CtD, ch27-28
The final countdown (spoilers):
– chapter 27 – As a general rule, I don’t like the ‘he couldn’t help himself’ trope when it comes to sex, but I think Pritkin losing control like that is understandable. I mean how long has it been since he’s fed that much? We’ve seen in some of the Pritkin shorts how the yearning to feed is still tormenting him very frequently, so while it’s freaky, I get why he was overwhelmed for a moment. The important part for me though, is that he did stop, before Cassie even had to tell him – it’s no wonder she trusts him not to hurt her in HtM. I love how this really intense sequence between Cassie and Pritkin is then balanced by the lighter scene where Dee and Cassie talk Pritkin into disguising himself in drag to escape. IMO one of KC’s greatest talents is the way she blends genres – in the space of two chapters we get drama, romance, comedy and action, it just never gets boring. Although how could we possibly get bored when we have Pritkin RUNNING UP FIVE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS WHILE CARRYING CASSIE. Once again, weirdly hot. Does this qualify as fan service?
– chapter 28 – Sal, oh Sal 🙁 I really liked her you know? Not just because she was introduced as something of a bimbo and then turned out to have hidden depths (love seeing that trope subverted) but also because poor Cassie, she doesn’t get that many female friends. I mean, that’s definitely being remedied, with the introduction of her court and Rhea and Tammy being more involved, but in the beginning at any rate, Cassie’s girl time was pretty limited. That’s why for me, Sal’s betrayal and death is a particularly hard blow. At least Cassie still has Françoise, whom I love.
I think it’s appropriate that Apollo’s ultimate end is fairly ignominious. As Cassie says later, they did the metaphysical equivalent of flushing him down a toilet, and they did it pretty quickly. But this is something that happens a lot in the Cassie books – you’ve got a grand standing, melodramatic villain and in the end, they’re beaten in some almost anti-climactic way, by someone who seems way weak than them (see also – Olga killing Dracula). It’s the classic David and Goliath, Frodo and Sauron story. In these books, power is no guarantee of victory.
Last thing: the Mircass conversation right at the end. So, I’ve made it pretty clear that I do not like the way Mircea and Cassie interact in this book, but this scene isn’t too bad. I like seeing Cassie laying down some ground rules, trying to tackle the communication problems at the heart of their relationship. On the other hand, if you read closely, Mircea doesn’t actually agree to anything. He asks Cassie if she wants him to ‘court’ her, but doesn’t say that he will. He asks her if she can get to know him in their current kind of relationship and she says, tellingly, “Not and keep a clear head.” Whether deliberate or not, the constant sexy times between the two of them does seem to be preventing Cassie from getting to know him. But he still doesn’t actually agree?? I mean, I know he’s a vampire and it’s not in his nature to be direct but for crying out loud, would it kill him to say, ‘yes, we’ll slow down, if it makes you more comfortable’? If he really cares for her, why can’t he just give her that, it’s not that big a request. When Cassie does imply that she finds their relationship too sexual for the time being, he deflects, and suggests that Cassie’s insecurities about their relationship are somehow Pritkin’s fault. Uh, wtf? You know what, I take it back. I do have a problem with this scene. Anyway. I love the ending – “You shaved my legs?” Iconic.
Ok, so here we go again. All bad comments are my own. Please know that I am not trying to tear anyone’s opinion apart. I am just trying to keep a dialog going…
AS for Pritkin-here is my take. At the start of the series he is a complete and total jackass. I don’t know whether this is just his mad at the world vibe, or if his death wish hadn’t calmed down. It’s pretty clear to me that he’s had a rough time of it. I think that’s why so many people are so adamant in their love of Pritkin. He’s just so damaged, and sigh worthy. and his relationship with Cassie is something that pushes his boundaries and makes him look at his own growing feelings, but that is another day. This is one of the first times he tries to sacrifice his life in service to Cassie. Sometimes, I think that is Pritkin’s go to response. Feel attracted to Cassie? Find a way to get her to leave him behind. Find yourself taking cold showers after practicing swordwork? Make a trip to Fairie and get nearly gutted…but I digress. Here he tricks her, saying he can heal himself to get her to reswap bodies. And then uses the mistaken belief from the mages to his advantage in the duel with Saunders.
I love the triple D’s. From their first introduction, I adore them. And boy do they come through! And I love the fact that THOSE shoes are fitting, if they have to break her toes!
