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luciehercndale · 5 months

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Do you think in the the next book we will get a discussion about children between Kell and Lila like it’s obviously one every couple would eventually have. I find that so interesting that Kell doesn’t have that family and has felt a certain way all his life to not have some thoughts about it but obviously he knows Lila as well and I don’t think he would bring it up and kind of settled with the idea. Like I can only imagine it’s going to have to be Lila. Like with the rings it became a fight and then they never talked about it again and you can really see that their communication between their relationship is something that Kell wants because it’s not a question if she loves him but him wanting to hear it.

I wish we had been given a scene with Kell and Ren through Kell’s pov. I feel like that’s a question many people would have in their world and would be curious and what happens when two Antari have a baby.

And do you think we will ever get a non-fade to black scene between Kell and Lila?

I really want a discussion about family between Kell and Lila, because it could reveal so much about their relationship about their own biological family as well as facing their unresolved trauma. I don't think we've seen the last of their parents, who are most likely still alive -aside from Lila's mom- and some of their backstory. Kell still hasn't remembered his past and he might do that in the future.

There is a long rambling about Kellila babies under the cut but I just can't help myself when I have to talk about them. I just love them sfm lmao

The topic of children is potentially triggering for them, because they never had proper familial relationships, but it could be a way to face that trauma because for now it is buried in the past. Being touched by the children topic could awake that past and would force them to deal with it. I think that Kell knows Lila doesn't like children. In a way, her stance might be known to him because she might've said it in front of him, so he might've never asked her directly. It's like with the rings. He gave her the ring, she lied that she didn't want it, and he stopped talking about it but... he kept on wearing it to spite her.

Maybe this could happen with children talk. We see how Lila often lies and everything she says must not be taken at face value. Not liking children may be a lie she tells to avoid the topic and to protect herself: "I say that I don't like children so you won't ask me". It's a defense mechanism. Because I'm sure she thought about it and I'm sure, after seeing Kell with Ren, she imagined how he would be with their hypothetical child and it scares her to think about "settling down" and stay put, but it could happen to her at some point. Moreover, giving Kell's protective and parental nature, he's the perfect character to be a dad.

I also wish we had the scene with Ren from his pov! Because Ren has an egg, and when Hastra was alive, I think he secured an egg. Kell might think that's the same egg although I think that egg might've opened and inside there was one of Ren's numerous animals. See, waiting for the egg to open could also be a baby metaphor... and it's clever. XD I believe that if Kellila have a child, they would name him after someone they lost in the first trilogy. Lila called the ship Grey Barron in honor of Barron, so I don't believe she'd use this name. If they have a girl, she might either use her mother's name or choose Calla as a name. It is a nice name and it's also the name of a flower (linked to purity, femininity and maternity) and it would connect with the idea of Red London having a flowery scent and with Lila calling Kell "flower boy" after they first met. ;) If it's a boy, I believe they'd use the name Hastra. Without the H in the front, it means "star," which is a pretty name.

Okay... sorry for the digression lmao

There's this scene in Threads where Alucard (who, like her, used to be a character with similar fears) talks to Lila and he tells her that he finally found something "worth staying put", and I believe he alludes to the fact that he knows that Kell is that something worth staying put for Lila, but perhaps Lila is not ready to settle down yet.

She thinks about Kell as her chosen family so she already sees them as a family, which shows her disposition to wanting to create something with him. She might just want him (because two people don't need children to be happy) but well, we are under the sun and the story is set in an age where it was easier to get pregnant if one wasn't careful, so it may happen to them. It will depend on what Victoria has in mind with them. It would fit their dynamic and would force Lila to change in a way. And to test theory: can two Antari have an Antari baby? Because we still don't know if it's possible. We still don't even know how Antari are created.

If we analyze how Lila evolves through the series, we can see that it's external events that seem to drive her change of behavior toward the external world and the people she interacts with. She's a character who moves toward the outside and she's practical, so it's no wonder what happens in the external world drives also the change in her internal world (while for Kell is the opposite!). For example, we see how she wears the ring after Kell is comatose at the end of Threads. This is an emotional (internal world) moment for Lila, and she blows off the frustration of dealing with her feelings (which is something difficult to her) by threatening Tes, basically, who is in the external world. She's not really angry at Tes. That feels like desperation masked as anger, which is a reaction Lila often has both when Kell is concerned and when he talks to her about things that make her uncomfortable that have an impact inside (Kell giving her the ring meant settling down with/to her) and outside (this has consequences irl and on herself).

Last but not least because I rambled a lot lmao do I think we will ever see a Kellila scene that doesn't fade to black? I would really love that, but somehow, I think we never got proper not fade to black scenes because that's Kellila's aesthetic. There is so much in the unsaid, or in the what happens when it fades to black. Bc they are a private couple in comparison to Rhylucard, who are more open (in fact we had some non fade to black scenes with them). I think their scenes are written this way to make a contrast with each other public (Rhylucard) and private (Kellila). But I haven't lost hope and I'll be waiting for a non fade to black moment lol

#adsom #kellila #kell maresh #lila bard #kell x lila #tftop #tftop spoilers #the fragile threads of power #shades of magic #delilah bard #you can say kellila rewired my brain chemistry I write long essays about them #and if it wasn't clear enough I would be the happiest if the kellila baby theory becomes true

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antaripirate · 1 year

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i have a habit of waking in the middle of the night with random insane theories about Threads and dumping it in my notes for me to find later…here are a few from the last few months…

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zizygy · 6 months

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So if the Isle is full of magic And the Thames is full of garbage I think it would be fun if the Sijlt consumed magic It's noted in the books how the river barely moves so what if instead of pulsing with life it's more like the Lethe or Styx, a river of death

#there's also like water symbolism with holland that i'm still working on #bleeding himself into a river that only takes and takes #maybe water is the element he has the most trouble with #holland vosijk #adsom #a darker shade of magic #shades of magic #definitely not using this theory to think of tortures for him no siree

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beebrainedstudios · 2 years

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So...

We know V.E. Schwab’s been hinting at Holland’s possible return in Threads of Power, and I’ve also heard she’s said that the series will discuss what the afterlife looks like in the various Londons. Now, my question is- if Holland can come back...

Are ghost Danes also an option?

