I have a fair few more thoughts on chapter 4. I definitely agree with you, that's where the book really starts to take off and things start to change. I love seeing Avery's layers being peeled back, and getting a slightly better look at Blake. I really can't wait for the rest of the book, as we start to get deeper and deeper into Blake's complex character.
I love outdoorsman Avery! I think I grow fonder and fonder of him through the book, but I think seeing his obvious fondness for the outdoors and doing practical stuff is where I truly started to like him. I don't know why, considering that I am a true homebody myself XD, but somehow him not caring at all for the city atmosphere is just really endearing. I also loved that he has flashes of insight even at this early stage, that maybe he really would like India a lot better if he could lay all his toxic expectations aside.
The description of Blake is great, and again shows Avery to be a lot more sensitive and observant than he's been acting so far. I was particularly interested in two quotes. The first: "I suppose some might have called him handsome - in a coarse and common way", for shippy purposes of course. XD (There is literally no reason to think that he's handsome, Avery! Nobody else in the books seems to agree with you, Avery!) The second: "He carried about with him an air of what, for lack of a better word, I called insolence, but which I felt as the days passed was more a sceptical irritation with the world", because it sums up my affection for Blake's character so well.
Avery getting shot down by Blake is just PAINFUL. I think both of them are at fault in this interaction yet again. They're both making a lot of assumptions about each other, and both trying to drive each other away to varying degrees. It's a miracle that they ever grow closer, given all of that!
Another thing that I love about this scene is we get to see Blake's deductions for the first time. You can tell how much fun Carter is having writing a proto Sherlock figure, and I find it really sweet.
Aziz and Avery's bond is very sweet so far! I like that Avery has somebody looking out for him, even if he doesn't deserve it all the time.
Avery loudly insisting on wearing company uniform in Blake's hearing is hilarious. If this was a TV adaptation I could just imagine the shot of Blake rolling his eyes. XD
I like Sameer! If he and Avery weren't so very divided by everything I actually think they'd probably get on extremely well.
"His lordship would not have that" they hate each other so much at this point!
Blake as a former soldier is v interesting! It's not something that I consider absolutely key to any conception of his character, considering that there's so much other juicy stuff coming up, but it's still absolutely fascinating. It could also lead to some really interesting fic ideas, from the porny (I can imagine Avery going weak kneed at the sight of Blake in a proper uniform, ngl) to a more sober look at how being soldiers has influenced the both of them.
Don't be mean to Aziz, Avery! :( It's such a dick move, and the fact that he feels terrible about it afterwards hardly makes things any better.
“Some kind of poor-house prodigy” is an interesting look at Blake’s low origins, that we’re going to find out more about later. Interesting that he basically speaks everything, and a big part of him that I love. Also interesting that he once allowed himself to be drunk and out of control, in contrast to the fact that he's so tightly controlled through all the books. Do we ever get to see Blake get casually drunk in canon? I don't think so, and it speaks a lot to how he's gotten so beaten down by life.
I'm already remembering why I love these books so much! :D Some very good stuff coming up over the next few chapters.
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Date: 2021-02-08 03:16 pm (UTC)I love outdoorsman Avery! I think I grow fonder and fonder of him through the book, but I think seeing his obvious fondness for the outdoors and doing practical stuff is where I truly started to like him. I don't know why, considering that I am a true homebody myself XD, but somehow him not caring at all for the city atmosphere is just really endearing. I also loved that he has flashes of insight even at this early stage, that maybe he really would like India a lot better if he could lay all his toxic expectations aside.
The description of Blake is great, and again shows Avery to be a lot more sensitive and observant than he's been acting so far. I was particularly interested in two quotes. The first: "I suppose some might have called him handsome - in a coarse and common way", for shippy purposes of course. XD (There is literally no reason to think that he's handsome, Avery! Nobody else in the books seems to agree with you, Avery!) The second: "He carried about with him an air of what, for lack of a better word, I called insolence, but which I felt as the days passed was more a sceptical irritation with the world", because it sums up my affection for Blake's character so well.
Avery getting shot down by Blake is just PAINFUL. I think both of them are at fault in this interaction yet again. They're both making a lot of assumptions about each other, and both trying to drive each other away to varying degrees. It's a miracle that they ever grow closer, given all of that!
Another thing that I love about this scene is we get to see Blake's deductions for the first time. You can tell how much fun Carter is having writing a proto Sherlock figure, and I find it really sweet.
Aziz and Avery's bond is very sweet so far! I like that Avery has somebody looking out for him, even if he doesn't deserve it all the time.
Avery loudly insisting on wearing company uniform in Blake's hearing is hilarious. If this was a TV adaptation I could just imagine the shot of Blake rolling his eyes. XD
I like Sameer! If he and Avery weren't so very divided by everything I actually think they'd probably get on extremely well.
"His lordship would not have that" they hate each other so much at this point!
Blake as a former soldier is v interesting! It's not something that I consider absolutely key to any conception of his character, considering that there's so much other juicy stuff coming up, but it's still absolutely fascinating. It could also lead to some really interesting fic ideas, from the porny (I can imagine Avery going weak kneed at the sight of Blake in a proper uniform, ngl) to a more sober look at how being soldiers has influenced the both of them.
Don't be mean to Aziz, Avery! :( It's such a dick move, and the fact that he feels terrible about it afterwards hardly makes things any better.
“Some kind of poor-house prodigy” is an interesting look at Blake’s low origins, that we’re going to find out more about later. Interesting that he basically speaks everything, and a big part of him that I love. Also interesting that he once allowed himself to be drunk and out of control, in contrast to the fact that he's so tightly controlled through all the books. Do we ever get to see Blake get casually drunk in canon? I don't think so, and it speaks a lot to how he's gotten so beaten down by life.
I'm already remembering why I love these books so much! :D Some very good stuff coming up over the next few chapters.