THE NIGHT AND ITS MOON is just the witcher with extra steps

the steps in question are racism and self-absorption
a little birdie told me there was an author out there who only took positive feedback. is it warranted? let's hope this video stays up long enough for us to find out!
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[@valeriarossini543]

“apparentely this book was written during a manic episode. If you're wondering, yes. It shows” → the deadpan delivery of this line completely destroyed me 💀

[@gameoftomes14]

It’s like she saw the Magic Negro trope and was like, nah that’s too subtle.

[@gameoftomes14]

Fun fact: Sapkowski invented a new word in the Polish equivalent of the word “witcher,” hence the English translation also needing a new word, not witch or magician. That is not any type of established mythology. He drew from German, Slavic, Celtic, Norse, and other European folk and fairy tales for monsters and for specific retellings (like Renfri & Snow White), but the main plot and characters are entirely new inventions. She cannot claim them for folklore. Errr that irks me.

[@hannahr7198]

The absolute arrogance required to write a book and then only take on positive feedback in the beta reading stages floors every time I hear about PCJ’s positive feedback policy. It’s a sign that she lacks the one necessary trait required to be a competent artist. It’s basically like announcing that her book WILL be bad before you even have to crack the spine.

[@miapopova2315]

Hey I'm Bulgarian (technically Slavic though I'm prefer Balkan as a self-descriptor). I've noticed a lot of white USian writers see Slavic culture as an easy semi-exotic culture they can borrow from without repercussions. They think anything goes because "Slavs are white, I'm white, what can go wrong?" and then everything is wrong. This leads to issues like misusing real words (Shadow and Bone does that a lot), messing up the names (Victor Krum has a first name as his surname, Joseph Kavinsky from TRC is a Bulgarian but has a Polish surname, using the wrong gendered suffixes for surnames) and some more serious problems like recreating Slavic and Esater European stereotypes (I have to mention Kavinsky again bc Maggie Stiefvater literally made her Slavic character a mobster). Idk if that's the case with this book but the author certainly seems to see Slavic folklore as a get out of jail monopoly card. Sorry if I made any mistakes. I'm technically an English teacher but I'm way too tired to proofread.

[@littlesponge212]

Hi Mia, Serbian neighbor here :) Agreed! They take quite a lot of Slavic lore as well, and then present it as "unique", such as cryptids/mythological beings, old pagan gods, rituals, that have deep Slavic roots - I'm happy another Balkan native noticed this (I thought I was just looking into it too much). But the mix of MANY Slavic countries/cultures which each have their own beauty and distinction such as names, customs, etc (and especially harmful stereotypes) and just put them all into one character. Wish there was a little more research involved. If someone came up with a Being that has many similarities to our lore, that is okay - but when so many details are like obviously picked up from Slavic folklore and culture, and them stating that it has Slavic connection, that means not enough research was done to make a distinction :( I've spoken English for 20 years, I can't be bothered to proofread off my work hours :D Your English is great

[@randysmith7189]

I think many writers without doing any research use culture and history of others with no regard for what is right and the image or lack thereof they are putting out there.

[@crystaleefyffe1230]

I am Jamaican so far, far away from Europe. But I do know enough about how Russian naming convention works. I loved Shadow and Bone but I could never overlook when they introduced Alina Starkov. I said hmm, this must be a typo because I knew Ravka was just pseudo imperial Russia. And the next page she was still Alina Starkov, not Starkova and it grated on my nerves still all these years whenever I think about it.

[@sagathestoryteller7920]

My boyfriend and I were listening to this video together and he said "Lou has a Disney villain cackle. I love it."

[@starsINSPACE]

Does anyone but me feel like "The night and its moon" sounds like a better name for a historical romance kdrama? lol

[@farhanasafran8124]

"moon embracing the sun" vibes.

[@finchfry]

I would absolutely watch that kdrama. I will not read the book.

[@alisaurus4224]

It’s a gorgeous title. Shame about the actual book though

[@coeval5568]

I know it’s supposed to be thematic like “oh she’s the night and amaris means moon” or whatever but I really can’t get over the name Nox. This book puts way too much emphasis on the characters skin to be so oblivious to its racism

[@smallcece]

THIS!! The audacity of calling your POC character Nox and then denying any accusation of racism is mind blogging

[@brittanyadamo-watkins7253]

Yeahhhhh cringy as fuck. I’d be embarrassed if I were her.

