On the Stockholm Octavo spread and 'golden connections'
I agree!
I think it is fascinating that the author wove some historic names and a somewhat original take--well, other historic authors have done this to give a period flavor to their fantasy novels--but I do enjoy such good reads to include the pleasure and plus of cards and characters. It will not be the first time that a good read has a fictional spread that 'illustrates/maps' the storyline, but I just like glimpses of history in my good reads...by the way, I generally cheerfully ignore 99 percent of all fiction nowadays. My own fictions can put me to sleep nicely.
The timing of the Stockholm Octavo falling at my feet on vacation was perfect, so I am enjoying it as a keepsake from a fun family visit. Also, nice to see a thread had been started with nice recommendations and a pretty, affordable deck to tie in. My old Jost Ammon reprint by Il Meneghello is nice to look at, but the affordable color reprint will be fun to play with all the more...if I remember to follow up and order the Octavo handbook in January...or just work up a version of the spread from the book.
Cerulean
I don't think the Octavo itself was meant to be historic. Mrs. Sparrow comments that she uses (or at least started with) the Eteilla method for ordinary querents, but she only uses the Octavo for people who get her visions, and she claims to have sort of “received” it from beyond.