Reading roundup (including Cold Days)
Catching up on the last of 2012 and starting off 2013:
45. Elizabeth Bear, Range of Ghosts -- The beginning of an epic fantasy trilogy set in Central Asia (in 12th-13th century, apparently; ( Mostly about worldbuilding -- not even spoilery )
45. Elizabeth Bear, Range of Ghosts -- The beginning of an epic fantasy trilogy set in Central Asia (in 12th-13th century, apparently; ( Mostly about worldbuilding -- not even spoilery )
I noticed one thing that no one seems to have considered so far about the Nemesis angle - in most of the cases, the adversary has gotten to them, but not completely taken them over. (Like where Harry was trying to tell Cat Sith to fight it - and Sith lost, which made me so D: because I loved him.) What I took away from that was:
In -most- cases, Nemesis is probably not just invading 'random' people, but people who, for some reason, might welcome it in. Like with Maeve. Maeve was obviously carrying around a lot of bitterness and envy towards her mother, and I think that in the end she 'accepted' the influence because she felt it made her more powerful. She felt it gave her an advantage in twisting what she was. In some of Harry's previous cases, I think that perhaps the influence Nemesis had was to make people try to reach beyond their boundaries and natural limits?
If you come right down to it, Nemesis is like being on cocaine. It makes you -believe- that you can do anything, while twisting you to its own purpose. (Someone in the book - I think Mother Summer? Makes a similar point, just in a more typically vague Fae fashion.) When we see Maeve late in the book, she's pretty far gone, but there's definitely still something of her in there, visible in the way that she talks to Sarissa.
Of course, this doesn't hold for everyone. I believe that in Sith's case it was mostly a hostile takeover (except for the 'Look behind you' note on the tug that may have been part of Sith's original personality leaking through), but that for the most part, the Outsiders would prefer 'help' they don't have to monitor constantly for signs of rebellion.
Um. Apparently I had a lot of feels about that. >.> I don't know if I'm at all right, or just smoking something.
On the Harry/Molly thing - what bothers me the -most- about this is that it's essentially a childhood crush. She's never had an actual adult relationship with anyone. So no, I don't buy that she's actually in love with Harry. She just thinks she is. It can still go die in a fire, though. I do think that her becoming the Winter Lady means she'll find a new independence separate of Harry since she's no longer dependent upon him to protect her life. Or at least, that's my wishful thinking.
Also, the Danger-prone Daphne thing can go die in a fire too. As well as Harry looking at every woman like meat. I get it, I don't need to hear about it every damned time. :P
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Your Nemesis thoughts are very cool, and make a lot of sense, especially the cocaine comparison (which would dovetail nicely with all of those things Harry was realizing about the Winter Knight mantle) -- I confess I didn't give Nemesis much thought myself because I was disappointed by the "brain parasite behind everything" aspect. I do think you're right about willing vs unwilling candidates (guessing Lea, as well as Sith, were unwilling ones), and Nemesis preferring the former. (I was sad about Sith, too... the book spent a lot of time on him, so I wonder if maybe he'll get cured like Lea did and show up again? or maybe Harry will try to cure him).
She's never had an actual adult relationship with anyone
Very true, and that sucks... Even Ginny Weasley went out and had boyfriends while waiting for Harry Potter to notice her (even though I don't like the way that relationship is handled either). And Murphy had Kincaid. It really seems ridiculous that Molly would still be nursing that childhood crush. Like everyone else, I hope her becoming the Winter Lady means that can be put to bed now (please!!)
As well as Harry looking at every woman like meat. I get it, I don't need to hear about it every damned time
That was my feeling on the subject, too. I understood why it was there and what it was doing, but didn't think it needed to be there quite so consistently. Less is more!
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