[@uselessmagicc]

As a polish person, this book has literally nothing to do with slavic mythology 💀

[@cw2010]

The slavic folklore made me laugh because the witcher really isn’t as slavic as people outside of Eastern Europe think lmao. Some monsters and minor plot points reference it but there’s almost as much of Celtic and germanic influences, while the witchers themselves are something completely made up by Sapkowski

[@TheWordN3rd]

The way you are able simultaneously to entirely sincere and entirely sarcastic when saying you want to hate on PCJ's book is truly a talent.

[@TheWordN3rd]

You know, I wasn't expecting an in depth discussion of The Witcher, but I'm here for it.

[@TheWordN3rd]

SHE GETS THE HIMBO 🤣🤣🤣

[@Ryuushuu]

As a Slav, im used to USamericans not knowing shit about our actual cultures and folklore, but it's still infuriating to see how they use us. The only representation we get in movies and series is a mobster (usually Russian) and/or a bought internet wife (so we understand the fetishization all too well as well). So hearing that someone said that a generic chosen one story they wrote was inspired by our folklore is like...just get out of here... I know it is difficult to learn a lot about our folklore from 1500 years ago since hardly anything is known because of Christianity constantly trying to wipe out our traditional beliefs and myths for past 11 centuries, but i bet some basic search could provide at least some idea into what's at least Slavic. Thank you Lou for warning us about the shit out there.

[@rosereddened]

Your opening comment on Piper being "super white" like culturally has really made her issues click into place for me. She is so obsessed with respectability and so uninterested in actual respect. This is basically a repeat of the comment i made on one of rachel reads reviews' videos but there is this pervasive theme through this book of wanting to write a world not where injustice doesn't happen but where it doesn't happen to the special white protagonist, and you can see she wants to be that person in real life. She's really validating my kneejerk anxiety about blond white women's sense of superiority

[@Chociewitka]

In Europe and the Middle East actually fair skin, fair eyes and fair hair in a woman were prehistorically and historically preferred, as those traits often go in pair with softer character and better survival rates of her and her offspring - this is connected to genes which are associated with those traits who also have other effects - like lactose tolerance into adulthood and smaller probability of getting winter depression. As such being pale has been strongly selected for in Europe for the last 10 -7 thousand years (there are three different genetic markers in Europe for depigmentation, which most Europeans have , and two of those were actually introduced from the outside, only one of those is originally European, but all three have been very strongly selected for since the introduction of agriculture in Europe in the Neolithic, (the previous original Hunter-Gatherers of Europe were brown - even if often fair-eyed). Also the Middle Eastern slave raiders strongly favorized Eastern European women which showed those depigmentation traits for their hareems. Up to today women or children traveling to the Middle East from Europe are often advised to dye their hair dark to avoid being kidnapped. And generally people having traits which are widely considered desirable do feel superior, this is a natural social phenomenon? As depigmentation in female is considered valuable by many cultures - see ancient Egypt which women painted themself white to resemble the moon, India or even China - of course will a strongly depigmented woman consider herself blessed by nature. The history of the last 10 000 tells her that this is a evolutionary highly desirable trait to have.

[@ReadswithRachel]

Hi please give the people* what the want and do a video on January 8th. *the people is me

[@CommanderDarcy]

it was CRAZY, i might say

[@blue7284]

Rachel having interest in our issues here in Brazil is weirdly comforting to me and I don't know why, but I love it.

[@MayBarros]

2023 Brazil is already wild and it has barely been two weeks

[@takecinco]

Sabe o vídeo do TikTok da menina cantando What a wonderful world uma letra por vez? É como eu imagino que seria um vídeo sobre os últimos acontecimentos dessa grande novela chamada Brasil.

[@CommanderDarcy]

@@takecinco MANO NUNCA LI DESCRIÇÃO MELHOR

[@basicbakabooks]

i wish these people would just post their clear witcher fanfic on ao3 instead of trying to get paid for it and making it everyone's problem

[@uncensoredeyes]

I honestly love how you describe the character motivations in the witcher. I personally couldn't vibe with Andrzej's writing and some of the choices he made in the series so I didn't enjoy it as much as you did but I really did like his characters for the most part. Especially Yennefer. I love how she wants it all and is unwilling to compromise and I love how passionate she was to get back to Ciri. I've yet to play the games yet but I've gotta do it soon.

[@iFlutterbye]

I’m haven’t read this or Lightlark or a few others that you and Rachel and many more have been talking about, but I have been enjoying the journey with you! Thank you for this! Keep staying strong, beautiful lady! You got this.

