Y’all. I finished Kingdom of Ash, and all I have to say is: where the fuck is our Aelin?! WE NEED HER! Hell, I’d settle for a shape-shifting imposter right now.
As much as I rolled my eyes in the first seven books, Sarah Janet had a point with the whole “symbols have power” refrain. We could really use one to rally our forces right about now.
A major theme of this book (and series) was the strength of hope. Before this book, I’d never thought of hope is the antidote to fear, but there’s totally something there! Fear goes hand in hand with hopelessness and helplessness. I found this article that touches on the idea that hope and fear may be two faces of the same primal emotion.
I am wallowing in my “live, laugh, toaster bath” era and need someone to show me the way out. I had no idea I’d sunk so deep that my hope all washed away. Sarah J Maas’s characters brilliantly use symbols to spread needed hope because they know that’s their only path (however unlikely) to victory.
“Despair has to be a transitional phase. It cannot be the terminus.”
-Bowen Yang
Of course this has turned me to my new love of poetry and I found these works by iconic poets. I went so far that I just got my hands on the audiobook of Barack Obama’s The Audacity of Hope. Get ready for a shift in content from seasonal depressive Sylvia Plath to bordering-on-toxic-positivity optimistic perspectives.
I mean you cannot tell me that Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” couldn’t have been written about Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius.
The idea of hope has been following me in the universe. Peep this passage from the final act of Brynne Weaver’s Scythe & Sparrow which I just read this week.
tl;dr: America needs an Aelin
tbh probably someone not seeking office so they can speak freely and not have their hands-tied by polls.
Hyper-fixation du jour: facials
I recently got a Glowbar membership. I’d never had a facial before, but really want to take good care of my skin. So far no regrets. I really think Glowbar is the best bang for your buck if you’re a skin-care novice looking for a little self-care.
It’s $65/month for the membership (3 month commitment required). One facial a month is included in the membership, then discounts on products and additional services. But a $65 facial plus tip (IN NYC) is a good deal! Yeah I have to wash my own face before and it’s only 30 min (mine have both run a little over so far), but I’m feeling great!
Who knows if I’ll keep it past the summer, but for now I’m basking in my skin! It’s also been great to learn about my combination skin and an avenue to learn more about the specifics of different products capabilities and my skin’s needs!
If you want to purchase any of the books mentioned in this article, please consider using my affiliate link with my favorite independent book store, The Ripped Bodice, or using my referral link to libro.fm for an audiobook!