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Stories that Shape Us: Being Called to Our Purpose Through Love in Empire of Storms Pt. 1
0 Playsin 11 hours
This is the character development deep dive that shows how love calls us into becoming who we're meant to be. The moment when you realize that fictional transformations mirror our own healing journeys and teach us profound truths about breaking free from toxic conditioning.
Here's what Empire of Storms teaches us about growth and purpose:
- Character redemption isn't about becoming someone new - it's about discovering the heart you always had
- How toxic family conditioning can make us believe we're heartless when we've been showing compassion all along
- The power of having people see your potential before you recognize it yourself (the 13 saw Manon's heart first)
- Breaking free from manipulation requires recognizing that cruelty isn't strength - it's learned behavior
- Ruthlessness as a survival tool versus ruthlessness as your entire identity
- How love and connection call us into our authentic selves (Manon with Dorian, Elide with Lorcan)
- The difference between fantasy romance intensity and actual emotional safety in relationships
- Why some character arcs feel more satisfying than others (earned growth versus told growth)
From Manon's transformation from "evil" witch to beloved character showing us how to reclaim our authentic selves, to Elide and Lorcan demonstrating what emotional care looks like in relationships, this episode explores how the best fantasy mirrors real psychological growth.
Major spoiler alert: We discuss plot points from Empire of Storms and reference the entire Throne of Glass series.
Content note: This episode includes discussion of adult themes and fantasy violence.
Get the Book: 📖 Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
Because here's what we learned: the characters who resonate most deeply are those whose growth reflects our own journey of breaking cycles, healing from conditioning, and being called into purpose through love and authentic connection.
This is part one of our Empire of Storms analysis - part two coming next month!
About my bestie Priscilla:
Priscilla De Lara is originally from California now living in Milan, Italy working in international education. She is a lover of food, traveling, and reading! Fun fact: Priscilla was a college radio DJ.
Connect with Priscilla on TikTok @priscillainitaly
Subscribe. Share. Remember that character development mirrors personal development.
Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨
Join the conversation! Which fictional character's transformation has taught you the most about your own healing journey? DM me your insights on Instagram @YourCoachMari
💬 LET'S CONNECT:
Send in questions: contact+podcast@marisolmoran.com
We might just have the same taste in books. Check out my Book List.
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🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER
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Transcript
Introduction to Growing With Soul Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
from Hello, beautiful souls, and welcome to the Growing With Soul podcast, where we explore the moments and stories that shape who we're becoming. I'm Marisol, and this is where I love to have real conversations about growth, self-discovery, and learning to put yourself first.
00:00:16
Speaker
Whether we're diving into books that change our perspective or unpacking personal experiences that teach us something new, This podcast is for women who are done playing small and ready to embrace their own journey.
00:00:27
Speaker
If you've struggled with putting yourself first or battled self-doubt, you're in the right place. This isn't about perfection. It's about the messy, beautiful process of growing into yourself. Come grow with me.
Empire of Storms: Part One Discussion
00:00:40
Speaker
So in today's episode, we are actually going to be focusing on one of those stories that basically shape us. And we are continuing on with our Throne of Glass um series segment, essentially, and focusing on Empire of Storms. But this will just be the part one.
00:00:56
Speaker
And then there will be a part two coming out next month where we dive into some of the other characters. Quick spoiler warning for Empire of Storms and this episode. We are going to be talking about this, I think it's what the fifth book or so in ah the Throne of Glass series, Empire of Storms.
00:01:13
Speaker
um So we're going to be focusing on Manon and Elite and their development. So... If you haven't read Empire of Storms, definitely go read it and come back.
00:01:25
Speaker
But with that being said, we also do reference other books as well. We've talked about Kingdom of Ash as well a little bit. So spoiler warning for the whole series and also a little bit of a content warning. We do get into some adult themes a little bit, but not too much. But just FYI, we do get into some adult themes as well.
00:01:46
Speaker
um So keep that in mind as you go about listening.
Guest Contribution: Priscilla DeLara
00:01:53
Speaker
In this particular episode, I am being joined by Priscilla DeLara. She is my bestie, the reason why I am obsessed with this series, and overall avid reader.
00:02:06
Speaker
And we still need to choose a book to read together. We're supposed to do a buddy read at some point in time, so we'll have to figure that out. and But to give you a little bit of a synopsis about Empire of Storms, which...
00:02:19
Speaker
I don't know if this would be like my second favorite in the entire series. Maybe. It might be.
Empire of Storms Synopsis
00:02:25
Speaker
I'm not entirely sure. You have to figure that out. But it was a really good book. So the synopsis.
00:02:32
Speaker
In Empire of Storms, Aelan Galathinius returns to Terresin only to find her homeland's borderlands or borders closed against her. With the dark forces of Erewhon spreading across the continent and Aelan's power coveted by many, she must forge dangerous alliances and embrace her fiery destiny.
