In the ninth chapter of Melting Stones, Evvy’s solves a mystery, but realizes a disaster. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read Melting Stones.
Well, this book has become something else, hasn’t it? I think it’s a bold choice of a conflict because there’s no villain here. There’s no antagonist that the group has to beat because… well, a volcanic eruption is a natural force, and it’s one these people can’t stop. (Nor should they try to even if they could. That also seems like a terrible idea.)
So what the hell do they do?
Initially, of course, Evvy has a much more terrifying force to fend with: Rosethorn’s quiet anger. IT’S SO AWFUL. You know when someone you respect and care about is so mad at you that they’re silent? Oh, no, THE WORST. And it’s not like Evvy feels as if she shouldn’t have to deal with this. As she says:
I may be silly and I may be reckless, but I know better than to make excuses. Sometimes I have to keep my mouth shut and take what’s coming.
I think that’s less of her having to deal with Rosethorn and more of her awareness that she’s done something she has to take responsibility for. However, I appreciate that Pierce does not let the full context of Evvy’s behavior go unaddressed. Initially, Evvy is horrified that Oswin, Jayat, and Luvo come to her defense, especially since she has no desire to make excuses to Rosethorn’s face. That is a bad path to travel, and she’d like to avoid that at ALL COSTS.
At the same time, what’s great about this chapter is that it avoids a trope that I tend to dislike: miscommunication as a way of keeping a plot moving. Instead, chapter nine moves Melting Stones into a very new place, and I think that’s an exciting thing for Pierce to do. Jayat, Oswin, and Luvo all provide evidence that Evvy was compelled to rush away from everyone else and send her magical body deep in the earth. Much of that evidence was witnessed by Azaze, Rosethorn, and Myrrhtide, so it’s not like they can deny it all. (Well, Fusspot tries to, but that’s because he’s awful, so there’s that.) And when Luvo uses that booming voice to inform others? Yeah, you can’t ignore that. I think the best sign here that what Evvy has discovered is real and serious is this:
Fusspot didn’t say a word. I looked up. He was pouring water into a bow. Once it was full, he wet his finger and wrote signs all around its rim. Then he stared into the water, his pale eyes fixed. He was scrying in the bowl.
If Fusspot can’t even waste time insulting Rosethorn and Evvy? SHIT JUST GOT REAL. But how so? What do they now know? My guess about a volcanic eruption proved correct here, but I don’t feel like Pierce designed this to be a convoluted mystery, especially since this reveal comes less than halfway through the book. That means Melting Stones is going to be about something much different than that:
What the hell do these people do???
At one point, Evvy assures Luvo that they’ll board a boat to avoid the volcano, but where does that leave the people of Starns? This volcano stands to destroy the entire island, and without much of an idea of how long they have before that happens, that means they’ve got one option left: evacuate. Right? I see no other solution here, and I imagine that’s why Headwoman Azaze gather all of the other leaders of Starns. Look, I’ll let Luvo spell it out for me:
“And what is the point of a warning? The volcano will be born, devouring all in its path. It will continue to destroy, or it will become land, and a mountain. The new eats the old. It is always so.”
I get why Azaze has Evvy attempt to draw a map of the chamber for the council, since every bit of information they can get will help them in the coming days. But I’m still stuck on the same problem: HOW CAN THEY DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT EVACUATE?
I am very interested to see where this book goes next.
vid
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
– IÂ will be at numerous conventions in 2016! Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be season 1 of Agent Carter, seasons 1 & 2 of The 100, Death Note, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
- Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!
