Teres

<q>In short, I am reasonably sure that the forest has been shaped as it is by the Avar using magic.</q>

Though just why they would do so is beyond me.

<q>Further, what is to stop the Seneschal from claiming something like “the Shadowsward looks this alluring now since the Forbidden wanted to lure more people in”? This is really not as convincing as Douglass thinks it is.</q>

And what, NOBODY has ever sneaked into the "evil forest" to see it for themselves? Douglass also seems to have forgotten that the forbidden is alluring. One of the best ways to ensure at least a few people will go out of their way to enter an area is to put up signs saying ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ENTER. Even if you get specific by adding that there's toxic waste or whatever, they're going to want to see it for themselves because now you've made them curious.

But of course these characters are all either insufferable Sues with little to no agency, or NPCs who don't actually get to do anything. In both cases, there is no curiosity to be found unless the plot says so.

<q>So Azhure walks a bit further into the forest, “drawn by its beauty” (because of course it is the beauty of the Avarinheim that draws her rather than curiosity or anything else).</q>

Case in point, Azhure isn't curious. As usual it's all about how OMG BEAUTIFUL it is. Are you keeping a count for people and other things being constantly called "beautiful"? Because boy would those numbers be through the roof.

<q>It turns out to be the “crystal sounds of the Nordra”</q>

Rivers and streams in bad fantasy novels always make "crystal sounds". It's stupid.

<q>If this story contains such inaccuracies, how am I supposed to take what it is saying seriously?</q>

How indeed. Douglass constantly writes about a) Music and b) The beauty of nature, yet gets the most basic shit wrong on both subjects, <i>constantly</i>. So how the hell are you supposed to have a story with major themes centred around something the author keeps misrepresenting?

<q>Also, Azhure/Douglass, what are you on about with ravens not having great song? They are capable of very much and can even “talk”!</q>

And where the fuck are the magpies? Those live in farmed areas and have lovely songs.

<q>It is manifestly not what Douglass is describing here, so we need some indication that she did not make a mistake. That is not to mention that the winterberry is called that since it has berries in the winter. This plant does not, though it clearly is winter, so why is it called “winterberry”, then?</q>

My guess would be that like me up until a minute ago, she didn't know winterberries were an actual plant and thought she'd just made the name up. They aren't native to Australia, where we both hail from. Or at least not to my knowledge.

<q>We get some further description: He is wearing a “similar tunic” made of wool, which is coloured “dark red” and has a pattern of “interlaced tree branches” at the hem. Beneath it, he is wearing “serviceable brown leggings” (?), which are “bound with leather thongs” and “ankle-high leather boots”.</q>

This is NOT the time or place for such a big infodump! About a character who will disappear shortly after this, to boot. Also where the fuck are they getting clothes like this when they don't have the means to weave fabric, and especially not in such an elaborate manner?
And why are they "anti violence" yet wearing LEATHER? It is NEVER explained why they're so rabidly against violence of any kind yet still completely fine with killing animals and even raising them to be killed.

<q>For complaints… I think “similar tunic” means that this man’s tunic is similar to Raum’s?</q>

And Raum doesn't HAVE a tunic any more. He was noted to be naked in his cell for some damn reason and I don't recall any mention of him getting his clothes back so he should still be naked.

<q>—and takes a step backward. Azhure notes movement and sees a “slim, dark-haired woman” steps out from behind a tree. She is noted to be “much shorter” than Azhure, and she is wearing a “long pale yellow robe”, which is patterned with “leaping deer like Raum’s robe”. Never mind that Azhure does not know his name yet…</q>

And enter Scary Sue #2! Also does Raum have a robe OR a tunic? Make your damn mind up!

<q>It worked just as well when I did not know they were related, so I do not see why this is necessary.</q>

And Grindle will never be important anyway.

<q>She says she will not “condone violence”, not even to save Raum, as it is not the “Avar way”.</q>

THEN WHY DO YOU KILL ANIMALS?

<q>His foot hangs “limply”, and bone is visible through the bloody skin of his ankle.</q>

Yeah, no fucking way is he keeping that foot.

<q>Barsarbe, who is supporting an exhausted GoldFeather (I guess that is because she carried Raum just now?)</q>

When she's an older woman who's about half his size. How the fuck did they get here this quickly?

<q>Azhure puts in that Axis has “compassion” for a BattleAxe.</q>

NO HE DOESN'T. HE'S PURE FUCKING SELFISH EVIL AND ONLY GOING TO GET A HUNDRED TIMES <i>WORSE.</i>

<q>Too bad I am not fooled, then.</q>

You'll be even less fooled by the end of book two.

<q><GoldFeather refers to Azhure as a “girl” here, which I find a little strange, since Azhure is twenty-seven.></q>

Probably because she doesn't act like she's that old. Expect to see a lot of really childish, whiny behaviour from her going forward.

<q>Barsarbe asks Grindle to hold Raum while she cleans and sets the ankle.</q>

But not, you know, pin the bones back together because it's a goddamn compound fracture.

<q>GoldFeather says that the woman, “Pease”, is Shra’s mother and Grindle is her father.</q>

Make note of this: when Pease is killed later on, there's absolutely no mention of what happened to the infant "strapped to her breast", nor is Shra ever shown having any kind of reaction to her mother's death. Or any relationship with her father, who just kind of vanishes without explanation.

<q>Azhure thinks that “although the Avar women [are] much shorter and more fine-boned than their menfolk their frail appearance hid[es] considerably strength”.</q>

Yeah, this is really sexist.

<q>That is fine, but not inserting “jokes” about how promiscuous Nors women are would also go quite a long way toward making this more feminist.</q>

It would indeed. The whole "lol Nors women only care about sex" is nothing but disgusting judgemental nastiness aimed at female sexuality. Which as we all know must remain politely repressed until after she's married, and then only so she can provide her husband with lots of sweet sweet BEBBES. Which is as you'll later find out Azhure's only role in her own future marriage to an abusive POS who repeatedly rapes her (but which is glossed over because once you're married he owns you and can do as he pleases with your body and you will be expected to treat this as absolutely normal and romantic).

<q>Pease gives her a cup of tea “in a wooden mug skilfully carved with a pattern of leaves along its rim”.</q>

If these people are nomadic, as indicated by them staying in a "camp" full of "tents" rather than more permanent shelters, why the fuck do they have all this fancy shit? While wearing such impractical clothing? And where the hell are they getting TEA?

<q>Further, I do wonder why they are called the GhostTree clan… but I think that can wait until later.</q>

Don't worry. It will never be explained.

<q>Oh, there is more Mists of Avalon influence; Bradley talked about how old people were at a ridiculously young age, too. Azhure is nearly twenty-eight, after all; that is hardly too old to have children, much less an age at which someone is a “grey-haired old crone”!</q>

BARF. Yeah, the influence just gets more and more obvious, along with the disgusting sexualisation of children and the incredibly blithe treatment of rape.

<q>I am… not really comfortable with that.</q>

Nor should you be. It's repulsive.

<q>Well, that was not really bad, thankfully. We get to see some Avar, at least, and Azhure is quite tolerable.</q>

Enjoy it while you still can...