There's a bunch of reading I need to write up, but there was a little knot of Bujold books in there, so let's begin with those.

Lois McMaster Bujold, The Curse of Chalion (2001)

The initial offering in Bujold's Five Gods universe, a set of several loosely-related fantasy series. This particular novel has medieval-Spanish inspirations with an original theology; I can't speak to the others.

I went into this 100% unspoiled, and enjoyed that experience very much. Since finishing the book, I've read a number of jacket blurbs and library catalog summaries and... meh. 1) We're AT LEAST two-thirds of the way through the book before ANY of that stuff happens, and 2) none of those blurbs had anything to do with what I enjoyed about the book.

So let me see if I can say some spoiler-free things I loved right from the beginning.

1. Lupe dy Cazaril, our protagonist, spends the entire book trying to solve the problem directly in front of him. He's got shit resources, shit influence, and shit big-picture perspective -- in fact, it's not until near the end of the book that he figures out what the plot arc even was! -- but by god he'll solve the problem right in front of him or he'll die trying. I love this for him.
   
   
2. A couple of chapters in, when we started to unlock Cazaril's backstory, I incredulously messaged phoenixfalls: "omg. Bujold took Aral Vorkosigan and broke him. Made him realize the tyrrany of meat. Put him through so much trauma that his only remaining ambition is to live."
   
   And I hold by that characterization of Cazaril: the once noble and principled master strategist, for whom everything, but everything, has gone so wrong that he has surrendered pride and principles and ambition and is grubbing in the mud after dropped coins. He is physically disabled. He has crippling PTSD. He would be content to live life as a kitchen scullion if it meant a guaranteed warm place by the fire to sleep.
   
   (But first he has to solve the problem in front of him.)

It is also worth mentioning that Bujold's plotting is as masterful as ever, and as usual, there is a fine array of worthy female characters across a wide range of ages.

It is probably also worth talking about the theology of this world? Except 1) I haven't really made up my mind about it, and 2) that discussion is nothing but spoilers all the way down.

I already have its immediate sequel, Paladin of Souls, in my hot little hands, although from the state of my reading list, it might be a bit before I can get there.


Lois McMaster Bujold, Captain Vorpatril's Alliance (2012)
Lois McMaster Bujold, The Flowers of Vashnoi (2018)

Read alouds to grrlpup; re-reads for me and first reads for her.

My reviews from last year, which I still largely stand by.

re Ivan: I still laugh to see Ivan thwarted; I still have fine-but-lukewarm feelings about Ivan and Tej. This time around, I particularly enjoyed how EVERYONE who found out about Ivan's emergency marriage IMMEDIATELY asked the important question: DOES YOUR MOM KNOW YET?? Sadly, the second half of the novel doesn't compel me the way the first half does: the in-law circus just can't live up to all of Ivan's nearest and dearest getting in line to make him squirm.

re Vashnoi: I still think this is a great novella, still appreciate how messy and intractable history is, and still very much appreciate Bujold leaving the ending as an exercise for the reader. Fair warning: this is one of the darker books in the series.

Because I missed* most of the fall and year-end gift exchanges, I signed up for fandomtrees for the first time ever. For those who are interested, my tree is here.

(*I was in Japan, thus missing both fall deadlines and nominations-and-signups for year-end exchanges. I keep meaning to post about Japan, but my first attempt got eaten, and I haven't had the wherewithal to make a second attempt yet.)

~

However! Much to my pleasure, I was able to pick up some pinch-hits for ficinabox when I got back! I've got multiple things in that collection, if anyone wants to root around and have a look for them.

An anon on tumblr asked me about my writing habits, and since half of my writing community is over here, I thought I'd cross-post the question and answer, in case it's interesting to anyone else.

would you be willing to elaborate on your writing routine? you seem like a very consistent writer, and as someone who's not, i'm always curious how people approach their writing. do you set aside a particular amount of time/word goal/just go with the flow? do you have a single piece that you'll work on or does it jump around? do you have a way to push through writer's block or do you take a break? feel free to say as much or as little as you want ofc, but i've just been curious after seeing the few things you've said on here about it, and i'm trying to get better about my own writing routine 😅

( General process )

( Specific questions )


(Side note: does anyone know if DW has markdown code for adding a cut? Copying from tumblr to DW would have been a lot easier with it...)