Amira’s answer to “Sexual tension between Remy & Soren in Book 1 did much to drive the story; I waited long to find ou…” > Likes and Comments

Thank you for answering! But I don't understand WHY Soren and Remy "hate each other". In The Prelude, Soren seems to like Remy just fine (although she's kind of just a kid to him), when she shows him her drawing after his recital. And it's my understanding of Soren that his bitterness and cynicism are resulting from his family circumstances (don't want to spoil anything, but you know), not from the fact that he's just a bitter and resentful person at heart.

In fact, to my reading, he seems as good-hearted and loyal as it gets, brilliant, driven, and very sexy (I'm picturing a Pieter Northug lookalike here, yummy), while Remy is shares all those characteristics (although not looking like Pieter Northug, obviously, ha ha), although her brilliance is not in science but in creativity (and creative problem solving). They have such chemistry together!!!

I'm not trying to tell you how to write the series, obviously, and I am a HUGE fan, and talk it up to whomever will listen, but honestly, Vale is such a goody-goody, he just seems so much like the kind of guy who, like, after three months of dating, would finally work up the courage to kiss you but then trash the moment by ASKING whether or not it was okay if he kissed you. There's no FIRE in him! My reading shows him up as the Dutiful Soldier (first obeying his parents, then creepy Aulion, and then his next superior - again, don't want to spoil), and daydreaming over Remy all the time but moaning and self-pitying, and, I'm sorry if this sounds too critical, but he's so BLAH. Mr. Boring Good Guy With No Passion. Even his piano playing is technically perfect but with no passion.

Remy can't end up with him!! SHE has passion and fire; he would bore her to tears after a while. I know, I am not the author, and it isn't a democratic process, but Soren and Eli are such great characters, Vale feels so one-dimensional to me. (And on the Eli thing, it wouldn't be the first time in literature -or Real Life, for that matter- that two strong characters with a brother-sister-like bond ended up feeling More for each other in the end. I mean, Eli has to get over Tai at some point, no?

Well, thanks again for answering, and also for reading through my drivelly pleading for a Soren/Remy or Eli/Remy match. I think Vale should have an unfortunate accident in the next book, frankly, because I just don't like him. He's too...boy-next-door, Mr. Boring-Nice-Guy...not that you have to be a raving madman to be sexy, but...it helps to have some FIRE inside, some rebellion, some sarcasm and a little BITE. I know you're not writing Divergent (!) all over again, but Four/Tobias was interesting because he had BOTH the fire AND the "good guy" thing going on. Vale doesn't seem to have that, at least to me. Anyway, I'll shut up now as you're likely thinking, 'why doesn't she write her own @$#! series if she has such strong opinions on it all?!' (I have opinions but no original ideas, so sad.)

So, thanks again. Keep them coming and I will keep buying them! Even if Vale DOESN'T fall over a cliff. I guess. :-) <3

I am on the other team: I love Vale and I really want him to be with Remy in the end. :D
Soren is also a great guy, but I suppose I like "sweet men" better than rough ones. ;) Vale deserves to win the girl he has been in love with for years. <3
Dear Makansi, I really hope you will make it a happy ending! <3
Thank you a lot for this wonderful series! <3

Hello friends!

Thanks so very much for your comments, and for all of your thoughts regarding Remy's romantic interest. I think for us as authors the most important thing is making sure that Remy's character arc is complete and then allowing her to be satisfied with whoever she chooses. It's more important to us who Remy and Vale are strong and full, in their own right, at the end of the book, than who either of them ends up with romantically.

Thank you guys so much for being fans; nothing makes me (Amira) happier than talking about our stories!

Cheers, and I hope you're ready for The Harvest!

Amira