Morro asked K. Makansi:

Sexual tension between Remy & Soren in Book 1 did much to drive the story; I waited long to find out what would happen w/them. The ball was dropped with their energy in Book 2; I can't tell if they are supposed to be a couple even. Why's Remy so lukewarm re Soren now? Yeah, a history with drippy Vale, but...If a love triangle is needed, then obviously Eli, not VALE! Please fill in the blanks?

K. Makansi Hey! Thanks for asking! The problem with Remy and Soren is that they love each other, but they hate each other, too. Their personalities are diametrically opposite, and they always knew that. When they started to feel attracted to each other, they were in a hostile situation, forced together by circumstances beyond their control, with only each other to rely on. Of course they were going to start having feelings for each other! But under more rational circumstances, they realized that those antagonistic feelings were still there; they had learned to be friends and allies, but their romantic energy was directed elsewhere, for both of them.

As for Eli...well, let's just say he's the closest thing she'll get to a sibling, these days. They're family; they could never be in a relationship. They're protective of each other to the last, in the same way a sister or a brother would be. But they're not romantically inclined :)

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Morro 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 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 ...more
Mar 14, 2015 08:53AM · flag

Datele 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" b ...more
Mar 27, 2015 07:38PM · flag

Amira Makansi 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 m ...more
May 12, 2015 09:46PM · flag