r/schoolforgoodandevil

The title essentially encapsulates how The Woods feels like to me. Even with Soman’s lush and theatrical expressions I found much to wish for in terms of world-building. For instance, the ‘real world‘ which is meant to be Gavaldon is just one village surrounded by clogging wilds which turns out to be just the ‘fairytale world’. It sort of pulls you out of that magic, for me at least, and makes the kidnapping thing duller.

In the second trilogy, all the characters seem to be moving from different kingdoms by foot (aside from Agatha who had used the Igraine once, but it didn’t matter because the same journey she took on the ship was the same that they take eventually later on without any modes of transport) and even when the Coven reach Borna Coric it doesn‘t even take them that long? And they manage to bring Merlin with them on the same day.

It genuinely feels like they’re living in a giant manse with a few rooms and an antechamber. Distance does not seem like a problem to them. Why is that T^T

1. In the movie lesso and Sophie are probably not the first females that rafal has tried to manipulate and brainwash

2. In the movie I believe the book shop lady is lady lessos mother from gavaldon

3. Movie dovey has traits of adhd

4. In the movie, when dovey tells Agatha, there hasn’t been a real princess in a long time, she’s talking about herself as well as Cinderella.

5. Lesso has a reason for her cane and it’s not for show which is hinted at in the library scene with her and dovey and other scenes where she repeatedly leaning most of her weight on her left leg taking weight off her right leg.

Since the algorithm has sensed my interests shift, it started recommending me a host of tiktoks posted from Soman's account in which he compares Young World to SGE. I am confused by this comparison because the plot-- a seventeen-year-old appointed as president who later becomes a prime suspect for a murder case-- has absolutely nothing to do with SGE.

Don't get me wrong, it sounds really cool (I ordered a copy of my own and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.) but it's not giving SGE.

There was a video in particular about writing the "new" SGE and was promptly followed by the text "just kidding." Or something like that. And it strangely ground my nerves. Maybe it's because I've been going through it and have been feeling #sensitive lately. (I've been listening to the audiobooks while using hot compressions on my eyes. Therapeutic until OTK. I was too sad to lie supine with tears trickling down either sides of my face.)

Anyway, theatrics aside, has anyone here read it or is planning on reading it?

What do you think?

I might post my thoughts on here, but I'm not sure, as this sub is for SGE and not for Soman's works. But also there is no page dedicated to ALL of Soman's works, so I don't know.

Just finished reading OTK, and while I did not cry as much as I did the first time I finished the series, baby Tedros nearly had me in tears. (He did actually make me cry with "When does the hurt go away?" But I'm trying to preserve some dignity wherever I can)

The book is wrought with emotion. Knowing how it ends does not sever the impact in the slightest.

For anyone who hasn't finished the series yet (why are you reading this? you're spoiling for yourself, but you do you queen) I highly recommend you do.

Tedros was at times sexist and insufferable with lines like "Only women would something something" about convincing Japeth through Aric's ghost to stop the tournament. And also his odd gripes with Agatha taking the lead (when it doesn't particularly ruin plans for him.) and says things like "princesses should follow their princes" or whatever, but he had a LOT of character development.

At times I was kind of gagged, like damn, he really did that.

I don't remember thinking Tedros was very loyal in the first trilogy (Was obsessed with Sophie at one point even though he was dating Agatha. Filip cast a pall in their relationship.) I remember cringing when he insisted on rescuing Sophie from Rafal in book 3. He would find it funny whenever anyone insinuated Agatha was ugly. (The interesting kids thing pissed me off so much I still remember it) I actually thought he sucked and that Agatha deserved better.

But then Camelot Years happened.

It was like he was partially lobotomized.

What a sweet little guy. (Not really.)

Here are some of my favorite moments:

1. Tedros and Tink. (RIP queen. I hope you get your kisses in fairy heaven, girl) "Follow Agatha and keep her safe. The moment she's in trouble, send a flare. Understood?" We love a protective king. (Even though Agatha was mostly ok without him. It's the thought that counts <3)

2. Tedros and baby Merlin. I did not think Tedros had the emotional maturity to pick the baby up and burp him himself. Color me shocked. "The baby belched softly, wrapping a tiny hand around Tedros' thumb and the other around Agatha's. Princess and prince couldn't help but smile at each other." (Was it absurd how Merlin was a baby for like three quarters of the book? Yes. Very. But was it entertaining? Yes. Very. Very much so.)