00:02:49
Speaker
As Aelan navigates treacherous political waters, she assembles a formidable team of warriors, assassins, and royals. Meanwhile, Menon Blackbeak begins to question her wingleader role among the Iron Teeth Witches, setting her on a collision course with Aelin that will alter both of their fates.
00:03:07
Speaker
Empire Storms weaves together multiple storylines across Ereleia as ancient powers awaken and long very secrets surface. Aelin's journey reveals the true scope of her heritage, the devastating sacrifices that may be required to save her world.
00:03:21
Speaker
When a shocking betrayal leads to a devastating climax on a war-torn breach, Aelin must confront the ultimate question. How is, or how much, is she willing to give to protect those she loves?
00:03:36
Speaker
Which I was reviewing my notes, and that part was so emotional. I was like, not only with like reading the book, like I was looking at all of my annotations. i was a hot mess of a human being reading it clearly.
00:03:49
Speaker
and then just reading my notes again and like the parts I highlighted. i was going through it early this morning, 6 a.m. reviewing everything. Honestly, I mean, it's a beautiful series. And the closer you get to the end, the more emotional it is.
Character Development: Manon's Journey
00:04:05
Speaker
Because, um...
00:04:08
Speaker
I think you you know this, but like, I think I told you like, I skimmed all of like the 13th chapters and all of Menom's chapters. And then like with every- In this book too?
00:04:19
Speaker
No, not in this book. In this book less. But because I, in when I first read the series, i think that I, I skimmed less because it's more exciting as a whole, i think, because you just you see the bigger picture happening, but yeah.
00:04:37
Speaker
It just makes me wish that like the chapters before and the books before kind of weren't as long because I still think that you become connected to all of all of them more so now.
00:04:53
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's one of the reasons why even Queen of Shadows isn't one of my top books and definitely not Air of Fire. Because I couldn't connect with Manon's story and the witch's story in the beginning.
00:05:07
Speaker
Like, I had to get through it to understand her so that I can really see the impact of her growth and, like, how important of a character she is. But it was so difficult, kind of just...
00:05:19
Speaker
trudging my way through it to get to that point, unfortunately. But I do think that her story is pivotal. I do think that Aylund and Manon mirror each other and their journeys mirror each other.
00:05:33
Speaker
and I feel like,
00:05:37
Speaker
I feel like in terms of her Manon's journey, I really appreciate that it's that she's this ruthless character and we meet her and she's just violent and vicious and like everything that you would associate with being evil and bad and someone that's unlikable.
00:05:57
Speaker
But she just ends up being one of the most loved characters in the entire series by the fandom. And seeing that growth that she has from from that evil place to realizing that All of that was a nurture.
00:06:11
Speaker
All of that was her grandma's doing and that she actually can be ruthless and vicious when she needs to be. And it's a tool and an asset, but it's not all of who she is. Yeah, I think her growth was more satisfying to me, even though it might be a little
Comparative Character Analysis
00:06:28
Speaker
harsh to say, but... um more like to me even though the chapters were boring i could see how strong of a character she was whereas i was really frustrated with selena aelin during the first few books i felt like the development was a lot slower um and i don't know you get to see that like how powerful she is from the get-go so i think the fact that she changes i don't think
00:06:56
Speaker
my eye was as critical as it was with Aelin.
00:07:04
Speaker
So you weren't as critical of Manon that I was of Aelin, I feel. Because you're told she's this powerful, um which, like, set to take over, ruthless, basically not having a heart, um...
00:07:21
Speaker
And then you get to see like the little interactions throughout her development and I don't know why they were more satisfying to me. No, that's valid. i think a part of it is my own speculation because we never actually get to see it on the page.
00:07:39
Speaker
But this whole notion of her like not having a heart and that, you know, the witches don't have a heart and all of this stuff. Like, obviously that's a lie and it's a lie that the grandmother told.
00:07:51
Speaker
And it's worked, obviously, because the Black Beaks have been very successful. And the iine with Iron Teeth witches have been very successful in their mission of killing all the Crockens and all that stuff. But I...
00:08:05
Speaker
I 100% believe that Manon has always acted in such a way that showed more compassion and empathy than the average Iron Teeth witch.
00:08:18
Speaker
Because the 13 have always been so incredibly loyal to her and have always loved her. And they they came to that realization before she even did.
00:08:34
Speaker
Like they all had their own little group meeting of like, no, like Manon is the person that we're going to follow. Screw grandma. She sucks.
The Influence of Manon's Grandmother
00:08:42
Speaker
And Manon is going to be the person that we always follow in everything that we do.
