One of the questions from last week dealt with initial impressions of Waldemar Selig's steading. Now that we've finally met him, what are your thoughts about him? Do you think he suspects that Phedre knows anything, and will he continue to play a role in the story?
I really don’t like him at all. He seems to have all the potential negative traits of the Skaldi people in addition to the potential negative traits of a person from the ruling class. I expect he will continue to play a role, since Phèdre was unable to kill him, but I doubt he suspects she knows anything. He seemed to regard both her and Joscelin as simply objects that he owned, going so far as to put Joscelin away in a closet when he lost interest in him. I doubt he really thinks much about what is in their minds.
What did you think of the visit to Lodur? Do you think it will impact how Phedre thinks of herself?
I thought that was a nice change for Phèdre. She’s been thinking of herself as the enduring victim, but he called her a weapon. She has endured enough, and I was so pleased to see her escape. I wonder if his comment helped to give her the courage to go through with her plan.
Phedre and Joscelin have both gone through some harrowing experiences in the past few chapters. How do you think it will change them going forward?
I don’t think they could go through these situations without becoming very close. He’s the only other survivor of their household, and they’ve spent so much time being each others’ strength in exile. Even if they do not end up in romantic love, I think they are as close as family. They have both also learned that they were capable of surviving some truly horrible experiences, and I think that will give them the strength to do what needs to be done in the future.
If you were in Phedre or Joscelin's place, would you have acted the same way in crafting your mastermind escape plan? What are your thoughts on how it worked out?
It worked out pretty well, I think. I mean, they escaped and now they’re in Terre d’Ange once again! I am not really an escape artist, so I don’t think I would have been able to come up with anything better.
We're finally getting to observe a budding romance between Phedre and Joscelin. How do you see this playing out? What do you think of it?
I’m not sure how much their romance can really progress. I think that night together was really important for Phèdre, because it was the first time she slept with someone solely because she wanted to. I think she needed that, after her treatment at Gunter and Waldemar’s hands. Joscelin, though, sees being with Phèdre as a betrayal of his vows, so I don’t know how he’ll come to terms with that. Also, in the long term, their tastes are probably not compatible. I think this is a romance of the particular circumstances, and it will settle down into a deep non-romantic bond. I could be totally wrong, though :).
Other Things:
—It was interesting to see Joscelin calling out Phèdre for her pride, about Melisande’s diamond.
—How sad was it that they had to lie to their own countrymen and sneak past?
—I’m hoping Ysandre is actually trustworthy, because Melisande was also one of Delaunay’s ‘friends’.
Waldemar is not a very likeable character. He is definitely focused on his self-interests.
ReplyDeleteJoscelin and Phedre have been through such tough times. I can't imagine them not being close. If you toss two people together who go through such things together, is it possible for them to NOT be close afterwards?
Yes! I love that Phedre calls Joscelin on his pride more than once, and then he has the opportunity to do so with her and Melisande's diamond. I guess he could have offered to carry it for her if the memory of it still stung too much. However, it is very symbolic that she chooses to continue wearing it.
I agree, I don't think it would be possible for them not to be close after all that!
DeleteI, too, think it was for the best that Phèdre kept the diamond, for her sake and for Joscelin's. For one thing, I think that so soon after Joscelin betrayed his vows and swallowed his pride, it was probably helpful for him to see a visual reminder that Phèdre was struggling in a similar way. It wouldn't have carried the same symbolic weight if he'd kept it for her.