Teres

Well, I am not, precisely for that reason. Maybe it is something for the redux, but not this time yet.

Redux?

Add the racism plot to that, too. It truly does undercut what this story is supposed to be about, and that is the reason I keep complaining about it.

Ah yes, of course. I should have mentioned that too because she clearly didn't know the first thing about racism and prejudice either, and especially not institutionalised racism. After all, she would have us believe that all you need to do to "get rid of racism" is to kill or otherwise remove the Bad Racist Guys who are in charge of the system and then everyone else will instantly just get over it somehow and it won't ever happen again. There isn't, for example, a core group of people who rebel against the abolishment of anti-Forbidden laws and sentiment and form a group of some kind in the manner of the KKK.

she should certainly have mentioned those, along with jackdaws (and given some more mentions to crows).

It actually doesn't matter; they might look different, but both species of magpie will happily live alongside humans and both are known for their singing.

My first answer would be "the Icarii"... Really, this and the teacup almost make me think that there are settled Avar who produce these things for the other Avar.

It's just too bad it's never gone into; author clearly lost interest in the Avar because we learn very little about them after book one.

Also, in book three we learn that the Icarii don't even know what sheep are so how do THEY have access to wool?

Well, I guess that the rule might be "violence against humanoids is wrong"? That would be consistent, but once again, it needs to be clear, not vaguely implied

Exactly, and someone should have pointed out the hypocrisy.

Oh yes, Barsarbe does get mistreated later, does she not?

Yup, she turns into a raging jealous Mean Girl who hates Azhure and that's just totally unfair. The subsequent punishment for the heinous crime of not loving and worshipping Azhure-Sue is summary and entirely predictable.

Well... all of that will luckily be for someone else, as after chapter 38, I will only be back in The Serpent Bride.

???

Oh, I see now why the comment was messed up: the angle brackets do not work well with the tag. I suppose I will use something else, then.

Oh, I wondered what you were referring to. I've been using the "quote" button so no idea why it's suddenly not working.