Sal, oh man. Sal. Just when we think Cassie is finding her feet, the rug is pulled out from under her. Shouldn’t there be a limit to heartbreak? Only so much before the bank is full…
I think that Cassie does excellent with dealing with the men of her life. She may be married to Mircea, but damn it they are going to date! She may need John all the time, because she know very little magic, but damned if shes going to let him control all of her life. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, and despite the fact that they are several hundred years older. Of course, Mircea’s going to have the upper hand in any discussion. Despite that, I think she gives Mircea a challenge. And here is this 20 something ball of fire who treats Mircea as a man when he is so very used to being the authority figure…
That’s it for now…gotta sleep
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When did No stop mattering when women say it?
We were grabbing a bite of lunch at a small cafe, in a mall, right across from a booth that sold jewelry and where ears could be pierced for a fee. A mother approaches with a little girl of six or seven years old. The little girl is clearly stating that she doesn’t want her ears pierced, that’s she’s afraid of how much it will hurt, that she doesn’t like earrings much in the first place. Her protests, her clear ‘no’ is simply not heard. The mother and two other women, who work the booth, begin chatting and trying to engage the little girl in picking out a pair of earrings. She has to wear a particular kind when the piercing is first done but she could pick out a fun pair for later.
“I don’t want my ears pierced.”
“I don’t want any earrings.”
The three adults glance at each other conspiratorially and now the pressure really begins. She will look so nice, all the other girls she knows wear earrings, the pain isn’t bad.
She, the child, sees what’s coming and starts crying. As the adults up the volume so does she, she’s crying and emitting a low wail at the same time. “I DON’T WANT MY EARS PIERCED.”
Her mother leans down and speaks to her, quietly but strongly, the only words we could hear were ‘… embarrassing me.’
We heard, then, two small screams, when the ears were pierced.
Little children learn early and often that ‘no doesn’t mean no.’
Little children learn early that no one will stand with them, even the two old men looking horrified at the events from the cafeteria.
Little girls learn early and often that their will is not their own.
No means no, yeah, right.
Most often, for kids and others without power, ”no means force.”
from “No Means Force” at Dave Hingsburger’s blog.
This is important. It doesn’t just apply to little girls and other children, though it often begins there.
For the marginalized, our “no’s” are discounted as frivolous protests, rebelliousness, or anger issues, or we don’t know what we’re talking about, or we don’t understand what’s happening.
When “no means force” we become afraid to say no.
(via k-pagination)
Favorite Figures from Mythology
[Top]Favourite Figures from Mythology (6/?)
Lilith
A protagonist in Jewish and Judeo-Christian mythology. She first appears in Jewish folklore as Adam’s first wife, born of the same dirt as he. During the Middle Ages, her myth is extended: she shuns the Garden of Eden and refuses to be subservient to Adam. However, prior to her appearance in Jewish folklore, Lilith was a figure of
Mesopotamian religions; there she was a demon (subsequently translated into Hebrew as night monster or screech owl).
Okay, I think I’m finally done with this.
Don’t use this as your main source of information on Norse mythology. Some things are only based on speculation and theories, not hard proof from any texts.
Also, Jotuns are gods of chaos (Not necessarily "destroy everything" chaos, but rather “not categorized and put in order” chaos) so their gender and sex is a bit muddy. The first Jotun Ymer had both male and female genitalia and mated with himself, and that set the tone for all Jotuns to come.We don’t know for sure who Heimdall’s mothers are. We’re told he has nine, so people just assume it’s Ægir’s nine daughters. We don’t know for sure if Ran is mother to the daughters either, because only Ægir is mention as their parent.
A god named Lothur helped make the first humans, but because he doesn’t appear anywhere else, people speculate Lothur is another name for Loki. Høner is said to be Loki’s good friend, which strengthens the Odin, Høner, Loki connection.
In one text Odin is the father of Tyr, but in another Hymer is his father. Depending on what people prefer they might claim either Frigg or Hrodr is his mother, but neither is mentioned as his parents, just wives. That’s why I just put both Odin and Hymer as Tyr’s parents. Male Jotuns could give birth, so there’s nothing standing in the way of this.
People speculate that Skadi may originally have been a male deity because a man with the same name who is also associated with winter, snow and hunting appears in one of the Eddas. This could mean she’s the original father of Ull whom she shares a lot of traits with.
When Skadi and Njord’s marriage doesn’t work out, she runs off with someone else, but people can’t agree on who. Most people say Od, though.
I love these charts so much!!!
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