#this is basically me just saying i want more of the evil twins #plus imagine Holland the Summer Saint having to deal with them #they can be nuisances threats or manipulative 'allies' i dont care #or at least a reference like someone finding like athos' whip or astrid's pendant #adsom #a darker shade of magic #shades of magic #adsom theory #astrid dane #athos dane #holland vosijk #the dane twins #also hi everyone sorry for the long break #ive been busy + had writers and art block #adsom spoilers

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thescriptorium · 7 years

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THAT PLOT TWIST WITH ALUCARD AND RHYS ACTUALLY HAD ME NONSTOP SMILING

#AHHH #MY THEORY OF THEIR CONNECTION WAS SO OFF AND IM SO HAPPY IT WAS #a darker shade of magic #a gathering of shadows #adsom #alucard emery

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grass-harp · 7 years

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BOOKS OF SEPTEMBER

September was quite a successful (reading) month. While my teenager-self might cry at what I nowadays consider to be a successful reading month, I’m quite happy that I managed to finish 4 books. Uni started again in September and while I’m usually tired at night from reading scientific papers all day, this month my eyes and brain had enough energy for fun-reading as well.

Carlo Rovelli: “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics”

Carol Rifka Brunt: “Tell The Wolves I’m Home” // [ Review ]

V.E. Schwab: “A Darker Shade of Magic” [ Shades of London #1 | Review ]

Leigh Bardugo: “Ruin and Rising” [ Grisha #3 ]

My highlight was definitely “Tell The Wolves I’m Home” with its moody tone and beautiful style. “A Darker Shade of Magic”, however, was the disappointment of September. I still have Victoria Schwab’s “Vicious” on my Kobo and spotted the sequels to ADSOM in my library’s eBook catalogue, so I’m considering giving her books another try. Her stories sound really cool, so I’m hoping that one of those will convince me.

I also started reading “There Once Lived A Woman Who Tried To Kill Her Neighbour's Baby” with my fellow Book Unicorns. It’s advertised as a scary short-story collection, but I would rather describe it as morbid. Some themes were a bit repetetive in the first stories, but overall I’m enjoying this read-along greatly.

Which leads me to the next topic: The Russian Reading Challenge that I am hosting with eelifant. September was quite successful in this sense, as I got to finish one Russia-related book (Ruin and Rising) and started another one. Head over to her September wrap-up to get an overview of who has read what for the challenge.

Other highlights of this month included applying for my first grant (let’s see how that turns out); joining lectures on quantum physics and relativity theory; going to the cutest bakery in Liège (Belgium); hunting the perfect pumpkin for a soup and creating a pocket-book with my boyfriend.

#wrap up

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iheartmilfs42069 · 7 years

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Shades of Magic Theory: Kell’s Parentage

Anyone who’s ever had a conversation with me about SOM knows that, from the first time I read ADSOM, I was CERTAIN Calla was Kell’s birth mother. Unfortunately, my theory was not proven to be true (along with another terrible thing that definitely did NOT happy). However, it also wasn’t proven NOT to be true. In fact, it actually gave me some more material to work with that helped support my theory.

First, let me explain my basis for believing Calla was Kell’s biological mother: she is seriously invested in his personal life and well-being. She clearly deeply cares for him. She even tells Lila so “take care of him.” Why would the Elie Saab of Red London care about the Antari prince of Arnes so intimately if she didn’t have some personal stake in his life? Because he’s her son. I always imagined she wiped his memory and sent him to live with the Maresh family because she believed it was what was best for him. But of course she couldn’t stay away. So she watched him grow up from the sidelines.

Now, on to how ACOL helped me fine tune my theory. While it wasn’t confirmed, we did get some more information about Kell’s parentage from Maris. While a lot of what she said seemed to be lies to rile him, we did get three things we can accept as fact. We know for sure that Kell’s parents brought him to the Going Waters, that Kell’s “K.L.” knife belonged to his father, and that he ends up at the palace from the Going Waters. There is no definite indication that his parents left him there because they were neglectful.

Here is what I believe happened: Calla and her husband (who we’ll just call KL) loved their son very much. But shortly after he turned five, his right eye turned black. They knew they could never teach him Antari magic and, moreover, knew the danger he would be in. However, they knew of one place where he could find both education and safety: the Sanctuary. And, thus, the royal Maresh family. The question was, how could they possibly leave their son behind? They quickly realized he would need to forget them entirely. And so, they took him to the only place they could make this happen: the Going Waters. They, of course, had to pay for such magic and favors. And we know she has a device that steals years. KL gave most, if not all, his years in order to do this for Kell (Calla may have given some too, but nowhere near as many as KL). The only thing they left to Kell was the knife. KL soon passed and Kell was taken to the Maresh palace.

Calla, however, could not stay permanently out of her son’s life. She traveled to London and opened her clothing shop, all the while keeping tabs on her son. She both prayed for and dreaded the day he would inevitably regain his memories, not knowing how he would react to her and KL’s decisions. Unfortunately, she never lived to see that day. However, she did live to meet the woman Kell would spend the rest of his life with.

So anyway, Calla is Kell’s birth mother and she only ever tried to do her best for him and she loved him always and no one can convince me otherwise.

#shades of magic #adsom #acol #acol spoilers #kell maresh

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onemorepageturner · 7 years

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Get To Know Me

I love talking about myself especially with a purpose and our whole book club is posting these so Name/Nickname: Kieran/Kier Pronouns: They/them Favorite Book/s: oh god RIP... The Raven Cycle (I have a TRC inspired tattoo), ACOTAR series, Captive Prince trilogy, All For The Game trilogy, All The Bright Places, ADSOM trilogy To Be Read List: like 200+ books long but most immediately, American Gods and Anansi Boys, both by Neil Gaiman Favorite Genres: fantasy, retellings (as long as they take a unique spin) and anything gay tbh my gay heart needs representation. Genres You Hate: Thriller/suspense, horror (mostly cuz they never scare me and I get bored) and nonfiction Most Recently Read Book: Temeraire by Naomi Novik Favorite Book Series: see above Books You Haven’t Gotten Around to Finishing: so many. So so many. In The Afterlight, Illuminae, Krampus, etc... so many. Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Gansey (TRC) Books That You Hate: The Brides of Rollrock Island, Beastkeeper, Freeks, the Mara Dyer trilogy Characters You Can’t Stand: girls who villainize other girls, characters without agency, emotionally abusive characters framed as the ideal love interest. Five Random Facts About You: 1.) I've been stung by a sting ray 2.) I just got back from Scuba Diving today 3.) My personal library is my pride and joy 4.) I work in cosmetics 5.) I have so many ideas about what I want to do with my future that I have no idea where to start 🙃 Favorite Movies: How To Train Your Dragon 1&2, The Theory of Everything, Moana, Amélie Favorite TV Series: In The Flesh, Steven Universe, Brooklyn 99 (for some reason my brain forgot every tv show I've ever watched so I'm gonna leave it at that)

