TW For somewhat ped0philia
And spoiler warning for Cycle of Fire and mention of Last Herald-Mage
I was enjoying the Cycle Of Fire, but I think I'm drawing the line...
I'm on the 3rd book, and it starts going "Ya, this girl has the power and form of an adult, but in maturity and her actual age she's a child", it has her get frisky. She went through this process of being put in a sort of sleep where she's trained in her dreams, and during such her body aged faster. But on multiple occasions, it still makes it clear she's a child. Not just "She was in a coma for years so while she is an adult, she's mentally a child."
No, it's the opposite. It was in the course of a few days, where her body was put through a fast aging process while she was sleeping to better handle this magic training, but it still makes it clear on multiple occasions that she's a child.
And now in this third book-
Let me share the exact moment I had just put the book down:
Taen traced her fingers along the line of Jaric's collarbone. Gone to the Vaere as a child of ten, she had never known a man. Aside from the premature development that resulted from her mastery, in years and experience she was still very near to a child; but contact with elders on Imrill Kand had influenced the sensitivity that later gave rise to her Dreamwwaver's powers. In some things the girl possessed an understanding far beyond her age. Taen snagged laces of braided gold and deftly began to untie them. "Did I hear you say I was cold? That's a lie."
Her reward was Jaric's quick laugh. "Shrew. I'll change that to no sense of propriety. Will you marry me on Imrill Kand?"
Taen freed the last tie and squirmed to reach his belt. "No." Hands busy, she kissed his chin. "I won't wait that long. Corley can marry us at sea." Sharply she tugged at his buckle.
It seems he tells her they'll wait until their wedding night, but then it says her clothes join his on the deck (they're on a boat).
So...
Gone to the Vaere as a child of ten, she had never known a man.
She was still very near to a child.
In some things the girl possessed an understanding far beyond her age.
The aging of Bella and Edward's daughter was less weird than this! At least it says her maturity grew with her age!
THIS crap says she's still a child in mind, but "mature for her age." Right before she and this guy older than her start shaking the boat!
I was enjoying this book. I loved the concept of this fantasy world actually being on another planet where the humans here don't really know the existence of Earth or how the humans before came from there. And now centuries later the antagonist is the protagonist's brother who was trying to protect her.
It was interesting! And I tried, I tried so dam hard to hope that there wouldn't be a blooming romance with the two main characters. I tried hoping the signs were a fakeout. I tried hoping maybe her brain did go through a growing up process.
This? I'm mad at this. And I'm mad at myself for being so stupid to hope!
And this is a trilogy. I got a 3-in-1 book, I read all of the 1st and 2nd. I loved them! But now I don't wanna finish the third book. I'm just ICKED
Gods dam 1980s books. First Last Herald-Mage with the MC nearing his 40s when he hooks up with a newly 18 year old who's a reincarnation of his dead lover. And now this?
I am peeved!
I don't mind darker stuff in books. I want to get into more mature and darker fantasy.
But when your book randomly starts putting in ped0philia and slapping on "technicalities" to justify it, I back up.