Some House Name thoughts

[moontyger]

Ok, this isn't going to be a review. I'm working on that, but instead, this is some scattered thoughts about a few aspects of the plot that really made me think.

First, it is interesting that I never thought of The Terafin as being in some way responsible for the people sacrificed to bring Allasakar to Averalaan, but it seems to me that this book makes it very clear that she might be - that if she'd acted faster, if she'd gone to the Kings as soon as she learned about the Hidden City, they might have been able to stop it because Vexusa wouldn't have been sealed off yet. Further, I very much get the idea that she considers herself responsible.

I'm not sure what I think about that, but it's definitely interesting to me that I never even considered the possibility until it was spelled out for me.

I also can't help but notice that, of all the den, there's really only one whose perspective we haven't seen now. One who does nothing at all - he's just there. It's Jester, of course. And I wonder if that's intentional, if she has plans for him, or if he's really as much of an afterthought as he often seems.

And then there's the extra insight into Isladar. Has everything he's done really just been part of a long, subtle war against Mystery? Or is it more complicated than that? I suppose I can see why he'd hold a grudge, but I definitely didn't expect that.

I also have to admit that somehow, I hadn't realized the rest of the den received the house name both so early and all at once like that. I'm not sure why, but I'd thought it was a more gradual process.

I guess we're going back to the present timeline once Skirmish starts. I almost wish we wouldn't - I'd really like to see more of the characters introduced in this book and more of how the den adjusts to Terafin. I'd especially really like to see more of Haval, Jarven, and Lucille and I'm not sure we will. It seems such a shame to introduce them and then drop them, however, so I'm hoping they don't just disappear.

Anyone else have thoughts on any of this or the book in general?

Comments

[starlady]

I haven't actually read House Name yet (though I bought it…um…a month ago), but I distinctly remember having the impression that the den got the house name piecemeal/gradually too.

I never had the idea that the Terafin was/considered herself to be responsible for what happened in Vexusa, either. I suppose I need to read the book ASAP!

[moontyger]

I could almost swear it says something that gave me that impression in one of the Sun Sword books. A section with Teller, I think, but I can't remember where other than that.

It is definitely worth reading!

[starlady]

Oh yeah, the fact that I haven't read it yet is an index of how busy I've been...

Yeah, I was thinking it was in the Sun Sword books too--Teller or Finch, but probably Teller. I do like how the House War allows us to appreciate all the den members' transformation that much more.

[ceria]

I was surprised about the Terafin as well. It did seem that she was at fault more in this book and no, I didn't notice it either prior to this.

Isn't Jester the one with the photographic memory? I know one of her Den is and it was only briefly mentioned (in the last book?), which makes me think it is Jester.

I love how every time she shows Isladar we learn something new. I'm curious as to why he blames Mystery. He chose to follow Allasakar and it's almost like he wants to blame anyone but himself for what happened. I know that's simplified a lot. I'm curious as to his whole plan as well.

I think the most interesting things about Isladar is how he 1. learned to walk silently enough through a forest that the creatures don't sense him and 2. choosing to save that young girl. Both of those make me wonder if he just wants freedom from being a demon and I can't imagine that's his final goal at all. It's too simple.

One of the things I really wonder about is in Isladar's section. He was in the Stone Deepings (pg 10) and recognized another power he couldn't understand. Was that Avandar's home?

The other is him musing about the Sleepers. Did he really imply they failed in their duty simple because they couldn't follow a mere mortal? Which makes me wonder if that's the true reason Celleriant, Meralonne and the gardner are present in the mortal world (not so much Celleriant actually) - just to learn to love mortals and be willing to sacrifice themselves for them.

[starlady]

I was really, really interested by the Isladar vs. Mystery hints too! Also Isladar thinking Mystery was nameless, but Evayne styling herself ANeamis--very interesting. I'm tempted to go with Evayne's knowledge on that front, but if Isladar doesn't even know Mystery's real name, that says a lot right there. And what is the game that Mystery has been playing? I mean, obviously I tend to think that the goal is to kill Allasakar, but there's been plenty of hints that other gods will get caught in the crossfire at the End.

I didn't notice the Terafin's guilt either; it was definitely played up in this book, and played down in HD. Partly because this book spent more time in Terafin, of course.

And yeah, Jester. I tend to think his being downplayed is intentional, but now I really want to reread the relevant bits of The Sun Sword to find out what he eventually got up to in the House.

[starlady]

I just finished it and loved it! I really liked the new ATerafin characters, particularly Barston and Lucille, and yeah, I was still surprised that they were all given the name right off the bat. I definitely thought it had been more gradual from the other books, but of course that was an assumption.

The Terafin's guilt at everyone's deaths seems--well, given what we know Jewel is going to face once she takes the House throne, it seems like the sort of thing that is going to weigh heavily on Jewel's mind as an example of what not to do, whatever it costs the House.

I have more thoughts about Meralonne, but I'm going to put them in a separate post. I was glad to spend some time with Devon again, he's always been one of my favorite characters.