#get to know the blogger #about me

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rheyareads · 6 years

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Anyone else here addicted to solving mysteries? I’m one of those girls who can’t really stop thinking about things until I’ve solved them (just ask my bookstabesties how many theories i have about the ADSOM series). I’m hopelessly addicted to crime shows and usually can’t pull myself away even if the truth scares me. If you’re like me, you’ll love the book I’m featuring today! RIP Eliza Hart is a gripping thriller following a girl who will stop at nothing to figure out what happened to her childhood friend — even though doing so opens up doors to her past. . . ⚜️⚜️SUMMARY⚜️⚜️ When Eliza Hart, the most popular girl at Ventana Ranch boarding school, is found dead on the cliffs outside her dormitory, Ellie Sokoloff is determined to figure out what happened to her. After all, Eliza was Ellie’s childhood best friend. . . Never mind that ever since Ellie arrived at school Eliza has spread terrible rumors about her, calling her a liar and a stalker, when all Ellie wanted to do was rekindle their old friendship. Or that Ellie’s claustrophobia limits where she can go and what she can do. Or that Ellie’s suitemate, Sam, is the only one who will help her . . . because to everyone else, Ellie looks like the top suspect. . . Can Ellie clear her name and solve the mystery behind Eliza’s death? Her hunt for the truth will uncover secrets she never imagined, sending her deep into her own memories of her childhood with Eliza Hart. . . ⚜️R.I.P. Eliza Hart by @alyssasheinmel is a gripping mystery and a sensitive and moving examination of the secrets that can hold us back—and even destroy us. If you would like to learn more about this mysterious story click on the link in my bio! . . . #RIPElizaHarttour #RIPElizaHart #IReadYA #AlyssaSheinmel #Mystery #Thriller #storygramtours — view on Instagram http://ift.tt/2yDmGLX

#Instagram #IFTTT

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antaripirate · 7 months

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Some final thoughts before Threads, from a place a little too close to my heart.

(and a note on Threads posts and spoilers)

So, its 11pm, and an hour untill I’ll have access to The Fragile Threads of Power (I ended up preordering the kindle edition on top of my physical ones, bc they are all delayed in shipping, and, as someone pointed out to me recently, I have the patience of a fruit fly).

I should probably preface this by saying that this will probably read as insanely cringey, but I have so much I want to say, and so much on my mind that I know I will never know how to convey.

But I am just so fucking grateful that V has brought these worlds, these characters, back to us.

They feel like my home.

Something I always try to explain when people ask why Shades means so much to me, is that when I first read ADSOM, it was the first time I had ever seen myself in a character so entirely, and just felt so fucking seen.

I know that not everyone loves Delilah Bard, and that’s okay. But I’ve never felt quite so myself as I do when I have Lila there on the page next to me, as ridiculous as this probably sounds. I don’t really know how to explain this, because there are so many ways I could begin.

And then there’s Kell. Oh, Kell.

It’s so odd, to have never found a character like me, and then all of a sudden, stumbled across one who I wholeheartedly see myself in, and another where I can see pieces of me reflected.

If you couldn’t already tell, I’m not very good at putting these feelings into words, but trying is better than nothing, right? So I’ll continue.

The concept of having these characters back is so reassuring, so exciting, so nerve-wracking. I can’t wait to see what they’ve been up to, how their relationships have strengthened and changed, how new characters will push and pull on the threads of established dynamics and weave new ones.

I am scared of inevitably awful things happening to my favourites. The thought of Kell and Lila not being ok, and safe, and happy, and together fucking terrifies me. They are my entire world, both together and apart. But as terrified as I am, I can’t wait to have them back. To hear them snark at each other, and pull each other out of trouble, and just love each other.

I could writes essays on these two, and on all of the original ADSOM cast, and on predictions and theories and things I’d love to see, but I don’t think right now is the time for that. I’m already rambling and already so nervous with excitement.

I feel like a ball of adrenaline.

I can’t wait to come home.

A note on spoilers on posting:

So I’ve been wondering a lot about what to do regarding posting here about Threads whilst in the spoiler risk period, and I think what I’m gonna do is anything I do post, I’ll have a huge heading broadcasting spoilers for the book and also for which part within the book, because I am fucking terrified of accidentally spoillering someone. If anyone has any thoughts on this please do lmk!!

Anyway, if you read this, thank you - I hope it didn’t sound too ridiculous.

Anoshe.

#i may end up deleting this #it probably reads like nonsense but it’s got a lot of emotions in it from me #anyway #here we go #the fragile threads of power #threads of power #tftop #fragile threads #adsom #a darker shade of magic #a conjuring of light #a gathering of shadows #kell maresh #shades of magic #v e schwab #lila bard #delilah bard #kellila

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beebrainedstudios · 3 years

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A Few Notes About ADSOM’s Writing/Themes Type Stuff

Because I’m in the mood to ramble and have a few opinions about some smaller things in the series that I actually think are really cool/smart writing. This is all personal opinion and is based on a bunch of half-formed thoughts and realizations, so if you disagree or think I missed something, please know I probably did, I’m just jotting this down for fun and have not fully explored all these concepts yet. They just seem neat at first glance. Also, other books have probably done some of this stuff too; I’m not saying Schwab is the only one who’s done any of this stuff, I’m just saying that it’s cool that it’s in ADSOM.

- First of all, props to Schwab for Alucard. I know there have been plenty of authors who have brought new characters in later in a series with no prior warning, but I have rarely seen one so immediately popular and gripping in a trilogy as Alucard except for Finnick from the Hunger Games. Alucard’s introduction doesn’t come at the cost of another character (as in, he’s not there to make someone who’s supposed to be bad look even worse) and his arc doesn’t supersede anyone else’s. He’s great, and the fact that he is generally considered part of the main group despite being introduced a whole book later is awesome and a testament to his character.

- Sort-of connected to the previous point, but I think one of the reasons Alucard works so well is that he doesn’t have a giant arc. Everyone else in the series has a fairly complex internal conflict going on (excluding Lila, but she still has a long arc even if it’s shallow) and Alucard does too, but his is one that suits his shorter presence in the story; he doesn’t have to become king/learn to stop running from responsibility/change allegiances every five minutes. He just has to figure out how to confess a painful secret to several people who aren’t willing to listen. Schwab, especially in ADSOM, isn’t afraid to give characters different size arcs at different times; if you graphed them all, it wouldn’t be a bunch of near-identical lines that could be mistaken for one, it’d be a bunch of crazy curves that start and end at different times and reach different heights. When authors who have larger casts do this, it instantly makes the story twice as engaging. Alucard’s just a good example of this.