[@rainydayjules]

“I only take positive feedback” m’am I hate to tell you but once you publish a book thats not really something you can control! Unless of course you deliberately avoid seeing any reviews at all which she does not seem to want to do

[@rainydayjules]

Like, how did PCJ become tiktok famous if she apparently goes into a rage over negative comments?!?!

[@loureadingthings]

@@rainydayjules she's white and pretty

[@rainydayjules]

@@loureadingthings yknow you're so right, i cant believe I forgot how far mediocre white women can get on being conventionally attractive lol

[@palinurus]

Your laugh added 15 years to my lifespan, thank you :))

[@arieldee2665]

What you said about how poorly the sex work is portrayed in this book reminded me of how it's portrayed in Kushiel's Dart and it's much better. Like this book paints sex work as a dehumanizing experience whereas in Kushiel's Dart, the main character likes her job, likes her clients with some exceptions (and her reasons for disliking them is justified by the narrative) and her love interest needs to come to terms with the fact that this is part of her life and something she enjoys. So, if he wants her in his life, he needs to accept that it's part of who she is and support her in it wholly.

[@Pyrisa]

“I am where joy comes to die” liked and subscribed. I appreciate your honesty so much.

[@aster1749]

Me watching this from Puerto Rico and laughing to prevent myself from crying at the political humor. We may not be under dictatorship but two messed up governments at the same time and colonialism it’s not fun. Drink up Lou, drink up. Let us hate.

[@katerinaharness]

I often feel confused on the etiquette of reviewership, maybe because I view things through an author lens, maybe because I’m autistic (more likely lol) but I LOVE to talk about the downfalls of art I like; it was so good, imagine if it had tightened up those few things? Or, it was good, but it could have been great! And people that I share these conversations with often think that any negativity means dislike. I find that disappointing. So, I too say that I just love complaining haha

[@insertcheesypunhere]

i wouldn't be surprised if piper and alex were friend at this point

[@MsKakay12]

the way you talk about the witcher makes me want to get into the story and video game. also i hope that you are safe and well

[@finngswan3732]

They're not half bad! The one that’s usually recommended first is an anthology with a framed story that sets everything up for the rest of the series. Just in case anthologies put you off, lol

[@loureadingthings]

you can safely skip the first two games and go straight into wild hunt! i'd suggest reading the last wish to get a feel of the world and then you can go to wild hunt straight on, it's very self explanatory

[@ChocolatexCherries3]

Idk how anyone thought it was a good idea to name a book "the night and ITS moon" when the night and the moon are both human-like beings. The night being dehumanized like that is literal racist objectification of Nox. Idk, the books title is racist itself so 🤷🏻‍♀️ Edit: the night and her moon is a much better title imo.

[@alexysrobbins8660]

But isn’t it kinda the point Nox and Amaris were treated like objects being sold to the highest buyer. I get what you are say but I think it’s up for interpretation.

[@ChocolatexCherries3]

@alexysrobbins8660 no i don't think so. that would require the author to have actually thought it through.

[@alexysrobbins8660]

@@ChocolatexCherries3 fair but I also don’t think she didn’t think about it enough to be racist. She probably just thought the night and moon aren’t people so she said it’s and didn’t think about how they represent people. (I’m not trying to defend her writing I went into these books expecting a book written by a TikToker and that what I got. I’m not upset about it because it what I expected. I don’t think she personally has malicious intent I think she just isn’t cut out for having strangers criticize her)

[@nicoleava976]

The author can be upset and send people out to mass report posts and accounts, but I hope that somewhere deep down there is recognition that if so many people are drawing attention to racism, plagiarism, and problematic depictions of sex work - perhaps this could be a time for reflection and growth?

[@Ronni0]

"...there's a lot of fucking thing to hate in this world..." PREACH!!!!

[@WolfGoddess77]

I love how the entire mood of this review basically boils down to **gigantic slurp of alcohol.** Which actually sums up the book itself rather accurately.

[@TheAdarkerglow]

I love the blanket statements on criticism. Like hating something particularly vehemently is exclusionary to liking other things. Hot take: people can enjoy hating things, find entertainment and joy in dismantling a bad piece of media. There are many types of Mary Sue. The two you described are the Black Hole Sue and the Anti-Sue. The Black Hole Sue is, as it sounds, an inescapable force which warps reality around it, forcing events to happen in their favor, because they're just so damned perfect. The Anti-Sue is terrible at everything, always fails, and gets mistreated constantly, but still somehow manages to get exactly what they want and need, earning the love and respect of the (Good Guy) cast despite doing nothing but being traumatized.