00:08:48
Speaker
And that was before Manon even realized it. And I think the only reason that was the case, that the Iron Teeth at the 13 felt that way, is because Manon always had a heart, even if she didn't know it.
00:09:02
Speaker
mean, I wonder what Machiavelli would think. I mean, clearly the grandma was feared, obviously, and not liked.
00:09:13
Speaker
But Manon got where she was because, yeah, I guess even though she thought she was being ruthless, tiny little things added up that were visible to the 13, which is why she had their loyalty without even trying to have it.
00:09:28
Speaker
um Yeah. But the grandma was foul. She was horrible. how that Absolutely horrible. Like I was going through my notes again and like the whole remembering how the grandma treated her in the previous books and then even that scene where to punish Manon, she was going to execute Astrid.
00:09:52
Speaker
Like what the fuck? Like, that's horrible. Like, just to show you the type of person that the grandma is, but I think even, not worse than that, but, like, to add to that, she was...
00:10:06
Speaker
I think ultimately she was jealous of Minon. I think she was jealous of Minon and I think that the grandma was afraid of what Minon would have and essentially will be able to do.
00:10:19
Speaker
And that is unite all the witches again and basically overthrow her and make her obsolete. And the grandma knew that, I think, from the very beginning, which is why she was so manipulative in how she raised her to be vicious and to think she had no heart and that killing all the crockens was the thing to do. Like, it was all part of the grandma's plan to keep men on small so that she would never actually take over.
00:10:46
Speaker
And to potentially, like, when they did find the crockens that did survive, they wouldn't want her. They wouldn't accept her. Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, so manipulative.
00:10:59
Speaker
So annoying, honestly. Because even if you are self-proclaimed to be ruthless, powerful witches that don't have hearts based on grandma's narrative, I mean, yeah, to others, to outsiders, not to each other.
00:11:13
Speaker
so that was... and made me think of, like, the orcs. Like, the orcs. Yeah. um you know turning to kind ah cannibalism when it was needed like being not really having friendships amongst themselves but like these witches were obviously far more developed and like to have no one question it at all was strange because they were all brainwashed Oh, definitely.
00:11:43
Speaker
i think they were all being brainwashed and maybe not even so much brainwashed, but I think they lived in fear. Like the witch's society was very hierarchical. So you just had to follow what the person above you said.
00:11:57
Speaker
and if not, there was going to be violent consequences. And then we we we see how vicious the matron is, the grandma, like how cruel she is.
00:12:08
Speaker
So I could see why people and the witches didn't do anything to fight against it. And maybe we were just waiting for her to die and for Manon to take over, it's hoping that it would be better. It's little bit different, but
Kale and Dorian: Character Speculations
00:12:22
Speaker
the grandma was just cruel.
00:12:25
Speaker
Absolutely cruel. i hated her.
00:12:28
Speaker
and was satisfying when she was killed.
00:12:33
Speaker
That didn't happen in this book, right? trying remember. It was a long time ago since I read it. No, I didn't. i i don't think I don't think it was this one because I think she's on the battlefield in Kingdom of Ash. Right?
00:12:46
Speaker
Honestly, don't remember what's happening in this book. I think it's the next one. Okay. That would make more sense.
00:12:59
Speaker
No, it would be Kingdom of Ash then because the next one is Tower of Dawn.
00:13:04
Speaker
And we know that I'll reading it for the first time. So rude. It's so good. it i saw a TikTok today about Tower of Dawn and it was a hilarious. You know what? i I know this is... He should not be in this conversation, but I think that I don't like Kale and I refuse to...
00:13:29
Speaker
I guess cross that wall I've built. um here Yeah. Like, okay, I think he's fine. he tried to redeem himself, whatever, but he's not my favorite.
00:13:41
Speaker
But I think he was annoying me the whole time and and I refuse to like forgive him because he was just so painfully human.
00:13:51
Speaker
But he was just a human, that's why. Whereas the others, it's like, okay, well, you know, like, Aideon was, like, horrible. But, like, yeah, you're super strong. Like, you have, what what was he, like, half?
00:14:05
Speaker
He was half Fae, yeah. Yeah, he was a demi-Fae. Yeah, demi-Fae, so you get a pass.
00:14:13
Speaker
Dang, Fae supremacy. know. It's just like, so you're the reason why Kale was annoying. People who thought like you didn't deserve his happy ending. And Dorian didn't get one. So Wow, not even for the sake of Dorian. Could you imagine if Kale was murdered, how Dorian would be?
00:14:38
Speaker
Distraught? Sure. You would take away his happiness, his joy, his reason to live. he didn't have to be killed he could have just kind of like served the kingdom and like not ever marry didn't deserve to be loved no after what he did to wow you know and his like prejudice i could have mine against him i mean sure no one says you have to like him
00:15:12
Speaker
And like he wouldn't have the time to like mature. I think that's why too, because he would have a human life. So then there's no... I don't think that's true. People can change. Sure.