- I know this one’s a bit more controversial, but Kell/Lila actually has a lot of narrative potential for Threads of Power. In the main series, it’s framed against Rhy/Alucard, which is already an established relationship (even if it took a break) where the two characters know each other well; this is why, once Alucard can confirm he never meant to leave, the two get back together relatively smoothly and happily. Their relationship is much more matured than Kell and Lila’s, which is why Kell/Lila’s chemistry can sometimes read as a little strange (at least to me), and why I don’t think it’s necessarily a perfect relationship just yet. Lila is a very strong personality with a bit of a demanding streak; Kell in turn has a massive problem with caving to others and refusing to stand up for himself (I’m gonna talk about this later). Left unchecked, this will become a problem, but if addressed in Threads of Power, it can lead to two really engaging arcs with Kell learning he does not have to be everyone’s emotional punching bag and with Lila learning that it isn’t enough to just stay in a relationship- there has to be give and take, something she hasn’t demonstrated well yet. Maybe they’ll even take a break in Threads of Power to give the pair time to mature (I’m personally rooting for Alucard and Kell to somehow get stuck together while Lila gets stuck with Rhy). IDK, I think Kell/Lila is cool, especially when taken as a work in progress over a fully fledged relationship.

- This is part of the previous point and part of the following one, but I think the fact that Kell’s personality and problems are largely focused on his tendency to avoid conflict is a really cool idea for a protagonist, especially a man (note that I’m not calling him weak here). This may not sound like Kell’s personality, but let me explain. Kell is insanely noncombative, and almost everything he does to try and solve a problem reads to me as him actively trying to avoid confronting someone about it. “I don’t feel like part of the royal family because I have no princely attributes despite being one in name, and while I acknowledge I’m lucky I still can’t get rid of these feelings”- Smuggles instead of talking to the Maresh (he tried with Rhy and Lila and look how that turned out). “I’m feeling pent-up because I almost died multiple times in less than twenty-four hours/have trauma and am being punished with isolation/no longer even being called a son despite the fact my magic acts up when this happens”- Competes in the Essen Tasch instead of talking to Maxim. “I hate you because you hurt my brother’s feelings when you abandoned him and I had to pick up the pieces”- Consistently antagonizes Alucard instead of really confronting him/letting him explain himself because that would mean that Kell’s ingrained-trained protectiveness of Rhy has caused another problem. Kell is a character who seems very proud and sure of himself, but when one looks closer, he actually has very little confidence. He has no self-respect, and that sets him up great for his narrative foil- Holland.

- Holland and Kell have a complex narrative relationship as two very well developed foils, and a lot of this has been addressed by the fandom before, but one of the most interesting points I haven’t seen much of is their thematic exploration of respect vs pride. Holland is a character who doesn’t like himself- this much is obvious- but while he takes no pride in his own actions, he has an insane amount of self-respect. He has to be literally forced into following another’s will, he doesn’t let other people’s opinions get himself down, he gives as good as he gets always no matter how hard it is. Holland has to be beaten into submission, and even then he simmers with righteous anger over it because he knows he should get to make his own choices. Holland has self-respect; I may hate myself, but that doesn’t mean I will let you disrespect me.

Meanwhile, Kell is a people-pleaser who puts on a facade of confidence who never actually uses it. Kell has pride in himself- in things like his magic, his coat, his wit- but he doesn’t actually have a lot of self-respect. He folds to anyone who is more demanding than him (AKA everyone else in the series), and the other characters abuse this constantly. Rhy, whether he means to or not, uses his influence over Kell to keep him from standing up to the Maresh over their constantly-shifting parenting positions. Maxim and Emira use their affection and respect like bait to get Kell to do what they want even when he’s uncomfortable. Lila can yell at Kell about his upbringing or accuse him of overprotectiveness (sometimes fairly, sometimes not) and Kell will simply stop talking. Kell just lets this happen; he doesn’t ever stand up for himself because he has been convinced things are usually his fault. I may like myself just fine, but I will let you walk all over me because it’s not my place to stop you and I’m probably the problem and also I shouldn’t have wanted XYZ in the first place. It doesn’t matter how much Kell debates with himself if he started the conflict or if he rails against the way he’s addressed- as long as Kell isn’t respected by his loved ones or the people around him, he won’t respect himself, and that is simultaneously really interesting and really, really sad.

- Also on the Holland and Kell front, Holland using Kell as the metaphorical scapegoat for his issues makes perfect sense, especially since I think he actually knows he isn’t in the right. Kell is often in places where Holland is at least uncomfortable and at worst in pain, and he is the tangible representation of Red London, the world Holland hates most of all. I’m convinced Holland’s brain put two and two together, which is why Holland often punishes/hurts/hates Kell for Red London’s systemic issues even when it is obvious to everyone involved Kell isn’t to blame. Holland lashes out at Kell in their first meeting because he’s offended that Red London is successful and White London is not; this isn’t Kell’s fault. He blames Kell for a)killing him and b)killing the Danes and stealing his vengeance; this also isn’t Kell’s fault. He even seems to get a little bit of satisfaction over the idea of sicking Osaron on Red London through Kell, despite the fact that making a deal with Osaron wasn’t Kell’s idea either; it was Holland’s (Kell didn’t have a choice to kill him and didn’t think he’d survive, but Holland still seems to interpret it as Kell banishing him to Black London, even though he would absolutely do the same thing in his shoes). Holland is a very angry person and Kell is unfortunately put in his way a lot, but I still think it’s neat that the very-rational Holland seems to have an awareness that this behavior isn’t fair/has unfair intentions but still is unwilling to stop anyway. He’s using this grudge as a coping mechanism and that feels really realistic to me.

- Minor point here, but the knowledge that eye color and stuff is incredibly varied and changes with magic use makes my little artist heart very happy indeed.

- I’m a big Osaron fan, and one of the things about him that I think is really cool is how completely unconcerned with revenge he is. Yes, he holds grudges against the Antari, but he doesn’t seem to care that he got locked in Black London for centuries. He has taken no personal offense over it, and that makes him seem even more inhuman to me- Holland spent like six hours in Black London and he carried that grudge for ages. Also, his complete certainty that he was not going to repeat the Black Plague in Red London is hilarious to me- he’s like a dog that keeps knocking its toy somewhere it can’t reach because it doesn’t compute that repeating the same action will always have the same result. Surely this won’t go wrong again, Osaron thinks, as the world once again starts dying off. He’s kind of an idiot, and I love that.

- The fact that Kamerov is both a knight and silver themed during a time when Rhy is throwing himself into his role as the Golden Prince may be unintentional, but is still cool nonetheless.

#i may reblog this later with more if i have any other revelations #but for now this will do #adsom #a darker shade of magic #shades of magic #ve schwab #agos #a gathering of shadows #a conjuring of light #acol #adsom theory #adsom headcanon #bee rambles #alucard emery #rhy maresh #kell maresh #lila bard #holland vosijk

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beebrainedstudios · 3 years

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Hello! Could you tell me more about how you interpret/headcanon the sentient magic in Darker shades of magic? I read some of yours posts and I'm fascinated by the concept

Hi, and thank you! I'm glad you've found my theories interesting! This may be a little bit long and rambling, as I’m still nailing out just how I interpret the magic in this series. Some of this I came up with on the spot and some of it’s torn from previous posts, so if I later change things or contradict myself, that’s why. Enjoy!

