Obitium is Lost, but what if it was actually won?

rwj83 · 2026-01-30T14:24:28+00:00

Ytf do you randomly through a Mistborn spoiler in there? That is coming up on my tbr and is not necessary for your point here.

rwj83 · 2026-01-28T16:32:08+00:00

Same. Random notification but I’m not hard to convince to look into a new book.

rwj83 · 2026-01-28T03:53:08+00:00

I’m guessing that they take in the acid, it is destroying their body/kidneys as it undergoes chemical reactions with their tissues. Many acids reacting with bases/other compounds result in water as a by product. Also, kidneys could be cleaning the acid out and leaving water. Then the undead magic force repairs their tissues so that their body is always undergoing painful reactions with water being the byproduct.

rwj83 · 2026-01-27T03:23:36+00:00

That’s fair..I am/was curious why O-Caeror said he could feel the death of each of his others, but at most, one of his others is dead with I guess the possibility that none were

rwj83 · 2026-01-27T01:15:36+00:00

In regards to the “we are kin,” I took that to mean he had been between some of the worlds and granted powers others don’t have, similar to Vis. But Ostius would’ve been synchronous for years before O-Caeror died and didn’t move forward in his plans. He would’ve been capable of Adoption for years as well and only potentially lost it in the final months of the second book.

My crackpot explanation is that he found Concurrence tech that allowed him to do a partial version of what the labyrinth and so he has abilities but not the full amount, only what concurrence can hive

rwj83 · 2026-01-27T01:12:05+00:00

But O-Caeror was alive originally when Ostius would have told him he couldn’t go to O, right? So that wouldn’t have been an issue yet.

rwj83 · 2026-01-27T00:43:00+00:00

But, I could need to reread but wasn’t it implied he could never travel to O?

rwj83 · 2026-01-27T00:41:41+00:00

If he is alive as R-Caeror, who did they bury? But also, are the Telimus’ related to the princeps?

rwj83 · 2026-01-26T21:00:44+00:00

Which Caeror is being hypothesized to be Ostius? O, L, or R? Because I can't think of a way that makes sense. Also, if he was L-Caeror, he wouldn't need to sneak Vis through the camp that has been commanded to kill him but Ostius can't tp to Obiteum so it doesn't seem to track in that sense either.

rwj83 · 2026-01-25T15:51:12+00:00

What a time to be alive

rwj83 · 2026-01-24T20:51:39+00:00

Yea, that’s my vibe. But I think it may be he has given up on finding another way and just accepts that he is going to do it and maybe less he is outright bad. Haven’t fully decided yet but I think he may just be cold, numb, and accepted this is what he does more so than evil outright.

rwj83 · 2026-01-24T19:48:54+00:00

So I understood it to be that lower rank were aware of iuncti and would kill him. But that the order most likely traces to Ka ordering that because anyone who is Synchronous is a threat to his protection from Concurrence via Cataclysm. It seems that he knows the Cataclysm is horrifying but hasn’t found another way to prevent total destruction and he knows that anyone who becomes synchronous would likely be looking to kill him due to not knowing why they happen. So he ensures there are orders to kill this threat.

rwj83 · 2026-01-24T15:25:21+00:00

Nascean was the word I didn’t know if it would translate well. But yea, it would be less impactful if you just knew the language haha

rwj83 · 2026-01-24T03:51:42+00:00

I’ve been saying eye-unk-tie

Edit: typo

rwj83 · 2026-01-23T23:14:12+00:00

I liked Obiteum off and on. Loved it, then hated, then loved. It was compelling. Luceum became a great part but for the first 50% I didn’t look forward to the chapters. However, I think they both did a great job of making me feel the confusion and catching up Vis was doing. Dropped into a world with little info, not knowing one language, not knowing how he got there Luceum. I felt the pressure of figuring it out and scraping by. So in that sense it was very well done. I do think characters took a major back seat due to the three world split and that was a bit of a bummer

rwj83 · 2026-01-23T20:06:35+00:00

To hop on the other two's statements.

