The Queen of the Tearling discussion

Who is the father? Is it too early to tell?

Are there any clues?

My gut says Carroll is the father.

I think it's too early to tell. I'd personally say Mace but I think the Regent would have more blatantly indicated him in his thoughts if that were the case.

I hope the real father is surprising.

I was thinking MACE but on second thought i think Carrol is the more likely contender. though, who knows maybe we havent met him yet.

I have a feeling it's not anyone we've met so far, or there's no father at all. She seems to be a kind of Christ/Saviour-like person so if it was a miraculous birth, it wouldn't surprise me.

I think the father must be someone with magic, someone really powerful and dangerous. I considered the handsome monster that the Red Queen called, but I think it must be someone we haven't met yet. Maybe someone linked to the Tear family line. I've also got lots of questions about who the Fetch is and whether he's related to the Red Queen or the Tear line or something- as he appears not to be aging too, and was recognised as someone who should be dead by the Regent, so maybe The Fetch has magic...
I considered Mace as the father then discarded him as I don't think their relationship has been given any sort of father/daughter hints. I think Carrol is far too ordinary- especially as the Regent was 'scared' of who her father was. Also, Carrol had his own wife and children and wanted to go back to them. I think if Carrol was the dad he'd have been more protective.
Oooo so many questions!

My first thought was Carroll. But I dismissed him quickly because he said that he want to be captain of the Queen's Guard because he had a family to consider. That made me think that he was a strong family man and a strong family man would want to protect his daughter.

My next thought was Mace. However, he seems like the obvious guess from a readers perspective. I also don't think Mace would've continued a relationship with Kelsea's mom after the first abortion, let alone the third. Unless, of course, her mom had multiple affairs.

I know it's not Pen. I just feel like the author won't make it that kind of weird given that Kelsea finds him so attractive.

It not Dyer.I have a feeling that any child he has will be red headed.

The only two other middle aged men that seemed rememberable to be was Mhurn and Kealsea's uncle. I know it's not them.

With all that being said. I think Kelsea's father is Fetch but not the one Kelsea is attracted to. I think the Fetch she is attracted to took over for the new Fetch. His identity has never been revealed and he looks a lot younger than he should based on how long he's been around. I know it's crazy but that's the theory I'm leaning towards.

I initially thought her father was The Fetch and then decided it was weird based on the attraction she feels. Then I gave the book to my mum to read and she thought the same thing. I still discard him as the dad though because the attraction was too built up and it would be too horrendous if he was. In some books that would be ok, but this book isn't anywhere near dark enough for that kind of weirdness!

I kind of like your idea Sierra. The problem I have with it though is that the Regent already knew the fetch was alive. It was when he was shown the fetch's face he said 'but you're dead!' It was the FACE he recognised rather than the title of 'The Fetch'.

My grammar is appalling when I get excited. Apologies. ;)

Kim wrote: "I was thinking MACE but on second thought i think Carrol is the more likely contender. though, who knows maybe we havent met him yet."

I don't think it was carol he basically said he wasn't going to be loyal to her. When they got back. I lean towards Mace

anybody else think it could possibly be Fetch?

i agree with sierra that this fetch probably took over from the previous fetch. i think the mace is her father but he doesn't know because Elyssa had multiple affairs.

I think it's the handsome monster the Red Queen called .. and I think Fetch is Jonathan Tearling who never really died.

FlakesofSunlight wrote: "Who is the father? Is it too early to tell?

Are there any clues?

My gut says Carroll is the father."

then she wouldve recognized him when she saw him ...

I think it's the thing the Red Queen called upon. He was adamant that the Red Queen not invade Tearling or harm Kelsea.
But then who all knows about him, the magic monster guy?

The Fetch is trying to get information out of Thomas before he kills him; Thomas has a flashback to his night with the Red Queen and she asks of Kelsea's paternity. Why would Thomas have that particular flashback? I really don't believe the Fetch is her dad, but that is suspicious. Also, I don't think the Fetch is Jonathan Tear either, because if he was, wouldn't that mean that the second jewel really was his? He told her Kelsea it wasn't his to claim.