So, magic is canonically implied to have some sort of will in the series. As Kell says it’s alive, even if it isn’t alive in quite the same way that people are, and it seems to express some sort of comprehension in the way that it has the potential to resist, act out, or flee (as is the case in White London). It seems to have the capacity to think and possess an agenda too, such as when Kell was able to perform spells he technically shouldn’t have (As Travars-ing while under the influence of a royal sword); the magic “let him in,” with the implication being it was because he asked it instead of commanding it. Now, I don’t think it’s sentient in the same way that Osaron is- it’s more like a force made of the threads of power, acting naturally, but with enough understanding to show favor or distaste. It’s not organic, it doesn’t think organically, but it can perceive and respond.

However, this kind of magic isn’t the only kind. I like to think that magic in ADSOM occurs in different types. First, there’s natural magic, the kind discussed above that is present everywhere and in everything. This kind of magic is sort of like a blanket that covers each world. Before the Split, it was able to move between each world, but regardless of where it’s from, magic develops a different “personality” depending on its relationship with the local people. Natural magic has a symbiotic relationship with humans that is supposed to be mutualistic- the magic gets used (which is its primary motivation) and people reap the benefits. In a stable world where this is happening, magic moves swiftly and readily interacts with people. However, in worlds where this relationship is disrupted (such as in Grey where it isn’t used) or where magic is abused (such as in White where magic is needed so much that they bind it), it has a tendency to leave or wither. In short, it won’t stay in a hostile or poor environment.

All people also have their own specific magic, which is really just their personal store of power that’s used whenever they cast spells and whatnot. This varies tremendously based on age, skill, luck, and other factors, but every person has access to different elements or spell types (Runes vs enchanting objects, for example). The scent also varies with each person, but only those who are well equipped in tracking magic or Antari are usually able to distinguish it.

Then there’s oshoc- AKA Osaron and Vitari. There’s no specific definition for them, but I’m going to define them as a separate chunk of magic that originated from a source and is capable of learning; basically a magic AI. Now, the books are vague on Osaron’s origins; magic appeared in Black London one day, but refused to interact with people until it grew lonely and bored enough to seek them out, and this is when Osaron first appears. Now, I’m going to take it a step further and say this was when Osaron was actually born; natural magic had already appeared, but a separate piece of it broke off due to a new desire and ceased being everywhere and in everything so it could be its own contained entity. So, Osaron can act independently of natural magic and actually works by manipulating the threads of power; he’s a catalyst that can manipulate the “equations” of spells, starting them or stopping them or changing them around. However, he still has the same innate desire to interact and change that natural magic has. He also made the Vitari stone, which is where Vitari comes from- it later developed a consciousness that is much less developed than Osaron (it is actively learning during ADSOM) but still focused on spreading and being used. As a general rule of thumb, an oshoc is able to use any magic no matter what kind it is- there’s not so much a symbiotic relationship there as a system they can access at any time. For humans, it’s a relationship; for oshoc, it’s a bunch of threads to be moved, as they don’t differentiate between natural magic or themselves and natural magic doesn’t either. All oshoc also rely on other sources of power to “jump-start” their own, typically in the form of the worlds' magic or humans.

Spells and enchanted objects are not magic- they are manipulations of magic that draw on its power, essentially chemical equations in magical chemistry, if that makes sense. So no will, no agenda, nothing- they’re just actions, but they can affect natural magic and oshoc. Normal spells are generally viewed positively by natural magic as a sign of use, but things like binding runes and the collar are seen as threats. Most spells are allowed or even aided by magic- meaning they are used easily- but anyone with a strong enough will or power will be able to use magic regardless of whether or not magic “likes” it (such as Athos with Vitari).

Finally, there’s Antari. Being a mixture of man and magic, natural magic has an innate connection with them that usually amounts to mutual affection for both parties. This bond is always present even when passive, and allows Antari to sense magic much more easily than normal humans; it is also what is responsible for the instinctual urge to travel and need to use their magic often. Antari feel a pull towards strong magic that can be compared to warmth in a cold room. The bond is stronger when an Antari likes their magic and tries to connect with it- this is why Kell (and Rowan) are typically favored by magic and allowed to get away with impossible spells, while characters like Lila or Holland have to put a little more work into it. There are a few drawbacks to this connection though, most notably a weakness in magic-poor areas and a vulnerability to oshoc, which directly prey on this connection in order to possess them. Due to the strength of this connection, humans placing large scale attacks on Antari can draw magic's ire, leading to storms and disasters as magic wields the elements to make a point. This generally only occurs when extremely powerful Antari are killed or when they die in large numbers though. On a smaller scale, it is common for flowers to grow in any earth that Antari blood touches, and an Antari's sour mood can summon rain or wind.

A few other random thoughts on the subject:

The reason Osaron and Vitari can possess Antari while Astrid can’t is due to their access to magic’s threads- oshoc can hijack the Antari-magic connection to more easily enter a mind than a human would be able to.

Examples of natural magic’s “favor;” Kell As Travars-ing while stabbed by a royal-half sword and Holland instinctually learning Antari spells with no prior knowledge of them.

It’s magic itself that Holland hears calling him when he dies.

The black plague is not a kind of magic, it’s a virus-like thing that overtakes and corrupts magic until it excites itself into nothing. Osaron is not solely capable of making it and does not consciously do so. The plague simply appears when magic is too strong and being manipulated too much; Osaron tends to cause it due to his power levels and overindulgence in using magic, but anybody powerful and overly-eccentric enough could theoretically cause it too. Oshoc however are immune.

Oshoc have access to the threads of power and can instinctively use them, but they must naturally learn about everything else, which is why neither Vitari nor Osaron had any idea what was going on when they first went to Red London. This is also why they lack many human social traits and are so easily confused by human behavior. That being said, there are some spells they can use for shortcuts, such as automatically translating things (Osaron does it in ACOL).

Osaron also feels an innate appreciation for Antari like magic does, but his consciousness also allows him to be annoyed with him; while he’d like to befriend them all, he doesn’t mind getting rid of them if they aren’t willing to do the same.

Neither natural magic nor oshoc really have any moral drive. The latter could theoretically be taught morals, but they don't look at things the same way people do, so there's less internal pressure to behave than there is for them to cast spells. Like everything else, it would be a learning curve.

And that's all I've got for now! I realize I may have strayed slightly outside the topic of the sentient magic specifically; my apologies! I guess I just got excited writing about everything and how the magic systems connect. Enjoy!

