The end of Book 2 - Notes of a newbie (57-65)

Before I begin this post, kindly allow me a moment to scream.

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH- *deep breath* -AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhh... *wheeze* aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

I don't know if that was sufficient but it will have to do for now.

57-58

Ah, what a beautiful chapter this was. Definitely one of the wise chapters that teaches a lesson that's tied through the rest of the series......... Speaking of which... Oskar mentioning the title of the book makes me raise my eyebrows at Andrew Peterson. Surely, sir, you are required to have an awful combover and a tattoo that says "I love books" when you're old an ancient. It is now your requirement, I don't make the rules here.

But for real, what Nia said about magic was a beautiful thing. Magic is real, it's called love. God's love to be precise. Everything in nature you see was made because of love. You looking in the mirror and seeing your reflection, God's love is on every square inch of your being. He made you with such enthusiasm and joy. The truth rings true, His love is the real magic.

Past this cheerful moment we hear about the sea dragon young that were hunted for their flesh and scales... A despicable thing addressed more later.

Podo, you deserve a big smack for disrespecting your daughter to smooth things over with Gammon, whose I also wished to smack at the time. I mean, at least we got to see Maraly acting like a human being! How exciting... Until she ruined it and joined the "people I wish to smack" list.

Interesting how Leeli and Janner couldn't force a vision, it only came in their time of need. At this point, I still wanted to smack Gammon even after his backstory. I'm sorry your wife died and your child was taken from you but from Janner's and the readers perspective in this chapter, you stayed on our smack list. You were ranking high up there with ridgerunners like Zouzab, son.

This vision Janner had made no sense at the time, I wasn't until the next chapter that I realized this was the perspective of Artham.

59

The picture in page 292 is amazing! Looky at our boy Artham! The good voice prevailed and he whooped those wolves! I look forward to seeing this in the TV series. Red bull truly did give him wings!- sorry not sorry for the joke in such a serious moment. I'm so happy for my favorite character to break free of his chains! Also, he's much sassier than I thought he'd be and I'm here for it. Save the small wolf Tink and fly away!

60

Interesting how the vision Janner was shown that he saw Artham still as Peet. I recognized that Artham swayed back between his true self and his mad self, that being Peet the sock man. Everytime Peet had a moment of insanity, he was referred to as Peet. Whenever his true self shines through, he was referred to as Artham. Janner had only seen small second increments of his uncle being Artham. He knew him more as Peet.

Many people were added to my smack list this day, no matter their sad backstory.

Ah, Timber... You're as crazy as I remember... As... you're in the same living room as me right now. What a noisy dog he is. Howl howl howl. Good grief, I can't tell this dog and the wolf in the story apart... that is also a joke.

YO GUYS ITS THE FLORID SWORD?! GAMMON WAS HIM THE WHOLE TIME?!?¿?¿¿ (Okay so I already knew but thought I'd give you guys a reaction anyway)

And tada, Gammon was actually a good guy after all. I would remove him from my smack list but I'm still bitter... so I'll only remove half of his name. *erases mon* Aha! Now I only have to smack half of his face! Forthwith!

Podo doesn't want to go to the sea. I guess he never found arm floaties that hit his large biceps. Shame.

61

Artham wanting to meet Gammon was kinda wholesome in my opinion. Be best friends, forthwith!

Man, Podo must not really be able to swim...

62-64

Chaos ensues and we discover Podo can actually swim but prefers not to in sea dragon infested waters. Very understandable, I would be scared I might lose a leg or something!... oh... sorry, podo.

All jokes aside, I loved reading all the characters interactions. Leeli is the bravest of them all... I wish I was like her and I'm so much older than her! Suppose this is how the other grown ups felt when she touched the sea dragon's snout.

Artham does a wonderful job of communicating to find a diplomatic approach... but before I continue that thought, I'll shift the focus to Janner, who was handed his now furry brother.

Janner feels the same guilt his uncle felt and in that moment realizes why he had gone mad... Guilt really does that to a person. It did it to me. I know when I came to Christ a few years ago, I carried so much guilt from my past from things I had done. I cried daily over them. What I didn't realize was that God had forgiven me for them and I just had to accept that forgiveness He gave freely. That is the thing that freed Artham Wingfeather. He believed he was forgiven and he believed in what the Maker said of him. I wish I could go back and relive that same realization I so easily forget... Perhaps a reflection is in order for me.

Janner's disgust to hold his brother in this form is no surprise. I understand why he felt that way. Thankfully he still loved his brother dearly despite his horrible choices that ruined him...

But to be the metaphorical tissue to the following paragraphs, is it bad I laughed at Nia when she said, and I quote, "Quiet!" Nia said. "I'm too angry at you to let you die."

And I know it continues but I might quote that in the future because I find it so humorous... I'M TOO ANGRY AT YOU TO LET YOU DIE!

Wow, Podo really hurt many a sea dragon... I felt horrible for poor Hulwen, however, I am thankful for her compassion on an old pirates heart. The poor thing was mangled but saw the hurt of another and put her own hurt aside to forgive him. Props to her for doing the right thing.

Leeli once again is a hero and plays from the First Book the same song in the first book... literally. How beautiful the repetition! Now the dragon gave mercy to Podo for one last trip... which I have a feeling he will indeed die in the later books... This would not be mentioned if it were not true.

As for Kalmar, he awakens as a ravenous grey fang. When told his real name, he flips out and Janner becomes a true throne warden by saving him even when he didn't want to be. Artham of course then saved the two of them... But Janner bled for his brother selflessly.

65

I could of screamed, which I technically did at the beginning of this... Truthfully, I cheered silently in the night at the last of this chapters final sentence. The patience and love and grace shown to Kalmar broke through to him. He remembered who he was. I was ecstatic. However, when I read that his uncle had given up on him... How quickly did he forget what he was like as Peet...? Or perhaps he still has pain to endure that caused him to distance himself from his nephew... Whatever the case, the steady and constant love brought Kalmar back to his senses and for that, I will gladly leave on a happy note.

Thanks for joining me on this journey... I shall have to start reading The Monster in the Hollows soon. Just have to wait for my loyal friend to catch up.