Bookshops & Bonedust

“A sudden, powerful sense of being left behind swamped Viv. Rackam had dumped her in these misbegotten borderlands, and a wild certainty crawled up from her gut that he never planned to come back this way. It was all a convenient excuse to be rid of a troublesome kid. She gritted her teeth and wrestled that feeling back down into the dark.”

Although Viv hasn’t been with Rackam’s Ravens long, she experiences a strong sense of belonging with the group. Her main fear about recuperating in Murk is that she will be left behind, a vulnerability that comes to the fore several times. At the beginning of the novel, Viv’s identity is centered around her life as a mercenary. When she is left behind, that part of her identity is lost, and she feels untethered.

“While he was gone, she centered Ten Links in the Chain before her and sighed deeply. It felt like giving in to even consider reading it. A tacit admission that she was now a different sort of person. Weak. Soft. Sleepy. Someone who idled and studied, rather than fought and won.”

Viv hasn’t ever read to be lost in a good story and sees reading as a sedentary pastime that contrasts with her usually active work. To her, loss of activity and the acceptance of a more sedentary lifestyle, however temporary, feels like “giving in.” Reading, however, proves to be an important element in Viv’s journey as a character, as it unlocks a different side of her identity.

“‘Nothing has changed. It’s all the same. Well, that’s not true. It’s all shabbier. Half falling apart. And I guess I’m the main thing that’s different.’

‘Uh. Maybe…that’s the problem, then? […] I mean…doing things the same way.’”

When Viv meets Fern, Fern’s bookshop is on the verge of closing, and she has nearly lost all hope of success. With comments like these, Fern begins to see how she can turn things around. Although Viv’s comment is awkward, it offers important insight into why Fern feels that her life and shop have stagnated.

“The skin at the back of her neck crawled, and the wood of the walking staff creaked as her grip tightened. It took her only an instant to spy him between passerby. He almost completely blended into the shadows of a small courtyard beside the chandler’s shop. His cloak was the gray of fog and travel-frayed, and the skin of his exposed hands was pale, nearly white. An overstuffed pack weighed down one shoulder, and his hood was up, so that only the blade of his nose was visible. It twitched her way, and she sensed a galvanic tension in his stance, a wariness.”

Although Viv has temporarily left her work as a mercenary behind, her instincts remain. Throughout the novel, Viv will use these instincts in a new way—not as part of her job, but to care for and protect her community. The “galvanic tension” in the man’s stance and a slight twitch in her direction are the only clues Viv has that he is aware of her, too.

“I don’t think I’d ever want to care about somebody the way those two did. Seems kind of dangerous.”

Viv is partway through the romance book that Fern has recommended. She and Fern discuss the book, and Viv surprises herself by initiating a real discussion about love and relationships. Viv is trepidatious about love, a wariness that she will overcome over the course of the novel thanks to her relationship with Maylee.

“Cracking an eye at her, Viv said, ‘You’re in the tunnel. I know how it goes. […] You’re just trying to make it to the other end, and while you’re in it, there’s nothing to either side. Only the way forward. You know, the tunnel. Maybe when you find a way out, you can look around, but until then…’ Viv shrugged deeper into the chair.”

Fern feels ashamed that she’s never asked Viv any personal questions, even though Viv has helped her in several ways. Viv shows her characteristic empathy when she uses the tunnel metaphor to describe the narrow perspective from which Fern is focused at the moment. Throughout the novel, Viv helps Fern along a character arc, in which Fern moves forward from her father’s death and rediscovers her love and passion for the bookshop.

“That was the second time in the last ten days that she’d acted when she should’ve considered. What would Rackam say about her odds now?”

At the beginning of the novel, Rackam reprimands Viv for charging into battle without thinking. Viv is young and often does what she thinks is right without considering the ramifications. Here, Viv has just made the same mistake, attacking the man in gray, which almost results in her death.

“‘I’m menacing for a living. Hey, it just makes me twice as useful taking up space in your shop during the day, right?’

‘It was…odd to see you in action. I don’t like your company because you’re menacing.’

Viv frowned. ‘Well, only when I need to be.’”