00:15:26
Speaker
To an extent. People mature. You've changed and grown. like but come on now. Kale did.
00:15:34
Speaker
Say that extremely powerful Fae could potentially be evil and like ruin the world. True, but there was no therapy in that book of psychology. For none of them, and they all still grew.
00:15:50
Speaker
They were like 2,000 years old. They had time to evolve. ah Some of them, like Rowan and potentially Lorcan.
00:16:01
Speaker
But if we're looking at how Aelin grew and how Manon grew, Manon was only, what, like 100, maybe less than that?
00:16:12
Speaker
So in the scope of things, like she still grew and changed really quickly. And also, if you think about it, like with Manon as an example, she, let's say she was 100. She spent the first 100 years of her life being evil and violent and cruel.
00:16:30
Speaker
And then within a span of how long is the whole Throne of Glass series? Like two years? ah yeah So in the span of two years, she did a whole 180. But a lot happened.
00:16:43
Speaker
And the Kale was in the two years. Same thing. A lot happened Kale.
00:16:50
Speaker
no one's saying you have to like him I'm just saying he did grow and change in the book. Yeah. Okay. I agree. Not as much as you should. You can still not like him. It's fine.
Dorian and Manon Relationship Speculation
00:17:02
Speaker
ah Speaking of Maran, though, we can't... talk about her and talk about this book without talking about her and Dorian. And it is never set. here's Here's my thing. And maybe I'm a little bit too, like, mates happy.
00:17:19
Speaker
But I think... That her and Dorian are mates. It's never said in the whole series. It's never said at all. But i i caught I caught a little pattern. I caught a pattern this morning when I was actually looking at Lorcan and Alid.
00:17:33
Speaker
And in the book, in the in the in the whole series, and we can talk about this in a little bit, but like Lorcan is like, I think you're my mate at at a certain point in Kingdom of Ash. Yeah. And then i totally just realized i forgot to say spoiler alert in the beginning of the episode.
00:17:51
Speaker
Oops. Anyway, it's par for the course. um But they're mates, and i i think 100% that Lorcan and Ali are mates, even though that's never like solidified.
00:18:02
Speaker
But there they were very intense when they started seeing each other, even though it was like unofficial, but they were just forced proximity, love that. But like, it was intense.
00:18:14
Speaker
Aelin and Rowan, also intense. In the other series, when the mates meet each other, that it's intense. And the same thing with Menon and Dorian. It was intense. So even though it's never actually said, i think they are mates.
00:18:28
Speaker
I think I agree because what was it? He was under that, he was wearing that collar and he didn't respond to anything other than her speaking to him. o Out of his like demon trance to like flirt. um And the fact that she starts to care for him in a way. I mean, she's the one that tells Aelin and Rowan and company that like he's there and that he's still fully there too. It's like she didn't have to do that. She was doing her own thing.
00:19:01
Speaker
This was before they like solidified anything. But I wonder if like how Lorcan gives his life span or like ties his life to her to lead.
00:19:14
Speaker
If Mana would be able to do the same thing with Dorian.
Magic System and Manon's Potential
00:19:23
Speaker
Potentially, here's the thing when it comes to all of these books and all these series, we never get clear parameters of how the magic system actually works.
00:19:36
Speaker
Like how it's raised within it, yeah. Yeah, so potentially, if she's able to wield magic in such a way that Lorcan did to do that, then I think she could.
00:19:48
Speaker
mean, I think she would be able to wield magic in a different way than Lorican. but don't know. I feel like she should, though. Unless she wanted to see Dorian Gray and, like, die.
00:20:05
Speaker
I don't think she would have wanted that, though.
00:20:10
Speaker
Yeah. It's one of those things where it's like, i don't like it. i don't like i don't like how it ended in that regard. Like, obviously, like, beautiful that they... acknowledge each other.
00:20:23
Speaker
But like, yeah, like, we didn't get what we needed. Like everyone else had kind of a full circle moment. And like one of the main characters didn't and the main one of the main characters that was supposed to be the love interest of Aelin didn't. I don't know. it was just strange.
00:20:43
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, that's why part of me, I have a little like thrown a glass conspiracy theory, like Mosser's conspiracy theory that we're going to get another thrown a glass book. Really?
00:20:55
Speaker
I think so, especially now that we have the three different series like intertwined in such a way. Either we're going to get another Throne of Glass book or we're going to get some of the characters showing up in another series. We're going to get another crossover with Throne of Glass characters.
00:21:13
Speaker
yeah I think that's more likely, but I would... I'm going to be greedy. I want both. want another Throne a Glass book and I want them to show up in another series. I want both. But most likely just the crossovers likely.