So far I am leaning toward Sierra's idea. I also wondered if the monster that the red queen called has something to do with the Fetch when I was reading that seriously creepy scene. I did not think of Carrol at all for her father and Mace is still floating in the back of my mind. Maybe it is someone we haven't met yet as many have said, but part of me thinks the author has already introduced him to us. However, it could have been a very small introduction. I loved the line the Fetch said when the regent said I thought you were dead. "only on the inside".

I think it is someone in Lily's storyline

What I gathered so far from the second book:

1. LAZARUS/MACE IS NOT THE FATHER, atleast as far as he believes. Once, he thought that he was and he wanted it to be so. He also thinks that Kelsea's father is a good man. I don't think it's him either. It is implied that Mace was in love with Queen Elyssa once. He reassures Pen that he is not the only one who has suffered from being in love with the monarch that they're supposed to guard. If Lazarus was in love with Elyssa, he's not the father, and he doesn't seem to be harbouring any resentment towards Kelsea's father, then Kelsea's father might indeed be a good man. Or that Lazarus was never in love with Elyssa in the first place, probably infatuation at most. Also, let's not forget that it was revealed Lazarus is not his real name and it is witheld in the second book. It may hold special significance.

2. The father is of Tear lineage that's why the jewels respond to Kelsea and not to Queen Elyssa nor the Red Queen.

3. The Fetch and The Dark Thing(Rowland Finn) have betrayed Jonathan Tear thus their current situations as punishment. They both can inflict pain and death on others but never towards themselves. I'm thinking that the three of them are siblings, half brothers or atleast almost like brothers. It the portrait gallery, Kelsea noted that the space between William's and Jonathan's could fit one more portrait. It could be The Fetch's but taken down because if his betrayal? Or to erase him from the records to keep his identity? Then again, Kelsea has seen the Fetch and she would've noticed any resemblance between him and Jonathan. Which will lead me back to them being half brothers as William did not have a queen and didn't believe in marriage. Nevertheless, Finn appears to be the mastermind and Fetch was lured into being an accomplice. How was he lured? Power? Probably. Love? I'm leaning towards this because the Fetch just seemed to be a romantic to me or atleast he's a person motivated by love for another. Could it be that he's in love with Jonathan's wife? If they're not brothers, they could have been members of Jonathan's guard. I'm thinking that Jonathan acquired one of the jewels(No clue how) and ignited Finn's greed towards power so he enlisted the Fetch to help him.
* I have a different discussion regarding the Fetch's love interests*

And now their differences:
a. Rowland Finn's portrait is in the gallery while The Fetch's is not. It is indicated that Finn could have held a high position in the monarchy - probably after betraying Jonathan. Again, there is possiblity that the Fetch's once hung between William's and Jonathan's.
b. Finn calls Kelsea the Tear Heir but the Fetch calls her the Tear Queen. I'm not quite sure what to make of this because the Fetch already knows who the father is so obviously he must also know that Kelsea is the Tear heir - unless The Regent lied to the Fetch. But for what reasons? A last ditch to protect Elyssa and/or Kelsea? A final malicious last stand against the Fetch? In the second book, the Fetch admitted to know so little about the jewels' powers that's why he assumed that Kelsea's appearance changed as wish fulfillment. He probably didn't know that Kelsea is the Tear heir and that the jewels will only work for the Tear heir. Which leads me to conclude that he knows who the father is but he didn't know that Kelsea's father is William Tear's descendant.
c. Finn can't touch the jewels but the Fetch can. In the first book, the Fetch was the one who gave the jewels to Kelsea in the Argive Pass. Maybe he just held it by the chains.
d. Finn's freedom is through forgiveness from one of Jonathan Tear's descendants. The Fetch's is still a mystery. It probably has something to do with the Tear Kingdom itself hence he would have sucked up big time to Kelsea for forgiveness. Or he probably doesn't know how he can be forgiven. Or he has not forgiven himself. Or he still has some unfinished business.
e. Kelsea feels lust towards Finn but love or atleast infatuation towards the Fetch. The Fetch of course does not reciprocate the feeling(I have a theory that he is in love with Marguerete and I'll expound in a bit) as he considers her as a child still. Finn meanwhile treats Kelsea as an equal towards the end of the second book.
The Fetch is in love with Marguerete theory. This has been bugging me since book one. Redheads could be the Fetch's type. In book one, he was mentioned to be looking wistfully into the Keep and Marguerite is in the Keep. He has stolen one of the Regent's favorite woman and Marguerite is obviously his favourite. In book two, Ewen remembers a time when the Regent imprisoned one of his women whose description fits that of Marguerite's, in one of the jailor's cells. This could explain the hated between the two. And there is the foreshadowing that Kelsea will always feel jealousy towards Marguerite. And when Kelsea mentioned seeing Lily Mayhew, he smiled a genuine smile and asked if she saw a girl with long, reddish hair. I don't think that she's his daughter as he's described as a 'dark-haired rogue'. They could've been lovers. Could she be Lily's daughter? Or Mady's daughter?
d. Finn's mask makes him look handsome or younger, the Fetch's mask makes him look hideous but his naked face is handsome.

