shiver me timbers
Major spoilers, just a rant about eckles
I like Eckles (eclair) so much, he is such a complex and deeply intriguing character, what drives him to his goals? His ambitions? He’s not just some typical 2D villain and for a moment I really thought he would be endgame but I cant fathom that he genuinely just gets thrown aside like dirt by Penelope. His story is so freaking tragic and frustrating a prince from a fallen kingdom enslaved and forced to become a mere animal for spectacle and then used endlessly by others. Can’t even bring myself to dislike/hate him even though that’s what the story is propping us readers up to do because his motive and reasoning make so much sense to me, then boom comes Penelope with her bs. I don’t understand why she NEVER thought the way she treats him won’t have later consequences? Later bad consequences?
Like he gets upset when she doesn’t visit him, he shows jealousy etc and she just ignores it?? Or doesn’t even go on to acknowledge it which pushes eclair to act more irrationally, driving him closer to insanity. I only read this up to the part where eclair gets imprisoned and it’s beyond me that Penelope doesn’t think for even a second that this is her fault, or that she had a hand in the way that eclair ended up the way he did. She never treated him like an actual person just threw gifts and empty words to him, he clearly shows red flags which she promptly ignores never reassuring him or following up and then got mad when it all blew up in her face?
So bummed out knowing he’s just going to be used as a bad guy plot point, brainwashed and die, it’s so unfair(._.)
In all honesty this was very disappointing, the whole mystery of cosette’s true identity and what really happened in the original timeline was so interesting and what captured me at first. But then for the story to just pan out in such a generic way is such a shame, a really unsatisfying ending, big bad villainess lose heroes win yay. Zero depth to the villain she wanted to take over just cuz
Truly a masterpiece, it’s an excellent story with deep complex characters. I love that Eris never gave up on her resolve, she’s an actual shining example of a strong female lead. The villains in this story aren’t just 2 dimensional beings either, they’re insanely despicable characters who have very twisted reasons for doing what they do, not just because they’re the “bad guys” it helps me hate them even more^^
Rich and developed world with several interesting plot points and side stories that genuinely keep you interested, such as Madame Thalrose and especially the witches. This is truly, such a breath of fresh air in the sea of generic copy paste transmigrated into villainess stories.
Highly recommend you read (⁎⁍ᴗ⁍⁎)