[@Amedyr]

I tried drowning myself in work so I wouldn't look at what was being done in Brasilia but eventually I heard they destroyed a whole bunch of art pieces and that sent me on such a spiral of hate and anger that I'm surprised I didn't go full Sith. PS: you *know* Oldrin (Oldryn whatever, never read that book, can't be bothered to look it up) used to be Youngrin at some point kkkkkkk

[@loureadingthings]

NO FUCKING WAY KDJFLKFDJG

[@Vladislove5645]

I'm personally blaming this book for the decline of the rainforest and polar bears.

[@JulianGreystoke]

I'm so mad on behalf of fellow indie authors that Piper is out here acting a fool. And if it's just her friends, then she should post something publicly telling them to stop harassing reviewers, but somehow I don't think that's going to happen. She's attached her whole identity to this bad fanfic and any critique feels like a direct attack on her.

[@anna6878]

you're literally the funniest person on booktube 😄 and yes we all deserve our hater moments sometimes

[@bebella9005]

as I commented on Rachel's video: the optics of anything surrounding race in this book are nASTY. YIKES YIKES YIKES

[@EvieEvangelion]

I hope with everything going on you are safe* *everything going on in Brazil! Thats what I meant (like hope everything else is good too but wanted to be clear!)

[@StrawberryNova]

Just found you and I love this video and also your overall energy in it. Extremely enjoyable to listen to while I work on art!

[@dxd107]

As a TRABALHISTA attorneys child, I must say how much your videos are relatable and f-cking amazing. Lou's notifications make my week EVERY DAMN TIME!!!

[@MayBarros]

oh god there's gonna be a sequel whyyyy

[@jo4370]

never seen you before and I'm only 5 minutes in but already subscribing, you've got a great personality

[@starsINSPACE]

Okay so only person I know of named Isla is the actress Isla Fisher and she says her name EYE-luh. the s is silent and the i part is stressed.

[@caitlynprice9501]

Thank you for making this video; I feel like this saga has been going on for too long. Her book and her current words/actions are HARMFUL and she refuses to acknowledge that she is the problem. Allegedly.

[@finngswan3732]

Oh my GOoDdd. This Piper sounds EXACTLY like a relative I have, down to what it's like to talk to or give feedback to her.

[@nicholewarren4229]

I LOVED this review and i think its such a valuable perspective to this whole discussion!!! (Also i KNOW this isnt the point but that photo of you with your diploma was super cute!!!)

[@cindy3933]

Finally a video for me, for haters, by a hater

[@jo_helaci]

I LOVE this review and your mean laughter 🤩🔥

[@anacecilia1387]

About hating things: one time I was scrolling tumblr, someone was complaining as usual that anti-show and show tag results were together in the feed, and they didn't like reading hate on media they liked, something very normal. Someone then said that they didn't understand why people even wrote about how much they hated a certain character or show, and how instead of doing this, they should be talking about the things they loved, and I automatically thought "but hating stupid things is so fun! You just need to find the fun way of complaining". And then I realized what I had thought and decided to leave that post alone. We were clearly too different to ever understand what the hell the other was talking about, like this one friend who gave me a giant hug because she couldn't understand how I didn't know when to start a hug, or how long to keep hugging before I'm allowed to let go.

[@nicolep0789]

Thank you for doing this review. After hearing your review, I probably won’t be buying any of her books in the future. I have only started the book, so I didn’t know how problematic it was.

[@christyfielding7498]

Being white and financially/socially privileged is probably fun but being white and poor living in a poor, rural area is not fun (me!) Lol But yeah it does seem to be a very nice to be that. 😜

[@maddysbookopinions]

The gasp I gusped when I got the notification for this video

[@ShadowDawn]

"I only take positive feedback." Sorry, that's not how the real world works, especially if you put something out into the public eye. Especially, especially if that something is problematic and you can't be bothered to check.

[@StrawberryLemonBooks]

Love your laugh so much ❤and ooo this video makes me even more excited to finally read The Witcher series this year!!!

