White Lies

Okay so I have so many jumbled thoughts on the ending of White Lies, I definitely understand why your professor needed a minute to process it and respond lol.

Let me just start off by saying I loved White Lies, even though it was a particularly difficult read for me personally. Cheating in stories always really affects me 😓 combined with Ivar’s cruelty and insensitivity.

This one was a hard one to swallow. He was really tough to read and deal with in this story lol. Just so hurtful. Also, I’m sorry to have to submit such a long post, but this definitely never would have fit in an anon message, and I didn’t want to leave anything out. Although there’s so much to this story and whenever I read it something new sticks out to me so I’ll probably send another when I realize I forgot something lol.

Wow 😳. I have to be honest I did NOT seeing that coming! I was actually really worried that the story would end with Ivar somehow getting away with everything he did and Reader having to be the bigger woman in duty to her people and be stuck with him.

I’m so curious, if Kori didn’t take matters into his own hand what do you think would have happened between Reader and Ivar? Over the years, in the long run?

You know when you finish reading something you’ve put so much emotional investment in, over time, that when it’s done you kind of feel like you’re going through a breakup?

That’s how I feel now lol I woke up feeling melancholy because I know this story is done but I’ll miss the experience of waiting for an update and reading a new chapter, especially because this story really challenged me with Ivar being suuuuuch a hurtful character to someone that loved him 😓 this Ivar was a difficult one.

And I felt torn between my instinct to want a happy ending for him in stories, but not being able to get over what he did to Reader. It was just too much. Unforgivable. I definitely didn’t expect you to kill him! A major first in your stories.

A part of me would have loved for him to live, if only so he could spend the rest of his life having to witness Reader find true happiness with another, watch his children love another parent figure, and have to actually experience the consequences of his actions.

But a part of me feels the point is moot. Something about his character in this one just felt hopeless. I felt so bad for Reader whenever he would disregard, deflect, or act petty instead of show humanity or contrition and remorse.

And it’s so tough!! Because even if he had I just couldn’t get over his affair.

To betray Reader so deeply 💔😔 and in such a way. I couldn’t forgive him. I found myself being angry and unimpressed with him even when he showed slivers of regret. And was he always like this? Even when they were married and happy?

Because it’s so hard to imagine him ever being a decent man to Reader and then turning into THIS?

It was also heartbreaking to have to accept this version of Ivar 💔 he was just so mean, and cruel, irredeemable. Even when he was in the wrong, it was always about him constantly having to one up the Reader. Be petty, childish, and hopeless.

She’s heartbroken, angry, hurting, in pain, loves/loved you, is torn, and he’s so blinded, prideful, and just inhumane that he can’t even see what he’s doing to her, the wife he claims to love.

He can’t even say/feel sorry and mean it. He has to manipulate and that’s not true remorse. Saying he’s frustrating feels like an understatement. I hate him but feel sorry for him. That someone can be that lost. And Reader deserved so much better.

What he did to her was one thing. But it’s also doubly traumatizing when your pain and experience is invalidated by the one who transgressed against you. She deserved to be shown true remorse, contrition, respect, acts of penance.

Consideration.

Instead she was stuck with Ivar. It reminds me of that quote “sometimes you have to forgive people who don’t even ask for forgiveness”. And while I’m happy she found happiness with Alfred, I’m sorry she never got her true catharsis and justice from Ivar.

It almost feels like death was too easy for him. I thought we would at least get a moment of redemption from Ivar. But nope. From beginning to the end, just no redeeming qualities. Scraps of affections or the tiniest briefest glimpses of humanity or love for Reader.

This was a rare instance where there’s been nothing about him to make me root for him in any way.

I was so proud of Reader’s growth and how she stood up for herself, even if it felt like she was talking to a wall. I’m glad she didn’t have to swallow her pride in order to be the bigger person. I’m glad she let the people who hurt her know that they hurt her.

Eirianna was a piece of work and it was gross to hear how the family noticed Ivar bringing her home late 🤢 it made me wonder if Kori ever noticed what was happening since he’s so perceptive and attentive.

Poor Kori! Having to watch his family go through so much stress and then feel like he had to be the one to do something about it. It was very sweet though the way he always looked after Reader and kept to his word. He was so honorable and an exceptional young man.

I loved the moment he told Reader about his dream and that she would be okay 😭 the Gods spoke to him! I knew it was twins!! That explains the constant movement!! When one was still the other was moving about 😍.

I haven’t finished reading the entire finale, so I think I’ll end here, but if it’s okay with you, when I’m done I’ll send in more thoughts?

Congratulations on finishing white lies, and thank you for sharing!