00:21:26
Speaker
Yeah. Or like just a novella. Like tie everything. Give us a glimpse of what happened afterwards. Yeah. Because it was just war is over. Everything's a mess. Everything's destroyed. Okay.
00:21:38
Speaker
The end. like Like there are couples, but the end. Right. I mean, in terms of for what Throne of Glass was, I think that makes sense.
00:21:49
Speaker
But... The thing about Throne Glass is also that, I mean, all of her books, really, they're all so character-driven. So as readers, we become invested in the development of these characters, we become invested in their lives and how they turn out.
00:22:03
Speaker
So when we don't have we don't have it tied with a bow, it's almost like, well, what does happen next? Does Dorian die and Manon lives in agony for the rest of her life? Like, I don't like it. She doesn't deserve it.
00:22:17
Speaker
ah Now that like how you mentioned that all three series are intertwined um i think we're going to have to need like we we need some insight because there are so many theories that you know certain characters are the descendants of XYZ so then like how did that happen then?
Series Timeline and Generational Links
00:22:41
Speaker
Like how many generations back. So I think. Like what was her name. Oh my gosh I'm blanking. Because everything is muddled together. What Lysandra. no no I'm talking about Crescent City.
00:22:54
Speaker
Bryce. No not Bryce. Yeah. and yeah
00:23:02
Speaker
the Oh, movie you gave me a look. I'm sorry. Spoiler alert. No, spoiler alert. Like, yeah, like, or people saying that, um, that Tamlin is Aideon and Lysandra's descendant because Aideon, um, like physically looks like Tamlin and Lysandra's a shapeshifter.
00:23:26
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, I see how it makes sense. Um, But if all three worlds are just different planets existing at the same time, then that can't happen.
00:23:46
Speaker
Because why why would it be only then that Crescent City and ACOTAR are on the same timeframe, are both present day, but then TOG isn't present day?
00:23:59
Speaker
Like, aren't they all present day?
00:24:05
Speaker
i mean with the work Anyway, this got way more meta. I don't know. whatll We'll see. Some world building is needed for sure. But going back to Manon, at the end of it, for for this particular book, seeing their romance build, and I think that for Manon, it was...
00:24:29
Speaker
Very telling that like, and again, i think this supports the whole May theory, but I think it was telling about her growth as well because there was so much of her needing to do the opposite of what she's always done, which was letting go of control and letting go of power and allowing in a way for Dorian to lead the whole romance.
00:24:50
Speaker
Part of it was because she was a prisoner and, like, tied to like, the bed she was in. And, like, she couldn't, like, leave or do anything. So Dorian was the one who was coming to her room and initiating conversation and all that stuff.
00:25:05
Speaker
But also... even in when they finally slept together, she even like put a note of like, she's never, she's always been the one to be on top as well and always been the one in control. And she didn't do that with Dorian.
00:25:19
Speaker
And it's just like that as well. Like she had to, she was not that she had to, but she was so willing and open to do the opposite of what she's always done with Dorian.
00:25:33
Speaker
Because again, i think they're mates. So she was comfortable with him. Yeah, or comfortable, but or even just her body and mind kind of going with it.
Manon's Vulnerability and Growth
00:25:45
Speaker
No, no, her body going with it before because it wasn't catching up to her brain ah her. Yeah, her being that vulnerable with him without even thinking about why, because we don't really get that much insight on like why what's going on in her head while she's doing it, which I feel like is a missed opportunity. like Yeah.
00:26:08
Speaker
That have been really nice to have of her point of view with all of that. But um at the end of the day, i really loved watching and reading about her growth and development through all of that, too, of her being a little bit more reticent.
00:26:22
Speaker
But also, like, she couldn't deny that she was attracted to him. And then eventually she couldn't deny that she had feelings for him. Yeah, i mean, she was being kind, um like telling him if the time comes and they're not willing to kill you, i will.
00:26:43
Speaker
And like, if you're so, you know, ruthless, you wouldn't offer someone that mercy, that courtesy. That's true.
00:26:55
Speaker
But like, um okay, I'll take though, but it is onman on Manon. I totally shit Manon in a lead.
00:27:04
Speaker
You know what? i don't knock it. And maybe in a different world, we would have gotten that because the way that the influence that Alid had over Manon, even from like, it was Queen of Shadows?
00:27:19
Speaker
yeah're not told Yeah.
00:27:24
Speaker
No, I think it's kind of chalked up to Manon already starting to question things, but I think Alid really played a big role in advancing that plot for
Alid's Influence on Manon
00:27:33
Speaker
her. Because it would be on a character. I don't see a character like Manon even like as she's starting to realize that she may not be who she thinks she is.
00:27:42
Speaker
um i don't see her wanting to protect someone that is perceived as weak. I feel like she would just leave the dead weight. Because if like a ruthless witch would.