[@Duhgel]

That laugh, I like that laugh

[@moustik31]

I'm so sorry about the coup and the destruction happening in your country. I really hoped, you guys were finally into safe territory. 😕

[@fredpeterson75]

"Being yt must be very fun" ahahaha 💀

[@victoriabigiotti3156]

Cómo amé la parte en que dijiste de "odiar por ser latinoamericana" 🤣💚 And for the WHITENESS in this book (that I only watched the reviews), IT ONLY "falta" THE F****** FLAG OF USA

[@afckingegg7585]

It'd be cool if you made a video about what's going on in Brazil. I feel like I'm not really getting the full context from the news right now

[@miapopova2315]

"echoed two syllables"??? does she not know what a syllable is??

[@victoriabigiotti3156]

But seriously, HOW someone can approve this type of "hIsToRy" to be PUBLISHED??? When it has MANY things that don't have ANY SENSE!?

[@mercycunningham2813]

I sayed it elswere and I say it again. Piper can't write friendships and relationships because she doesn't know how those work and she doesn't know how to healthy interact with other people. And that is realy sad because it's telling what kind of life she had.

[@moustik31]

Anyway, neither rac1sm nor plagiarism bring joy Piper Whatever. 🙅🏾‍♀️🙅🏾‍♀️🙅🏾‍♀️ 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@smallcece]

It’s not alcoholism if it’s in Latinoamerica JJJJJJJJ I WAS DYING also a hug from Chile ❤

[@sugarbunify]

I adore your reviews 😂 honestly spot on, this book was a chore and insufferable.

[@showzao7397]

A breve intermissão cantando funk pesadão tomando uma cerva

[@loureadingthings]

eu malho ouvindo funk então 7 da manhã já to BANDIDO DE GLOCK É O QUE NÓS GOSTA

[@eneyavorodecky]

"I only take positive feedback" is maybe the cringiest shit I have seen uttered by an adult in a long time. But the idea that ANYTHING but positive feedback and gushing is seen so negatively by her... That woman needs some serious growing up to do but maybe some therapy too. The inferiority complex and the severe insecurities are not cute nor is this healthy. I loved this video, you are awesome. I am sorry for the shitty year, I hope it gets better.

[@skullgarden2417]

Do you do sensitivity reading? Your so blunt id legit pay you to do it lol.

[@Neighborhoodnugu]

I love fellow haters ❤

[@angelicaheredia9187]

"I'm hateful little bitch" IM DYIIING ah I think I might love you

[@Strannik01]

25:25 Kee-KEE-moh-rah, not Kee-kee-MORA. Emphasis on the second syllable.

[@loureadingthings]

that in which language? i'm speaking as i would in portuguese, sorry

[@Strannik01]

@@loureadingthings In Russian. Can't speak for Portuguese, but that's how we Russians pronounce it.

[@loureadingthings]

@@Strannik01 thanks! portuguese is my mother tongue so i resort to that

[@Genitianadinarica]

I'm sick and don't know how coherent this is going to be so I apologise in advance. First of all I love your videos and I am sorry you had to suffer through this book. Second, what Slavic Mythology?! Haven't read a book or consumed Witcher in any media (Cavill has such a repulsive face to me can't stand him), so I can't comment on that, but from what you said, I heard nothing even close to Slavic. Fae, so not our thing, we have vile but they're not the same. Also succubus, not a thing, closest thing is mora but she drains life essence, has nothing to do with sex. Third thing, and I don't know how to phrase it, cause the last thing I want to do is butt in into a very important issue you've discussed, but from my point of view, sex trafficking is also a really loaded subject in Eastern Europe. I understand that the character is a Latina, but the whole setting and world building, such as it is makes me rage. After Master or whatever that horror was called, and this, I need Westerners to just leave us alone.

[@Flareontoast]

That "pure white girl that must be protected at all costs (by her black (girl) friend" vibe is just. Ick. Yikes. I'd assume people of our generation, especially if you're part of a marginalized group already, would have more introspection and awareness of stereotypes?

[@CommanderDarcy]

os bolsonaristas foram doidão essa semana né 7:16 that's the laugh of someone who lost all their marbles 12:10 AH NÃO É >ESSE< LIVRO

[@loureadingthings]

INFELIZMENTE

[@CommanderDarcy]

@@loureadingthings EU NUNCA LEMBRO O NOME DOS LIVROS, SÓ FUI PERCEBER OQ ERA QUANDO VC FALOU OS NOME DAS MINA minha reação foi d 😃 pra 😨 muito rápido

[@sunise87]

Thank you for the review, so I'll know not to read this. As a POC I am getting angry just listening to the review smfh

[@BreakingStubad]

Came back to this video for some reason... will not be leaving a like because it's at 666 and I support that

[@BreakingStubad]

PS... It's definitely not alcoholism if it's in Latin America