#this ended up way bigger than intended #oops #adsom #a darker shade of magic #shades of magic #adsom theory #adsom headcanons #bee rambles #ask bee #bee asks

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beebrainedstudios · 3 years

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A Thought on Threads of Power

This is all wishful thinking here, but one of the things I would love in Threads of Power is for Lila and Osaron to interact. Hear me out:

These two have such an interesting set of parallels in ADSOM because they’re practically the same character- an extremely powerful individual who grows bored easily to the point of travelling through worlds, who is capable of forming close relationships but is unable to keep them due to an inability to settle, who frequently runs over others in their haste to get what they want because they have no grasp of consequences and no impulse control. Osaron wasn’t kidding when he showed Lila the whole mirror thing; whether or not she actually took his power, he is the example of what Lila looks like on a grand scale. Powerful, erratic, and reckless, with the strength to do great good or great evil.

Schwab has said that an “unkillable king” will return for Threads of Power (Also, she said every character who survived ACOL is gonna make an appearance). While this could in theory be Rhy, he isn’t actually unkillable, and with the likelihood that somehow the world gates are going to split/be messed with in this series (it seems the next logical step up in stakes), Osaron’s probably going to show up as the maguffin/goober/magical object. I highly doubt he’ll be the main antagonist again, since that was already his role in two books. Wouldn’t it be neat if instead, he and Lila kinda... teamed up?

Consider: Lila and Osaron arguably haven’t started any huge character arcs yet (this isn’t a criticism, Holland didn’t really have one either); their situations have changed, but they are largely the same as when they started mentally and emotionally. But, what if Lila started to feel bad about how the final fight ended? Kell lost half his magic, Rhy lost his family, and Holland died. She didn’t really lose anything; she instead got everything she wanted. Lila’s relationship with Kell is largely “I take, you give,” (again, not a criticism of Lila, this is an interesting way for a character relationship to start out), but if she realized this, it would not only improve the pair’s relationship dynamic- it could also put her in place to make some cool plot points happen.

What if she started to wonder if she could get Kell’s magic back? She’s had the least direct contact with Osaron, so she probably isn’t as afraid of him as the rest of the group. She wouldn’t like him, but would probably assume working with him is a necessary sacrifice. Maybe she tries to release him in order to have Kell’s magic return to him or to have Osaron repair the damage. It’s a decision that’s still perfectly in character (Lila does a thing impulsively without telling anyone or completely thinking it through), but it could help kick-start some other plot points. Osaron likely wouldn’t be at full strength yet (he seems to take a while to “start up” in the series), so maybe Lila tries to negotiate with him in return for not re-Inheritoring him or something.

IDK, there’s obviously some logical issues in the idea that would need to be ironed out, but the idea of a Lila and Osaron plotline that sort-of paralleled the Kell and Holland one sounds like a lot of fun, especially if both characters end up growing through it. Bonus points if there’s a fight scene where the two are teamed up, and they just tear through the enemy while Kell and the rest of the cast watch in disapproval/horror, and at the end Lila and Osaron just kinda look at each other and shrug.

Man, now I want to write this.

#i need an osaron tag since most of the fandom just seems kinda chill with him #while im over here loving the mean magic man #but yeah wishful thinking here #all i want in ToP is some fun character development and dynamics #especially with lila because her concept/role in the story is RIPE with potential #threads of power #adsom #a darker shade of magic #adsom theory #adsom headcanon #adsom au #lila bard #osaron #kell maresh #ve schwab #so i guess like the black magic buddies au but with more knives and drama #any thoughts?#or any asks about this?#i think its a fun idea

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beebrainedstudios · 3 years

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Random Thought/Theory/Headcanon Here

Not sure if everyone agrees, but I personally believe Kell’s smuggling habits were caused by two things:

A. Kell’s magic not being used enough (like Jesper’s from SOC). Kell’s elemental magic is used fairly often, but its implied in the first book that Kell only gets to As Travars (the main ability of an Antari) roughly once a month or sometimes even less than that. It would make sense that this, in combination with Kell’s innate restlessness and lack of other outlets, would leave him with the urge to “take” little beacons of magic (AKA stuff) from other Londons in order to fill this instinctual need for foreign magic. Lila also shows this trait, as she takes things like the pirate map for no other reason than she felt compelled to do it, and she herself is restless, thieving, and incapable of staying in one place for long. Holland doesn’t act the same way, but his magic’s always suppressed and its implied to take a physical toll on his health, so he may have the same issue and just not recognize it.

B. Maxim and Emira’s parenting. This one is fairly obvious; thanks to his adoptive parents, Kell;

-Has no personal wealth (aside from his coat/smuggled items, which he is extremely possessive of).

- Believes his self-worth is exclusively tied to the other Londons and the letters he carries through them.

- Feels uncomfortable discussing his emotional discomfort with them.

It’s really telling both of the Maresh’s family dynamics and Kell’s own character that rather than confront Maxim or Emira about his “role” in the family, Kell chooses to smuggle. Smuggling is not confrontational and doesn’t affect the Maresh at all (excluding the Vitari stone, which was part of a plot), and Kell never expresses a desire to rebel through it. Kell only smuggles things he knows will be safe (again excluding Vitari; he was drunk and didn’t necessarily accept, he just got given it), so he’s treating it as responsibly as possible, and he never tries to move bigger or more magical items. He only takes small things he can treasure and hide somewhere just for himself. It’s important to note that out of every way Kell could choose to “act out,” Kell choose the direct extension of his job. I’d imagine, since Kell never gets paid or given anything specific as a direct response to serving as the Londons’ mailman (most of his stuff is supposedly given to him by virtue of his place as a son), that the smuggled items are Kell’s form of “payment” for traveling. He wants his job to be treated like one rather than just “a thing our adopted son can and will do at our convenience,” but not even Rhy seems to see it as a full job rather than a chore like sweeping or dusting. Kell travels and it isn’t rewarded or acknowledged, therefore Kell tries to do those things himself.

In short, it’s obviously a coping mechanism and Kell seems very aware of this.

Now, headcanon time: it’s likely that in AGOS, after having his smuggling outlet cut off, Kell takes up directly stealing or even pickpoketing like Lila. At that point, Kell’s job is no longer just ignored; he is explicitly punished for his traveling through being humiliated with the guards and searches, and he can’t do anything to liven up the task or make it interesting. He’s no longer a prince in the royals’ eyes; he’s a tool that is used without ever being rewarded for it. The only sense of relief Kell seems to get from traveling is a temporary satisfaction of the need to use his magic, but even then he still uses it less than before. Because of that and the loss of his other “payment” in the fire, Kell gets more aggressive (and he starts to have magic outbursts) and begins to have the desire to rebel. But, being as nonconfrontational and self-aware as he is, Kell doesn’t get violent. Instead, stuff probably starts to go missing around the palace, particularly the King and Queen’s things. One of Emira’s rings, a buckle from Maxim’s armor, coins, accessories like scarves and jewelry, even metal inlays from the walls. Kell never takes from staff or Rhy, but Maxim and Emira’s stuff is right there and he can’t help himself. Anything he takes is eventually returned, but until then Kell hides it in his side room or his coat, the two places people can’t access without permission. It’s his little way of trying to convince himself he controls what he carries, even if it isn’t true.

