Nooooo, Avery and Blake stop wasting all the progress you’ve made :(. On the flipside, Avery and Aziz bonding again is sweet, if slightly embarrassing for poor Avery! Great that we finally get a bit more of Aziz’s story.
I love that A wants to help now. The sense of fear is very intense here, which is should be because it’s then followed by another attack! Must confess, I’ve read these books many times now and did not remember that at ALL. Avery again acquits himself very well here, and Blake is obviously very admiring. But the question remains, as Avery asks himself… why are they being attacked so often?
Another conversation between Avery and Blake! Love that Avery is all ??? about Blake attempting to lecture him on manners, Blake has a point but Avery’s confusion does seem justified. XD It looks like Doora is going to be a big deal for our heroes.
Bearded Blake! I do love a good beard…
Blake being intimidating again, he really is very good at manipulating people when he has to. Blake obviously thinking that the resident is an idiot is great.
I like the visit to the palace! Love that you can tell Avery is actually quite excited here, his inner nerd coming out again. I also love Blake stage managing Avery, and Avery actually listening to what he says. The initial meeting - confrontation, really - with the rao is fascinating; Avery has no idea what is going on, but there are so many layers to it.
Avery loves their new, less company improved dwellings! He’s both a romantic and a good lad at heart.
Avery following Blake immediately, instead of just sitting in their rooms and sulking as before, is great. As is the way Blake works to get information, the way he insinuates himself in is so interesting. I also love afterwards, when Avery just reveals that he has followed Blake! Blake pretends to be a little annoyed about it, but I think he’s secretly quite impressed by Avery’s nerve. It’s all certainly progress. As is Blake setting Avery gently right on his assumptions, and Avery actually considering that instead of flying off the handle.
Another execution. Love that Avery is all :( about it. It is definitely brutal in it’s own way, but Blake pointing out hypocrisy again is quite interesting. Obviously I’m looking at this from a modern POV, I’m from the UK where we haven’t had executions for going on seventy years now, and so I think all executions are bad… But the company really has no room to judge, when they’re also killing people.
The opening to the banquet is impressive! You definitely get Avery’s sense of wonder. I find it adorable that he was so awed by the white tigers, and also headcanon that Blake found it pretty adorable too. I love that Blake saves Avery from eating the almond paste, and keeps gently guiding him. I also love that our heroes are now comfortable enough with each other to joke around a bit, to the point that Blake makes Avery snort!
The visit to Parkes is so interesting on every level! I especially love Blake getting all animated, and when she finally gets into the differences between then and now, assimilation and open curiosity being replaced with a very conservative sense of superiority. I also really enjoy the image of baby Blake, who was apparently an absolute hellion. And then the chapter ends with a letter and the promise of a tiger hunt, which I am very into...
Chapter 10
Nooooo, Avery and Blake stop wasting all the progress you’ve made :(. On the flipside, Avery and Aziz bonding again is sweet, if slightly embarrassing for poor Avery! Great that we finally get a bit more of Aziz’s story.
I love that A wants to help now. The sense of fear is very intense here, which is should be because it’s then followed by another attack! Must confess, I’ve read these books many times now and did not remember that at ALL. Avery again acquits himself very well here, and Blake is obviously very admiring. But the question remains, as Avery asks himself… why are they being attacked so often?
Another conversation between Avery and Blake! Love that Avery is all ??? about Blake attempting to lecture him on manners, Blake has a point but Avery’s confusion does seem justified. XD It looks like Doora is going to be a big deal for our heroes.
Bearded Blake! I do love a good beard…
Blake being intimidating again, he really is very good at manipulating people when he has to. Blake obviously thinking that the resident is an idiot is great.
I like the visit to the palace! Love that you can tell Avery is actually quite excited here, his inner nerd coming out again. I also love Blake stage managing Avery, and Avery actually listening to what he says. The initial meeting - confrontation, really - with the rao is fascinating; Avery has no idea what is going on, but there are so many layers to it.
Avery loves their new, less company improved dwellings! He’s both a romantic and a good lad at heart.
Avery following Blake immediately, instead of just sitting in their rooms and sulking as before, is great. As is the way Blake works to get information, the way he insinuates himself in is so interesting. I also love afterwards, when Avery just reveals that he has followed Blake! Blake pretends to be a little annoyed about it, but I think he’s secretly quite impressed by Avery’s nerve. It’s all certainly progress. As is Blake setting Avery gently right on his assumptions, and Avery actually considering that instead of flying off the handle.
Another execution. Love that Avery is all :( about it. It is definitely brutal in it’s own way, but Blake pointing out hypocrisy again is quite interesting. Obviously I’m looking at this from a modern POV, I’m from the UK where we haven’t had executions for going on seventy years now, and so I think all executions are bad… But the company really has no room to judge, when they’re also killing people.
The opening to the banquet is impressive! You definitely get Avery’s sense of wonder. I find it adorable that he was so awed by the white tigers, and also headcanon that Blake found it pretty adorable too. I love that Blake saves Avery from eating the almond paste, and keeps gently guiding him. I also love that our heroes are now comfortable enough with each other to joke around a bit, to the point that Blake makes Avery snort!
The visit to Parkes is so interesting on every level! I especially love Blake getting all animated, and when she finally gets into the differences between then and now, assimilation and open curiosity being replaced with a very conservative sense of superiority. I also really enjoy the image of baby Blake, who was apparently an absolute hellion. And then the chapter ends with a letter and the promise of a tiger hunt, which I am very into...