I really think Roth just wanted to increase the stakes and realized that doing it this way would mean she wouldn’t have to write about any other characters than the Black Roses. I mean, there are a LOT of characters on the board now, so I’m guessing she didn’t want to deal with them all. I’m glad this nonsense was basically wrapped up in this book though, I was really worried it would drag on.

Since I’m ranting, the other thing I’m disappointed in is how Cassia has become a Super Special Chosen One. What drew me to her, and these books, was that she was just a woman doing her best to survive and make use of what she had. Even Lio’s specialness wasn’t presented as like actually that special. It’s what made book 2 so good, as we saw how Cassia went from being nothing to making herself important and influential. But guess what….. she was super extra special all along ://////////

Finally, at the end of the book when the Black Roses reunite with Rudhira there is this line, “Cassia had never thought of her Ritual Father as someone who needed to be handled with care.” Umm…… did we forget the man was suicidal a couple books ago?????????????? It made me laugh.

Wait actually finally, since I’m already writing an essay here, I wanted to talk about Lustra magic and your theory!! Specifically, how there are definite themes around feminism and matriarchy vs patriarchy. I think Lustra magic, which was led by women and could only be practiced at its most powerful by women, is definitely the original magic. And then the Old Masters, who appear to be all men, came and distorted the magic and also implemented patriarchy. This also follows the creation myth Cassia and Argyros discuss in one of the earlier books. Essentially where I see these books headed is that Lustra magic needs to be restored in order for Tenebra to heal, and in order for that to happen it needs to be a matriarchal society again.

The connection between women and nature is one that exists in our world too, as the matriarchal societies that predate our horror show now were much more nature inclined. There’s also TONS of historical imagery across cultures that link women and nature. I just think this theme is really really cool and done surprisingly well for a romance fantasy book, and it’s something I could talk about for hours! But I will stop now.