This is the first time Viv has been seen in action in Murk. She shows her new friends a different side of herself. They do not see her as a warrior, having only known her while she was recuperating. Fern sees value in Viv’s friendship beyond her value as a fighter. This surprises Viv, who continues to see her value as being centered around her mercenary identity. Fern offers Viv one of the novel’s primary Perspective Shifts Prompted by Supportive Relationships.

“She immediately thought of the Ravens, and something like homesickness flared up in her chest. ‘And you’re…happy doing that? You don’t miss it?’”

Viv has just discovered that Maylee was a mercenary before she retired to open the bakery. As Viv is at the start of her career, she can’t imagine such a decision and doubts that Maylee is happy. For readers of the series, this is ironic—in the first novel, which takes place after the events of Bookshops & Bonedust, Viv retires from her mercenary career to open a coffee shop, echoing Maylee’s decision so many years ago.

“It’s been better for me. Having you here is connecting me to why I do this. To why I used to love it. I don’t know if I can explain it, but watching you read what I give you, putting a book in your hands and seeing what happens to you once you put it back down…I can’t make you understand how that gives me something I didn’t know I had to have.”

When Viv first meets Fern, the rattkin isn’t even sure that she still likes her occupation as a bookseller. In the process of helping Viv discover reading, Fern relearns why the bookstore and her work are so important to her. By helping others discover reading, Fern discovers herself as well. This demonstrates the power of Books as a Means of Self-Discovery.

“Viv’s sword arm remained tense, but this creature was half the height of the wights she’d battled, and delicate. More than anything else, though, it didn’t smell the same. The room was filled with the scent of lightning strikes and burnt dust, but that cold odor of winter blood was nowhere to be found.”

Satchel has made his first appearance, transforming from the bag of bones into a skeletal being with eyes of blue fire. Because he was found with the man in gray, Viv can safely assume that he is Varine’s agent. However, the smell of frozen blood that always signified Varine’s presence is absent, giving Viv enough reason to provisionally trust Satchel.

“‘I should like to simply be for a while. To…serve in the way I choose.’

Fern’s voice was firm. ‘Of course. But you don’t have to serve anybody but yourself. Do you understand?’”

Viv’s friends have fully accepted Satchel, who has found himself a niche in caring for the bookshop. It bothers Fern that he works without accepting payment. To Satchel, that is part of the attraction—he is not beholden to Fern for a job, and the work remains his choice. In his own way, over the course of the novel, Satchel gains a sense of Belonging with Found Family, just as Viv does.

“Viv considered the unfolded brown paper and the remaining scone waiting atop it. Toying with the string, she murmured, ‘Yeah, I guess the thing is not knowing what you want. Having to pick it in the first place, when you don’t know what’s out there…’”

Viv admits for the first time that her career as a mercenary might be the result of what society expects of an orc, and not because it is her purpose in life. Viv’s openness to the idea of a different path will lead her to seriously consider staying in Murk. However, in the end, she is reminded, through her joy in battle, that her role as a warrior is intrinsic to her identity.

“Iridia actually reminded Viv a little of Madger from Ten Links in the Chain, but without Legann’s balancing influence. Grudgingly, she admitted to herself that she might not actually dislike the tapenti.”

Iridia, the local head of law enforcement, sized Viv up when she first arrived in Murk and guessed, correctly, that she is a mercenary. Since then, they have been wary of each other, but they gradually come to trust each other as having the community’s best interests at heart. Here, Viv uses her recent reading experience to inform her judgment of Iridia’s character.

“A greatsword, broad and gleaming. As cold shed from the steel with a frosty keening in the warmth of the room, moisture beaded on the blade and ran down into the fuller. Viv stared in awe, and a thrill of recognition passed through her, like a scent from childhood. ‘Gods,’ she breathed, turning it to catch the light. The forging was exquisite, the balance superb. She ran a thumb appreciatively down the flat of the blade.”

Within the pages of Varine’s book, Viv finds a sword that will become an important part of her life. Her connection with it, that “thrill of recognition” is apparent from the start. Readers of the first book will recognize this sword as Blackblood, which Viv still possesses when she retires.

“The steel seemed drawn by inexorable purpose, tracing a pathway that led back toward the Ravens. Toward where she truly belonged. She felt the grin transform her face, a savage, joyful baring of fangs. Sweat pooled in her clavicle and flew from her forearms as she snapped the blade back and up. Gods, it felt good.”