00:27:58
Speaker
Right. Right. So there had to be something there other than just like her starting to like have a heart, quote unquote, you know? Yeah. But that's the thing about Elite. Like, everybody loves her. And she's over here, like, thinking she brings no value, which I think was one of the not, it will eventually be part of her arc that we don't really see too much in this book.
00:28:19
Speaker
But, like, she's over here, like, what can I even bring to, like, you know, the Queen of Tarasen? Like, I'm just a, like, you know, crippled human. Like, what am I going to do? and like, she has Manon, Aelin, and Lorcan all fighting over her.
00:28:35
Speaker
Like two queens and like the most powerful like fae warrior on the planet all trying to stake a claim little Alid. Like girl. Yeah, I liked Alid. It was.
00:28:51
Speaker
Like as pathetic as she thought she was. It didn't, it wasn't like that for me reading it. Cause you know, when you read certain characters and they're like super, super victim minded, you're like, okay, we get it.
00:29:04
Speaker
um I never got that when reading about her.
00:29:10
Speaker
I think that's cause she had moments of that. Like she had moments where she really doubted herself and moments where she didn't find any value or worth in herself. But she was also very focused on survival and she was focused on her mission because even if she thought like as a person she couldn't bring any value, she still had the word key and that she had to take it to Aelin.
00:29:39
Speaker
So she's like, I'm focused on this mission. And then like, I'll give this to what she had to find Selena first and then Lorcan told her that it was actually same person. So she was like, I need to like go and find Aelin, give her the word key.
00:29:54
Speaker
And then I'll find a way to be of use, even if it's just like cleaning pots and pans or something. So like even and i even though that's kind of victim-y, it's also like I will still do something to contribute.
00:30:09
Speaker
And she was always finding a way to be proactive in a situation, even if it wasn't ultimately to her full potential.
00:30:20
Speaker
Yeah, she wasn't whining about it.
00:30:24
Speaker
Right. She was miserable and in pain and limping, but yeah, she had it rough.
00:30:33
Speaker
She did have it rough. Like, that's also even one thing I noticed where, i'm Manon was, they had her chained up like to the bed, like to the wall and in the boat, like in the ship.
Lorcan and Alid: Relationship Dynamics
00:30:44
Speaker
And she even had like a, like an, like a one-off line of like, like, you know, how did Manon deal with this for 10 years? Or how did Ali deal with this for 10 years? Like she could hardly like, like it was so uncomfortable. She couldn't even stand it for like that most few nights or whatever.
00:31:01
Speaker
But again, i feel like that just shows strength in the lead. And also I think that one of the things she didn't give herself credit for was just how intelligent she was and how like calculated and cunning that she was as well, which Lorcan did see to the point where like he even thought to himself that if Maeve were to get her hands on her, if she wasn't human and actually lived longer, that she would be able to like shape like shift and shape elite into like something really vicious and be like a powerful tool.
00:31:36
Speaker
Yeah, because of how she thought, which is a bit of a dark thought, but I think gives credit to how intelligent and calculated elite really is. Yeah.
00:31:50
Speaker
Yeah, she was sneaky. I mean, Lurkin didn't trust her. And if... Yeah. i think I think that's very, very telling because you have this, like, what the greatest warrior ever being, like, suspicious of a five foot limping human.
00:32:09
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's also kind of due to, like, the the word key having that dark energy. Or maybe not dark energy, because I actually think the word keys are neutral.
00:32:20
Speaker
But she had that the intense power, like that essence of that power on her. So I do think there was like something that wasn't adding up to Lorkin. And he was like, i don't know what's going on here, but I'm going to be wary of this until I figure it out.
00:32:36
Speaker
So I think that was definitely part of it.
00:32:42
Speaker
But I do think that with Lorkin and Alid, we do see another example of like, being drawn to someone even though you don't want to be. And I feel like that's true of both Elid and Lorcan where they both were drawn to each other and attracted to each other, but were reticent and didn't want to be.
00:33:01
Speaker
mean, for different reasons, but they also couldn't deny like the pull to each other to the point where even Lorcan didn't want to leave her alone. And...
00:33:14
Speaker
I feel like was secretly happy. They both had to go to Ilwe together. yeah Like, oh, just conveniently, we have to go in the same direction again. Shucks. Like, no.
00:33:25
Speaker
think he was very secretly happy. no I think so, too. He didn't expect her at all, which is very sweet. I mean, like the whole carnival, the scenes at the carnival were hilarious to me. That's my favorite Lorcan right there.
00:33:43
Speaker
Carnival Lorcan.
00:33:45
Speaker
Like grumpy that he has to be there, grumpy that he has to put on the show. funny. And yet is like the star of the show. think that's when she like realizes that he's a phantom, right?
