Yaaaaaay yes all of this! I love Rowan and Bel so much, but it's such a great point that they aren't special I mean, they are to us, because we heart them! But they're the people on these adventures largely by chance and happenstance, not because they have super special destinies or are The Only Ones Who Can, or some other quest cliche. And I really love that even Rowan has to consciously adjust her assumptions about the Outskirters, because she had been automatically assuming that Bel was special and different than the other Outskirters. I also love that Rowan can be a bit of a failboat about social situations, and is fiercely independent. Rowan. <3

And haha, yes I totally agree about the speechifying, especially for Rowan. But the content was great! And the gen, THE GEN. It is like the perfect level of character stuff, adventures, swordfights, violence, sex, etc. which is so rare.

I kind of miss reading without really knowing What Is Going On, and trying to read slowly and figure out what things are via Rowan's descriptions, when she has no language or framework to describe it. I think I kind of forget how cool and well-done it all is, with the way it just drops crumbs until you figure it out.

I wish I could have a Steerswoman icon.