Summary: Kell smuggles because he isn’t using his magic enough and because Maxim and Emira’s parenting makes it the only reward he can get for traveling. Also, in AGOS Kell loses his status, his ability to smuggle, and all of the things he kept before, so out of frustration he would probably start stealing from Maxim and Emira in order to feel better.

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beebrainedstudios · 3 years

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ADSOM Worldbuilding Headcanon/Theory?: The History of Magic

I’m just gonna jot down a few interesting thoughts I’ve been developing recently since I think some people might find it interesting. It’s a pinch out there (it’s a mixture of a headcanon and theory after all, with some extrapolation of canon mixed in). Specifically, this centers around Arnes, their religious practices, and how it may all be linked to Osaron. To summarize it for all those not eager for a rambling two-part hot-take, Osaron was actually originally considered a god, and after his magic began to infect the worlds, Red London began a desperate campaign of reverence in order to avoid becoming like their hollowed-out neighbor.

If you want the details, read below. This is going to be long and need to be divided into chunks to post, so here’s the first part; a complete history of magic in the Londons and how Osaron started it all! Spoiler warning for all of the books and the short stories in the collector’s editions! Enjoy!

Part 1: The History of the Worlds and Osaron

Here’s how I think a) things went down between the worlds and b) how Osaron came into play.

Osaron appears fairly early in the collective Londons’ history; according to one of the short stories, he appeared first in Black London, offering magic and help to people in return for attention (he’s lonely and looking for people to talk to). After being rudely rejected a few times, he finally meets a kid who’s skipping stones by the river that wants his help; Osaron ends up giving him what is implied to be the Vitari stone, and magic enters the world and spreads outwards.

This is all canon, but afterwards is where things get interesting.

So, Black London is described as the strongest magic center in the worlds, and of course it is. Osaron isn’t going to just fade into nothing after appearing there- he’s looking for attention and he plans to get it. Therefore, as magic is discovered, he reveals himself and his involvement before planting himself as the god of magic across the worlds (he knows there’s more even before Antari appear). He doesn’t try to impose upon the existing religions, but rather makes himself a separate piece, like a pseudo-head of state that aides all of the worlds and answers to none of them. Give me your adoration, he says, I’ll give you magic, and for the formerly magicless populations this is an easy request to fill; why not worship the figure that just revealed literal new worlds to you?

It’s important to note that Osaron isn’t magic itself by now; he’s an oshoc, a separate chunk of it that developed its own will (in the same short story it is said magic had existed a while before Osaron but wasn’t available to humans until he formed; they seem to be the same at this point, but by the time Osaron appears in the main storyline he and true magic, AKA natural magic, have split apart). Therefore, his desires aren’t necessarily the same as true magic’s by this point and neither are his powers, but he still can access the threads of power at any time, anywhere. I can’t get into exactly how I think the magic system in ADSOM works here, but to summarize it’s kind of like chemistry; the threads of power are like chemical bonds and when they move, form, or break, you get a reaction. Osaron is a sort of catalyst for these reactions- he can’t produce power purely on his own as he needs activation energy in the form of nearby magic to work, but once he has it, he can take over the threads around him and greatly increase/decrease the level of magic reactions and control how they form. In short, he feeds on a bit of magic and then produces a whole bunch of it, influencing it in the process.

This works out great for the newly magical Black London and its relationship with Osaron and magic as a whole. They start using magic and Osaron feeds on it, which in turn allows him to produce more magic for the public to fawn over. Black London develops rapidly into a huge city of power, with Osaron serving as both its source and as the original link between magic and man. Then Antari start popping up and everyone’s delighted- Osaron in particular- as there can now be more open access to the other worlds (He isn’t having to facilitate all of it- even if it’s possible for normal people at this point to jump, it’s still extremely dangerous and better left to the experts). Antari quickly become a new figment of this magic-man social structure (which has spread to the other worlds by now); most of them end up working under Osaron as messengers or priests. Osaron becomes the god of magic and Antari and is treated as a sort-of saint; he uses his magic to improve the worlds and sends his Antari followers to heal people and practice general philanthropy, while in return people worship him, magic itself, and the Antari he “created.” Everything’s great for many, many years until the black magic plague starts spreading; Osaron essentially got too excited and began to burn up more magic than the world could handle (the catalyst can no longer keep the reaction from running too hot?) and as a result things start to “glassify” in the same manner we see in the books.

Naturally, this doesn’t go over well and people start fleeing Black London before trying to seal it off. Osaron becomes the figure of nightmares instead of the former saint, and after the world is sealed he starts acting that way too, tearing at the worlds’ magic and trying to pull it back into Black London- he’s angry now, offended, and more importantly, stuck. With less and less magic coming in, Osaron has nothing to amplify. He keeps burning up the magic in Black London until it’s gone and he quite literally powers down; however, it takes a while to get that way, and he can still access the threads and see the other worlds from a distance for some time after the split.

Then the Antari start dying.

After the worlds seal Black London off, they start trying to fight the plague, and while they do blame flies in all directions. The conclusion all three come to is that it’s somehow the Antari’s fault. Never mind that they had no idea Osaron would lose control, or that some of them weren’t even involved with his group of messengers. They start getting killed, and each world’s government justifies it with the premise that the other worlds were doing it to. Adding insult to injury is White London’s discovery of the rejuvenating qualities of Antari blood, which leads to a new fever to hunt them down as people begin to feel the world’s magic wearing out.

Osaron sees all of this, and he can only watch. He may not care for humans by now courtesy of the whole sealed-off thing, but Antari aren’t human, and they had been his companions and aides for decades. He’s seen generations of them come and go, but now he has to watch them all get slaughtered from his throne, with no strength left to stop it. It’s not just that the Antari die either, but what they stand for; people adoring magic like they were supposed to. Now it’s almost gone. This bloodlust is one of the last things he sees before he slips into unconsciousness (or whatever his equivalent is), and it’s horrible, the last straw before he decides he has no fondness for humans left at all.

Meanwhile, the worlds are now at a crossroads; magic has just turned on them. It affects them differently; as such, they take different courses of action.

Grey London had the least Antari and the least magic in general at the time of the plague- after all, they were the furthest away from the source and most independent. They don’t need magic to survive. So, they seal themselves off first with the last of their strength and choose to forget about the whole ordeal; magic is evil, and from now on they’ll stick with their original religions and leave Osaron and the other worlds out of it. There aren’t enough Antari there to kill in any great numbers, but those that remain there still choose to lay low and abandon their past, afraid that if they don’t, they’ll end up like their brethren from Red and White. Grey simply ditches their magic, and without constant use, it does so in kind.