00:34:01
Speaker
Yeah, because he's freaking seven foot tall, throwing swords in the air, glistening in the sun, no shirt.
00:34:14
Speaker
yeah Girl, like who's not going to thirst? That big of a height difference I think is problematic. Like she was like five foot one, no? Or did then per say Something like that. Like two feet. She's short.
00:34:27
Speaker
feet is like, okay, if she was maybe like five, six, still five, six and seven foot. Ridiculous. Yes. More realistic. Yes.
00:34:40
Speaker
ah she was just look I think it's realistic. She'd be short though. that that short though because everyone else I feel like was tall so it's like if the human population like that wasn't warm right but like how healthy could she have been being stuck in that tower a prisoner her whole life oh like her her growth was stunted maybe don't know I guess if they were feeding her properly then yeah
00:35:16
Speaker
I don't know. I still love them. I forget about the height difference. But I do think when you think about it practically, the height difference is an issue.
00:35:27
Speaker
But that it's like, you know what? It's a fantasy novel. It's going to be what it's going to be. Yeah. But I do think that in terms of like their love story, They were... feel like almost intense with each other in the way that Rowan and Aelin were intense with each other.
00:35:45
Speaker
it was like... They weren't fully enemies to lovers. Like, Elid and Lorkin weren't fully enemies to lovers. But they had this animosity towards each other that was really intense. But I feel like that intensity was just hiding the fact that they were both very much attracted to each other and wanted to be around each other.
00:36:01
Speaker
they werent even though Lorkin in the beginning was very avoidant. Yeah. I mean...
00:36:09
Speaker
Yeah, they were they were definitely annoyed. It was a little bit more playful to me than Ro and Aelin, obviously, because they they were like physically fighting. But yeah, as it was just really satisfying, like all of the dialogue where he's like grumpy, but then like his actions aren't matching that.
00:36:28
Speaker
But they're still like fighting or they're still annoyed at each other. that that was super cute.
00:36:36
Speaker
And I feel like that's also the case, like, when when she's, like, angry at him and he's still taking care of her. Like, he's still ripping up his shirt, you know? He's like, here you go. and Gotta take care of you either way.
00:36:52
Speaker
And even went on top of that, like, the way that... And granted, like I always focus on how Lorcan takes care of Alid, but they both take care of each other so much.
00:37:03
Speaker
And we see that consistently through, like, these smaller actions that Lorcan takes, like, obviously ripping up her shirt so she can use it while she's on her period. Like, that's classic. But she was there, like, Alid was there for Lorcan time and again.
00:37:19
Speaker
And from... Almost like the very beginning, she was like, you know, like i'll like, I'll always find you. And she tells him that. And like, yeah, that's a beautiful thing to say.
00:37:31
Speaker
and if you can kind of, you know, when we're reading, we take it at face value. But when it comes time to, like, leave or to just, like, let him do his own thing again...
Emotional Connection: Alid and Lorcan
00:37:42
Speaker
yeah What that means and what she quickly realizes what that means is he's going to be in a fight to the death with Fenris and Gavriel. And instead of just being like, all right, well, good luck. Peace out.
00:37:55
Speaker
She gets in the way and like tries to protect him and tries to defend him to her own detriment. Cause like she gets practically her arm chopped off. um But she tries to protect him consistently um,
00:38:12
Speaker
Even ah we'll see this later on, but even when like she's angry at him, she still goes and does ultimately try to find him and she does care about him in the end of it all too.
00:38:24
Speaker
And like, i don't know, I just feel like, I feel like that really exemplifies the type of love that they have for each other, where they where they come from a background of being ignored, being abandoned, and nobody caring for them, to then finding each other and intensely caring for each other.
00:38:41
Speaker
Where even Alit offers him a home. Even before his blood oath with Maeve is even broken, she was like, I'll hide you from her. Like, I don't care if you come with me right now to parents. I don't care if you show up in 10 years. like Like that, it was so selfless to be like, I don't care what happens between us basically.
00:39:00
Speaker
Like a decade from now, you can show up at my door and like, you'll have a home. Like that's huge too. And like so romantic and beautiful. And it kind of shows that she sees how vulnerable he is regardless of how he's viewed and the his status as being known as like the most powerful. um Yeah, like to offer someone a home that's clearly more physically stronger than you.
00:39:28
Speaker
and like obviously, like he wouldn't need a home. he he He's rich. He can go anywhere. He can hide You by the end of it. I thought he was.
00:39:39
Speaker
No. So um when Maeve stripped him of his blood oath at the very end on the beach, she stripped him of the blood oath, his title, and his fortune to him and Gavriel.
00:39:56
Speaker
So by the end of it... What was that? He would be able to make money by being an assassin. But yeah, I forgot. Yeah, he'd be able He has an undeniable skill here. Yeah.
