Avatar: Seven Havens - Official Trailer

If Korra truly did go mad - which I DOUBT - I think I might  know why. Vaatu was not imprisoned but 'destroyed', and Raava said that even were she to destroy Vaatu and usher in a new era of peace, what little darkness existed in her would magnify until Vaatu would be reborn and burst forth. And since, unlike the eras before Wan's time, Raava is fused with the Avatar...

“Humanity is not ready for the Avatar’s return. And yet, it’s the one thing this world needs the most.” 

Also, THIS diehard Korra fan cannot wait for October 9th, not only because Seven Havens looks stellar but so the chance to, alongside all Korra fans, fight to redeem her name while desperately hoping the show lives up to that hope. On that note, the argument I first heard on twitter/X is gaining traction: Korra fans and haters sincerely believing the obvious misdirection set up of all time is so baffling. "Korra isn't the reason the world ended, she's the reason there's anything left of it at all" is so obviously going to be the big twist that it almost doesn't even qualify as one.

Indeed, I get the feelings that the inexplicable scorn Korra gets from the modern fanbase factored into this show. Seriously, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are totally capable of making a meta-prank out of this, having the world start be hating Korra but then revealing her to be the hero all us fans of hers know her to be. That, and I cannot fathom DiMartino and Konietzko making a true villain out of a past Avatar, much less the titular protagonist of their last series. At worst, and as I said previously, we are dealing with a Roku situation: "If anyone is to blame for the state of the world, it is me. I should have seen this war coming and prevented it. You inherited my problems and my mistakes. But I believe you are destined to redeem me and save the world." - Avatar Roku to Aang Hence Korra may end up saying something similar to Pavi: an Avatar who failed to prevent the disaster that shaped the current world. Roku failed to prevent the 100 Years War, and Korra failed to stop...whatever this is.

Quote from a friend

"It's a great feeling when your favorite books touch places that you know, but we need to think about what these and other stories are teaching us with their silence. The stories we tell, fictional and non-fictional, curate the ways we imagine. Since history is at its heart story-telling, the limits of our imagination become the limits of our historical curiosity and compassion." - my friend Sophie Croll

A Wizard of Earthsea wins the 2026 Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story or Comic

Two years ago I posted about how Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea was getting a graphic novel adaptation, illustrated by acclaimed artist Fred Fordham whom already has similarly and reportedly brilliant adaptations of To Kill a Mockingbird and Brave New World to his name. 

Well, today I am pleased to note that it won the 2026 Hugo Awards. Fordham’s first Hugo nomination and win, as well as Le Guin’s third posthumous Hugo, as it turns out.

I have started An Echo of Things to Come, Book Two of The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington

I have started An Echo of Things to Come, Book Two of The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington.

Tal'kamar took Licanius to the Wells to learn the truth, but also to change. To best prepare against the enemy of El and those Venerate who remained duped. One question answered, or two considering that is likely the ancient power that Davian's teacher out of time claims fooled the Augurs. Though Now I very much want to know Malshash's relationship to Tal'kamar. In the meantime, the other questions lingers, most notably where the Shadows and whether even an amended Treaty is to little to late. Oh, and whether the Shadows' leader is one of the Venerate and how many Echoes will sow death. Licanius means Fate, so let us see if the future is truly as predetermined as the Old Religion claims.

I have finished The Shadow of What Was Lost, Book One of The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington

I have finished The Shadow of What Was Lost, Book One of The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington.

They call the war than ended Augur rule the Unseen War, but was it truly? Davian is the center of the events of this time as long foretold by Augurs past, but how long will this new war last considering Asha's unexpected encounter with him and what we know of time travel? Is the future truly set in stone, or can it change? How will Tol Athian react? What is Taeris hiding? What did Tol Shen know and what role did they and seek now to play? Will Wirr manage his new position? What of the Shadows? Tal'kamar took Licanius to the Wells and learned the truth, yet it makes little sense for if it is true then who commands the enemy?

Countless questions, yet one thing I know beyond doubt. While I would not yet compare The Licanius Trilogy to The Wheel of Time, I can see why others might. For it is truly as sophisticated and expertly planned a masterwork as I have even begun. So let us see what Fate has in store.

Song of the Mounds of Mundburg

The Song of the Mounds of Mundburg, a tune any true Tolkien fan will appreciate.

I just finished playing Fantasian Neo Dimension

I just finished playing Fantasian Neo Dimension.

Made by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the Father of FINAL FANTASY, Fantasian Neo Dimension is one the longest and most addictive RPG games I have ever played; to the point that I actually delayed fighting the Final Boss because I did not want the story to end. And what a story it was! Turn-based-combat RPGs with multiverses are not new concepts for me in literature or gaming, yet Hironobu Sakaguchi pushed the limits with this one – creating something utterly unique. Traversing every corner of not one but several worlds in a grand quest that began with Leo's total case of amnesia and ended with them safe from Vam's emotion-and-life-draining Mechteria and Jas' goal of ending Chaos to reach the state of Zero. The lesson of course being that even Gods – or those who call themselves such – cannot stand against the overwhelming power of human emotion. Or just emotion period, given Jas' and Vam's motives.

The game really has everything one would want both from overall plotline to individual character stories perspective; the old guard of RPGs with a new coat of paint, as it were. I will not say more for fear of spoilers, for why would I rob others of such an epic interdimensional voyage?

That said, I WILL say this. The Void Realms quests say lvl 65 is needed for the Lower Void Realm and 85 for the Middle, and the guide confirms it. THIS IS FALSE. I bested the Lower with my team in the lvl 58-60 range and the Middle in 63-65. It can absolutely be done if you are tactical (and are willing to do the Lower a couple times after the first round). (I heard the Upper can be beat at 68 instead of 99, but have not confirmed it.) This is, by the way, very useful as the extra levels plus being able to upgrade one's equipment makes the Final Boss worlds easier. Seriously, I beat it on the second try.

Now I merely wish it was not over. New life is born aboard the sandship Uzra as Leo and co. are of on a new adventure to realms unexplored. I can only hope for a sequel, as I like tantalizing loose ends tied up.

Farewell and happy journeys to Leo & Kina, Princess Cheryl of the Queendom of Vibra, Ez, Zinikr & Valrika, Prickle and Clicker, and Tan, with a special thanks to Queen Cynthana.