Defining Shapeless
Today, I invite you to accompany me on a deeper exploration of the second installment of The Lighthouses of Lodestar trilogy, Shapeless. Shapeless is more than the title of a book; it’s an exploration of the uncertain and the undefined, both in the magical creatures that emerge from the mist and within our young heroine, Aislin.
Aislin begins this part of her journey as a shapeless entity, grappling to understand herself and her place in the world. Her struggles against the phantoms run parallel with the unraveling of secrets hidden in her past, leading her to the ruins of Iceburn and into the recesses of her own mind. These threads pressure her in ways altogether different from the struggles she faced in Crafters of Light. Her very identity is questioned as the stress of her situation threatens to tear her apart.
Yet, through struggle, Aislin finds solace. As she becomes more comfortable with her strengths and weaknesses, her past, and her place in the world, she embraces herself, allowing her experiences to empower her rather than allowing the world to shape her into something she doesn’t want to be.
Chapter by chapter, as she ventures deeper into the mist, Aislin learns crucial lessons that resonate deeply with her and, I hope, with all of you reading along. She discovers that she will never solve the problems on Lodestar Island with cruelty or hatred. To do that and lift the curse on Frostglen, she must muster up more empathy and compassion than she ever could have known.
Shapeless mirrors real life in this way. We are all, at times, shapeless, unsure of who we are and where we fit in. That’s a universal experience. But while chaos and discomfort are never easy companions, we can always strive to learn from our encounters with these unwanted phantoms. Through the journey of life, through our experiences, trials, and interactions, we are molded into who we are. At its best, Shapeless reminds us that in a world often fraught with strife and conflict, our empathy and compassion help to shape the best parts of us—far more than our fears or prejudices ever could. This is Aislin’s lesson to learn throughout the novel.
Ultimately, I guess I’m trying to say that Shapeless isn’t just a title. It’s a description, or maybe a state of being. It represents that undefined space, somewhere between abstract and definite, where ambiguity and tension thrive. It signifies the journey we all undergo as we grow up in a world that can often feel overwhelming and indecipherable.
As we continue following Aislin into Clearing the Mist, I hope she reminds you that it’s okay to be shapeless sometimes. It’s okay to search for answers and to struggle with the monsters in the mist. After all, it’s often within the undefined, scary parts of our lives that we find the strength to become the best versions of ourselves.