00:40:09
Speaker
Like, how can she wipe his, like, wealth? I mean, she's the government. She just takes ownership of it. We don't know what their banking system is like. No, don't. We don't know too much. Lurgus was to withdraw. He's like, no. Wrong pin. Wrong pin.
00:40:29
Speaker
Oh, wrong pin. Story of my life. Oh, my God. oh but But yeah. so she I mean, when she offered it, he had all those things. And then by the end of the book, he no longer had all those things.
00:40:43
Speaker
It's ending with Gabrielle. But I do think in terms of like...
Unique Romance in the Series
00:40:52
Speaker
I think one of the reasons why i love Lorcan and Elid so much and why I think that
00:41:00
Speaker
I don't I haven't fully fleshed it out in my mind, but I, I think in a way their romance is a little bit unique than from the other ones, a little bit different from the other ones because see them like through their actions, take care of each other emotionally. Like, like from the very beginning,
00:41:26
Speaker
um And like, yes, in the beginning, Lorcan was with her to like help her survive. But. But the thing was like Lorcan and Lee, like you pointed out, like he's so grumpy because in a way he's doing that to push people away.
00:41:45
Speaker
And in the very beginning, when they're leaving the carnival, Alita reads him to filth and she tells him like, you're over here saying, she told him like, I thought that you and I were the same because we don't have family, we don't have friends. And she's like, but you don't have family friends because you push people away and you pretend like you like it that way. And just like, stabbed him in the heart. Like literally was like my annotation, like girl, like read him to filth.
00:42:11
Speaker
But she was able to because she did see right through him. and then she was able, because of that, to offer him a home and to be like an emotional safety for him.
00:42:23
Speaker
And I think in the same way, Lorcan was that for her. And we see that when they're on the little boat on their way Ilwe, when she finally has her period again, and he's like, we've been traveling this whole time.
00:42:35
Speaker
It wasn't like this before. And she's like embarrassed and like upset. And like, she and she tells him, well, maybe my body finally feels safe. Yeah, and that was big. That was honestly really big. So huge. So yeah, I do think that they take care of each other in you know, multiple complex ways. And that's very beautiful. Yeah, because we don't see any of those types of interactions with the others, the other main couples at all. Like it's yeah, it's like devotion. It's love. It's intensity. Like we're mates.
00:43:07
Speaker
Like I'll kill for you. But yeah, none of the emotional work is is seen the um on the page Yeah, and i we do see that emotional work between Lorcan and the lead pretty early on.
00:43:22
Speaker
So if we get a Lorcan and a lead novella, I'm totally good with that. I'd love to see it. i mean, I think you just need to write fanfic. Catch me on a o three yeah My own little fanfic.
00:43:39
Speaker
There's an idea. the people You know what shit it is. i just might.
00:43:47
Speaker
I read one of those. It was fantastic. I sent it to you like ages ago. didn't read it then. I think I bookmarked it then.
00:43:59
Speaker
I'm going to find it again and send it to you then because it was good. Thank you.
00:44:07
Speaker
um But yeah, any any final thoughts on either the lead, Manon, Dorian, Lorgan?
00:44:17
Speaker
Just about with like not being satisfied with Dorian and Manon's ending. obviously, which is not related to this book, but really liked the interactions between them. I think it it's a close second right after Elite and Mork in terms of, like, a relationship growing in a more tangible, organic way.
00:44:39
Speaker
like it feel like we can't really connect to, like, the war and, like, killing for someone, whereas Monon and Dorian, Alit, and Morgan had more human interactions, human behavior, without the context of like war being the principal thing to push to push that.
Final Reflections and Future Content
00:45:00
Speaker
um But just unfinished question. Like we need more information on both couples, which sucks because it if you like they were the more real couples, not so fantasy fact.
00:45:17
Speaker
Yeah, i I would agree. The romances were definitely a little bit more real and a little bit more relatable in that way, which makes me feel kind of like curious about your take once we get to Tower of Dawn.
00:45:33
Speaker
But we'll get there when we get there. We'll see. I'll try and get there.
00:45:39
Speaker
Yeah, but i again, i I really liked seeing the way Minan developed as a character, as an individual, as somebody who's romantically involved with someone.
00:45:53
Speaker
And i just, I love Lorcan and Alid so much. And i I would definitely love to have more of their story. No notes other than that.
00:46:08
Speaker
Thank everyone for tuning in today. If this episode resonated with you, if you appreciated it don't forget to subscribe and to leave a review because it helps get the podcast out to more people who love character development as much as we do. And if you would like to have more insights about this and everything else that I talk about when it comes to personal development and growth and healing, you can also follow me on my social media, on Instagram, TikTok, and threads. I am your coach Mari.
00:46:39
Speaker
And until next time, keep growing.