When Viv finds Blackblood, she reconnects with the part of her that finds joy in battle and being a mercenary. This realization, coupled with her return to action as she fights Varine, brings her career back to the fore. Viv has remembered the part of her former life that she loved, this time in connection with protecting her new community.

“Outside, the wind kicked up—maybe it even seethed—and every breath she inhaled seemed to bring with it the phantom scent of frozen copper.”

Viv has come to associate the scent of frozen blood with Varine the Pale and her army. She first noticed the scent during battle in the Prologue, and it becomes a thread that connects Viv’s career as a mercenary with her new life in Murk. Although Murk is a time and place of self-discovery for Viv, being a mercenary remains an important part of her identity. Part of Viv’s journey throughout the novel is to integrate the newly discovered aspects of herself with her identity as Viv the mercenary.

“She couldn’t stop thinking of their conversation on the bluff, before things went sour. Viv felt a growing need, like something expanding in her chest, to ask a question she thought she might regret. Not to voice it, though? That was cowardice. And she was no coward. Or maybe that was just when it came to blades and blood, because this was harder than it had any right to be.”

Viv and her friends are returning home from a picnic after having seen signs of Varine in the area. This brings up other fears of Viv’s—as the battle with Varine approaches, she is reminded that she won’t be staying in Murk. Viv’s forthright nature demands that she confront her feelings for Maylee the same way she confronts battle, even as she recognizes that emotional vulnerability may be even scarier than physical vulnerability.

“She had the surreal sense of setting her affairs in order in case she died. Making sure things carried on when she wouldn’t be around to see them. It unnerved her.”

Murk has shifted Viv’s perspective, and in the process, she has built friendships and a community. She knows that once she leaves, she most likely won’t be returning. This realization leaves her feeling as if she is preparing for her own death, as the community in Murk will continue to grow and change after she leaves. This quote highlights Viv’s regret.

“‘Sometimes, it’ll never be the right time.’ Viv thought about Maylee and what she’d said about seeing people through a tiny window as they passed, and how nothing seemed to happen exactly when it should. Then she saw Fern’s face, bright and laughing as she passed a book into hands that probably needed it.

‘And sometimes, we aren’t the right people yet,’ murmured Berk. While she and he had different individuals in mind, Viv thought they might be thinking exactly the same thing.”

Berk is Zelia Greatstrider’s companion and protector, and it is clear from his behavior that he is in love with her. However, because he is human, he won’t live as long as Zelia, and so his love remains unfulfilled. Berk and Viv agree that timing is everything when it comes to love—Viv is experiencing similar problems with Maylee, who has already lived the life Viv is embarking on and is finished with it.

“She idly ran a thumb along Blackblood’s fuller, thought about what was to come, and felt as though she were emerging from the fog of a weeks-long dream.”

When Viv finds Blackblood in Varine’s book, she instantly connects with the weapon. Further, it reminds her of her career as a mercenary, which has been put on hold. She refers to her time in Murk as a dream; this indicates that it was all-consuming, but also that she recognizes how it must come to an end.

“She remained dimly aware of her goal. Of the book. But present Viv—real Viv—was preoccupied with all the savagery she could deal along the way. She was smiling, exultant, and undiminished. The last few weeks were a wilderness, but she’d found the road again. Some part of her rebelled, but it was very, very small.”

In this passage, Viv is smiling the way she did in the Prologue, connecting this battle with the one that opened the book. Viv is fully returned to her identity as a mercenary and for the moment pushes what she learned about herself in Murk aside. In the final sentence, Travis Baldree indicates that Viv might not be completely ready to move on. This hesitation will be the seed for Viv’s eventual retirement in Legends & Lattes.

“But for Viv, it was also like the end of a story. Except the story was somebody else’s.”

The battle against Varine has been won. Viv knows that Rackam will return to Murk soon, and she will leave. While the community sets up for their first book club meeting, Viv is contemplating the end of her time in Murk. As she has recaptured the mercenary part of her identity, her stay in Murk seems more and more unreal to her. In the above quote, she admits that it seems like it happened to someone else, already in her past.