4. EVERYONE KNOWS EXCEPT KELSEA AND THE RED QUEEN. Almost everyone knows except Kelsea and the Red Queen. Those who know for sure: The Regent, The Fetch, The Dark Thing, Mace and the older Queen's guard. Arliss? Most probably. Arlen Thorne? Maybe but unlikely. He could've used it to bargain for his life. I also don't think that it's the Fetch because if he was, it would have changed the dynamics of their interactions since the Regent's confession. He would've felt more protective or giving towards her. Sure, he still treats her like a child, but not his child.

WELL, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MY PIECE. I INTENDED TO POST A SHORT COMMENT BUT ENDED UP WITH THIS. APPARENTLY, MY SUPPOSEDLY SHORT COMMENT MUTATED AND BRED WITH ITSELF RESULTING TO MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS BECAUSE NOW I'M THINKING ABOUT FATHER TYLER(IS IT THE TEARLING CROWN THAT HE'S SMUGGLING OUT OF THE CHURCH?), BRENNA AND MARGUERITE. I'M PRETTY SURE I OVERLOOKED SOME DETAILS OR MADE SOME UNLIKELY CONCLUSIONS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR OPINIONS AS I WISH TO READ MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SERIES. IT'S SURPRISING HOW i FOUND VERY FEW DISCUSSIONS IN THE INTERNET. IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S NAP TIME FOR ME. AND PLEASE, PARDON ME IF I COMMIT ANY GRAMMATICAL ERRORS OR WHAT NOT. CORRECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME TOO.

I do like Veronica's idea that Fetch = Jonathan Tear or possibly William Tear.

I suspect Kelsea has two Royal bloodlines which enables her to use the magic of the sapphires: Tear and Raleigh.

I also suspect Elyssa might not be her mother after all. Perhaps she is Thomas's child instead?

I really don't know who he could be because literally everyone is like: NO YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO YOUR FATHER IS!
And then there's Mace who says that he was a good man

I fancy the idea that Fin is both the first Fetch and her dad

I have a feeling that it may be Rowland Finn too. It can't be the Fetch because he questioned Kelsea's uncle before he killed him.

With The Fate of the Tearling, we finally find out who the father is. (Thank goodness - I thought Johansen would leave us hanging, especially since it was of no particular importance to Kelsea). But WOW. It was a man I didn't even consider. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I won't post any name.

NOt that I was madly in love with this trilogy anyway, but at first the premise seemed interesting and I enjoyed some of the characters. I thought the first andor second book wholly too violent. I saw after I read the third one it was billed as horror/fantasy. But initially i only thought it was fantasy. The whole ending was pulled out of nowhere it seemed to me written in an hour. Of course it could be a set up for another book. I don't want to give anything away because I only kept reading for two reasons. Many things in this book were explained in a tossed off sentence when you really wanted more than that. Please no movie, which is what I think the author wants when they wrte a crappy third book. That they all want Hunger Games $$ and fame.

The Red Queen hints that genetics are everything. Kelsea has magic and ger mother didnt which means to me that her father has magic and is powerful. I think tnere is more than one Fetch, first off, and tnat one of them could be. But I think its the dark handsome guy the red queen deals with. He seemed very adamant about her not invading the tearling and threatened to harm her if she hurt kelsea. Seems awfully protective.

Veronica wrote: "I think it's the handsome monster the Red Queen called .. and I think Fetch is Jonathan Tearling who never really died."

I think The fetch is Jonathan Tearling and he is the father.