3. Agatha's faux pas. "Listen to me, Agatha. I will never hurt you. Never. I will fight until my last breath to keep you safe." I was like okaaaayyyy. Bare minimum. But given the situation was kill her and be king, don't kill her or die yourself and all your friends too, it takes a lotta lovin' for you to refuse to kill someone in that kind of scenario. I mean, think about it: Your fiance' who said in the previous book you lowkey aren't that great to her best friend. And when you try to be great she sort of screws it up accidentally and now you have to kill her even though you don't want to. But you have to. What do you in that situation? Don't ask me lol. Me and Tedros would be operating differently that's all I have to say about that. (I'm sorry Agatha. For real though)

4. "Trust is the way, remember?" While stroking Agatha's hair. HELLO?? I went hard for Tagatha before but I mostly was blinded by the writing. I didn't even like Tedros that much. I'm sorry I wasn't familiar with your game. It's like, an objectively shitty situation to be put in, but he loved her so much he couldn't even be angry. Makes one think...

5. Whole cave scene. All of it. "For a split second, Tedros wanted to ask the genie what was happening to Agatha... Then stopped himself." "What would Agatha do? Tedros felt himself smile."

6. Tedros holding Agatha in place. Agatha holding Tedros in place.

7. The proposal?? Okay, I didn't know you had that in you Tedros. I loved this proposal scene so much I posted a fic about the elongated version.

Ok. I think you get it. Mans all grown up now, or whatever.

Agatha was more passive in this book, and I didn't like the message about her being a control-freak. Girlie is just anxious (I understand you, Agatha! You would have loved Prozac and propranolol) and used to people failing her, for real. I would have liked to see a different approach to how this was handled, like Agatha easing up and Tedros reassuring her instead of stepping down because this was "Tedros' quest."

I also feel that the books were more concerned about a shocking ending. (Tedros could have told Agatha to take the blood-soaked fabric from Japeth, certainly sparing the poor girl that heart attack) Or Merlin dying (Made mostly no sense to me even though it had been foreshadowed since QFG "When the work is done.") since I personally think it would have been more fulfilling ending to just having him serve as council for Tedros and Agatha. But in the same vein, it implies that Tedros and Agatha no longer need that council, and that they would do just fine.

So I am conflicted about that.

What I am not conflicted by (and what I had always thought since finishing the series) is how abrupt the ending seemed. It's implied that Tedros and Agatha married, but what are the logistics of that? Do they just stuff Merlin in a body bag and say their vows while he begins decomposing in a library? Do they announce it at the afterparty? "Hey guys, thanks for coming over. Love the gifts. By the way, Merlin, the greatest Wizard who ever lived, has died. And since we love him so much we've opted for a dual event: Wedding and Funeral in one fell swoop! Round of applause for the bride. Once a graveyard girl, always a graveyard girl amirite?"

Like, c'monnnnn, why would we do Merlin like that gang? :(

Hort and Sophie continue to confuse the neurons working on my literary skills. I still don't get it.

I mean it's nice, I guess, but it just felt like it was rushed.

This book was definitely better than QFG (my mortal enemy) but does not top ACOT, unfortunately (even with the wedding and proposal, hah!)

That being said, I am officially back at the restaurant ordering two sides of Teddy fries and an Agatha sandwich.

Three years ago, I had a psychotic obsession with the third trilogy. It was actually the only thing I thought about. At some point, I decided to take the burden up myself and write it. Only, I was painfully amateurish and couldn't actually do it.

Three years later I can tell you nothing changed about the situation. I still suck. I still want to write the third trilogy.

I actually have a pretty solid idea for three (yes, one two and THRRREEEE) books which introduce a lot of new concepts, locations and other fun stuff. It was actually so novel my sister said I might as well just write my own characters and publish my own trilogy (I disagree with that notion completely. Fanfiction should always remain as fanfiction.)

Honestly, I can't tell if she was trying to dissuade me or encourage me to write it.

In any case, I plan on writing it once exams are over and I no longer have to deal with metabolic pathways frying my brain. (Yeah, I picked finals season to reread my all-time-favorite series ever.) I don't think I'm going to post the first chapter immediately after I write it and will instead opt for writing the whole book first, editing and yada yada and then posting it probably on ao3.

I might post some updates here, depending on how it goes. If anyone is interested, of course. (But also I don't want to spoil anything lol.)

If you made it this far, I salute you for enduring my rambles. Here's a cookie.

Love u.