Red is still scrambling from the new influx of Antari and Osaron’s influence starting to appear- they only have small outbreaks of the plague forming, but there are a lot of them and they are spread out all throughout the city and countryside. They don’t have the means to present a large-scale response beyond problem mitigation, so White is the second world to fight back in a united front. It, quite literally, is a war along the boundaries of the worlds, fighting the spread of the glassy black substance Osaron created; even as Osaron himself grows weaker, it still spreads, feeding off of the magic in the land it overtakes and corrupting it until it withers. Magic in turn starts to flee from it, beginning its flight from White, and as the world begins to notice, things like the binding runes and Antari killing start to become much more common. People start approaching magic as something to be conquered, and between them and the plague it chooses not to die, but to run, disappearing deep into the earth. White already had a colder climate than the other worlds, but this retreat ends up sealing its doom. People needed the magic to survive the harsh weather, but the magic’s running out, so when people try to bind magic to them so they can actually use it, it flees further away. It’s an endless cycle. In a matter of months, White London is in perpetual winter, and with few Antari left to mind the seal on Black London, the plague continues to spread, wearing down the world until it's on its last legs.

Meanwhile, Red has started suffering an overexposure to magic- the weather warms and things seem to brighten. However, everyone knows where this new magic is coming from- White- and it runs the risk of bringing the plague or its “dislike” of humans to their own world’s magic. They hold out for a while, all of White’s magic slowly trickling through the boundaries as they do, before Red’s leaders finally decide to seal White off. It’s a wretched decision, but all present agree they have no choice, as there isn’t a clear way to funnel the magic back through, and all are wary of causing it to “fight back” by attempting to push it back into White. How this swell of new magic affects Red will be addressed in a later post, but the biggest takeaway from it here is it changes the climate to be warmer and causes people to be more wary of it. White of course is betrayed by this decision, which leads to the perpetual hatred it carries of the Red world, but they can’t do anything to stop it- neither side has many Antari left to repair the damage, and things are simply left to settle.

Life goes on for a few hundred years, with each world slowly settling into its new lifestyle, and then the canon storyline starts up. As we know, Kell finds the Vitari rock, kills Holland for the first time (RIP poor guy, I can’t believe I had to specify which time) and throws them both back into Black London. This is when Osaron comes back into play. By now he’s as close to dead as an immortal thing can be and almost completely inactive, but when Holland arrives, a new, minuscule vein of magic reenters Black London. Osaron grabs onto this power and starts leeching it out of Holland, using it to liven both of them enough to chat. As we also know, neither of them can survive long in this state, as one Antari is not enough to fuel Osaron for very long; even a half-starved world would be better, as Osaron can forcefully drag the magic back out of the earth. The two make their deal and return to White, but things start going wrong long before Osaron starts showing signs of boredom. See, Osaron lost sight of the worlds a few decades before the canon storyline starts, and coming back into them, he’s almost horrified at what the humans have done with things. Red London’s playing it safe, White London’s resorted to horrible things and restraining magic in order to survive, and Grey London has forgotten magic almost completely. As far as Osaron’s concerned, this is just further proof that humans shouldn’t be in charge or even equals with magic, and that it should be the other way around.

Equally aggravating is the fact here’s only three Antari who are active by now, and none of them are in good shape. Holland, his current host, has been attacked on more than three separate occasions due to his power, has been enslaved using magic, and has no care for his own power or self. Kell is an easily manipulated and neglected people-pleaser who was forced to kill the only other Antari he knew of due to- in Osaron’s eyes- silly kingdom politics, who also has no past memories due to having them forcibly removed with magic after he was sold to the royal family. Lila didn’t even know magic existed despite the fact she had it right at her fingertips, which could have made her life less of a nightmare considering she had to starve on the streets. Here are three of the only Antari left, surviving victims of a near extinction all of the worlds agree was a mistake, and they have all been either used or abandoned (in Kell’s case, both). There is respect given only to one of them, and it comes with mistrust and the condition that he has to help the royal family.

Osaron’s frankly disgusted with the treatment of the Antari, all things considered, especially since none of them even remember who he was. Whatever he had that passed for a moral code (I’m personally fond of the idea that it’s remarkably similar to a wild animal’s- “I can do it, you can’t, so it’s fair”) has gone out the window, so it’s not like he cares about them personally anymore- otherwise things like the collar scene wouldn’t have happened. But he wants the way things used to be back, and this goes to show how things have changed in terms of the power structures in the worlds; it used to be man and magic together, with Osaron at the top, then the Antari, then humans. Now, Osaron’s been taken out of the picture and humans have wrestled with magic for power while shoving Antari to the bottom, and Osaron’s having none of it. He decides he’s going to put things back in order, and if he has to take over everyone to do it, so be it. He doesn’t mind possessing the Antari either; they don’t remember him anyway, and they’ll be much better off when he rules the worlds again and can bring them back into power. Maybe people die, maybe Antari do, but at the end of the day he’ll have his perfect worlds back and things will go back to his normal.

Then plot happens.

I know I didn’t list a lot of in-canon evidence for this theory-thing; it’s all kind of scattered around and I didn’t want to bog down the timeline, so here’s a short list of my thought processes with some canon things;

- Antari were nearly killed off because they were associated with the plague. There could more to that beyond “black eye=Black London,” especially if there seems to be some distinction between good magic and bad magic that is completely unrelated to Antari as a whole.

- Osaron unabashedly considers himself a god for no explained reason in the books, and he just... has a throne and castle? In the middle of Black London? Why not give all of that some history?

- White London’s ultra-cold climate is paralleled by Red London’s pleasant warm one, which in turn reflects their magic levels. Who’s to say Red London didn’t absorb some of the fleeing magic and warmth from White, which would give a bit more credence to Makt’s “you stole everything from us and left us to starve” belief.

- There is a running theme in the books about how Antari are used by the royalty of the worlds. Let’s bring Osaron into that, but have him actually reference the fact Antari are part magic, which could play a part in his justification for possessing them and getting to rule them and people too.

There’s more, but here’s just a few examples.

So yeah, I know this rant is horribly clunky (I am not good at summarizing ideas at all) so I’m happy to elaborate in asks for people- I just had this thought process bouncing around in my head and I wanted to put it down somewhere. Osaron and the magic itself are so cool in ADSOM and they could have had so much more depth in the book. Hopefully you all found this interesting, congrats on reading this far! Hopefully I can put up another part later about what happened to Red London and how they were affected, I’d like to give it a little more depth than just “more magic=happier London with wasteful tendencies.”

Summary: Osaron used to be the multi-world “god” of magic, Antari used to be worshiped as demigod figures, and then the plague happened and things got ugly, especially for the Antari who got stuck in the middle.

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