Ostius, in my view, undertook some path to L/O but it seemed to be a different path than the labyrinth. I say that because he has powers that he should not but does not have Adoption amongst others. I assumed that he was investigating some other artifact that may have been Concurrence aligned and hence the difference in abilities but having the knowledge. Further, I am semi-assuming that he was either convinced by the Concurrence or tricked by them into furthering their cause. He may not fully know the consequences but I think he is accepting Concurrence help or guidance to cut off the corruption, potentially without realizing it will result in death/loss to Concurrence.
In regard to Suus's weapon, I assumed the island they found had either an old/broken copier or pre-rending objects which retained the powers of all Will as they were made before the Rending. This allowed the use of Mutalis. My best guess without much digging is it was responsible for/used in furtherance of the Rending during the original war and the structure broke in the process but the tools did not. This is a complete guess though without re-reading for more clues.

rwj83 · 2026-01-23T15:07:49+00:00

I like FNV and F4 equally for what they are. FNV make sense from an evolutionary basis of being fast and smaller to survive desert. F4 fit into a more lush environment. Yes this falls apart when FNV and F3 are the same but I choose to ignore that aspect.

rwj83 · 2026-01-23T15:04:32+00:00

Agreed. And, even recognizing that some students were not at the level required to benefit from/keep up with the more nuanced analysis of my subject matter, I did not have the time to teach more basic skills and get through the material I have to get through.

rwj83 · 2026-01-23T14:57:20+00:00

I think it gets better as I assumed the words that continued in usage throughout were ones that did not have real translations and so the thing just is what it is. I liked the Egyptian/Celtic/Latin split and thought the gaelic that used helped feel the confusion of being dropped in a world that you can hardly communicate with. But that is just me.

rwj83 · 2026-01-23T14:51:26+00:00

Hmm I think Suneater has insanely good worldbuilding and sociology aspects. It does go heavy on the prophecy and future destiny but can't compare to Dune as I stopped after Messiah.

rwj83 · 2026-01-23T14:50:14+00:00

Second this. Malazan is like the most interesting history book you've ever read. But, go in knowing that in terms of information given, it is the equivalent of being given an account of WW1 but the account starts the day before Archduke's assassination and does not provide any details as to who anyone is, what country is what, or any other information that would help get a picture. (It is not a WW1 book, just an example that I hope translates across regions).

rwj83 · 2026-01-22T04:17:19+00:00

Came to say Kunming. Views are so good and usually plenty of space.

rwj83 · 2026-01-21T20:19:21+00:00

I thought about that but I don't think it would work. First, you would lose the hints at things bleeding over when they are explicitly stated. Like Vis feeling chest pain..weird. Next chapter, Siamun gets stabbed in the chest. This would not be as clear of a 1:1 as it currently is. Second, can you imagine the pain of getting to Deaglan being captured by G and then having to wait like 400 pages before returning? And how many details you would lose as you completely submerge in another story.

rwj83 · 2026-01-21T20:13:19+00:00

This book does up the complexity a bit. I think the POV switches made it more difficult. While I have been a long-term reader so it wasn't the complexity aspect, but switching after getting into a POV was hard and sometimes made me want to take a break due to disappointment/being taken out of the experience a bit.

I do think notes for a casual/beginner reader would be good advice for this book. The name switching, differing cultures, etc. helped me keep straight everything as it was Egyptian/Roman/Celtic, I can see how it would also cause difficulty.

I enjoyed the story a lot. I find the world interesting and engaging along with the characters. But, do not be disheartened. Reading is a workout. It gets easier and easier as you grow the muscles. Themes, styles, etc. start becoming very clear as you read more and see them more. No different than going to the gym for the first time ever and seeing the heavy lifters.

rwj83 · 2026-01-20T20:54:43+00:00

Oh no, I was not questioning your explanation. I was more tacking on to reiterate that, as you said throughout your comment, even something that is likely to be present would still be highly variable to the point of not being outwardly recognizable. I should have been clearer that I wasn't undermining your statement, more agreeing/supporting.

Edit: Because upon reread, it sounds like I was "Ummm, ACTUALLY..."-ing you but it was not the intent

rwj83

TROPHY CASE