It all sounds so saccharine. What are they going to do? Sera and Merrick lead the SSI army into battle against evil? Something is off. Whether it be this little tea party or something unforeseen, I don’t like it. No sir.
So It seems that near the end of each volume, Sera meets up with someone who affects her outlook, and has a tea party with them. (Nice close up of the passing of the tea cup, a reference to Vicious Whispers tea test, maybe?)
Wow, am I the only one who thinks it could be worth it to trust this guy, even if only to solve the dream-cave problem and hopefully the problem of the blond witch?
@Gary: pretty much, considerring thats more or less what they were already trying to do by having Sera talk to the trolls
If you do another book after this, Aaron, and decide to have it be the same setting but not about Sera, I would love to see one about Merrick’s past, the town history, or even one just about Vicious, come to think of it.
Merrick gets more and more interesting to me all the time. I wish I could trust him 100%, but it seems hard to do so. I do hope his heart is exactly where he says it is, though–that’s what Sera needs.
There’s always a character in a story that you cannot like completely and that you cannot hate completely. Merrick might be it. essrose you really rock at being an artist and writer. Kudos to you.
Haha, Lusty, I thought just the same thing. “OK, I guess it’s come to that part of the book where it’s time to have a tea party!”
So what’s with SSI and the priesthood? SSI being government, I assumed it would be (at least on the “official” side of things) not entangled with religion…
Hmm. Merrick is such an interesting character. He puts me on edge… but doesn’t tip over into being actually bad. (uh… at least, I think not :p)
Lovely lovely Mr A — looking forward as ever to the next installment!
Merrick is inherently creepy, and that put me off at first. Although I can’t help but harbor a little mistrust, I’m willing to give him credit for being smart enough to see that not all problems can be solved by firepower. Also if I recall, he’s been ‘studying’ her for all this time; I hope that this kind of interest can be used to a positive end.
I also would like to see some back story on Merrick; perhaps by revealing a bit of it to Sera, they can come to a common level of understanding.
There’s just too much going on other than the SSI and Sera’s beef for me to believe that Merrick is just there to join forces and ‘help’. There’s the creepy mine, Rivet-Hed, Skarsdayle, Stilletta, Sera’s cave of remnants…they may very well all be connected, I’m willing to bet they are given the late timing of the arc, but the focus is too narrow to fully buy what Merrick is selling. There’s something he’s not telling.
Oh, hell, drugs in the tea wouldn’t be effective against a witch. Once she noticed she was getting stoned she’d just magic it out of her bloodstream.
Unless this is one of those crazy-subtle “truth serum”-style drugs, but I don’t think Aaron would use such a ham-handed plot device.
*ahem*
You don’t think that Merrick is terribly happy about having to help Sera, do you? I imagine he believes that she is the only person who can stop the manifestations. Since he also wants to stop the manifestations, they are allies. Not friends, but allies.
we may be 3/4+ through, but there’s plenty still to untangle….. we still have *no* idea what the stuff in the diamond mine has to do with anything, for example……
i don’t think we’re really even brushing against the “beginning of the ending” yet; *maybe* we’re closing in on the ending-of-the-part-right-*before*-the-beginning-of-the-ending……. or sumfin’….
maybe Serea is a pawn in a power play between Merrick and Victor Vogel. Succeeding Where Victor failed may enable Merrick to displace him in the hierarchy.
I enjoy A’s artwork and design now and forever, but I’m beginning to suspect that these exposition pieces are my favorite parts. Each character has a distinct voice, but unity of style is maintained.
Ooooh, sweet!
What will their first act together be I wonder?
It all sounds so saccharine. What are they going to do? Sera and Merrick lead the SSI army into battle against evil? Something is off. Whether it be this little tea party or something unforeseen, I don’t like it. No sir.
Hmmmmm…
Thats all I can say here, hmmmmm…
“I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
So It seems that near the end of each volume, Sera meets up with someone who affects her outlook, and has a tea party with them. (Nice close up of the passing of the tea cup, a reference to Vicious Whispers tea test, maybe?)
Or Merrick is just speaking the dirty lies.
Sera, I don’t think you want whatever help this man is offering…
Wow, am I the only one who thinks it could be worth it to trust this guy, even if only to solve the dream-cave problem and hopefully the problem of the blond witch?
@Gary: pretty much, considerring thats more or less what they were already trying to do by having Sera talk to the trolls
If you do another book after this, Aaron, and decide to have it be the same setting but not about Sera, I would love to see one about Merrick’s past, the town history, or even one just about Vicious, come to think of it.
He definitely drugged her tea.
Merrick gets more and more interesting to me all the time. I wish I could trust him 100%, but it seems hard to do so. I do hope his heart is exactly where he says it is, though–that’s what Sera needs.
I like Merrick.
There’s always a character in a story that you cannot like completely and that you cannot hate completely. Merrick might be it. essrose you really rock at being an artist and writer. Kudos to you.
It makes me think of “Heroes”, the whole one of us one of them theory of the Company. Not sure why
i’d been wondering about that clergical background thing….. hopefully more of that to come!
& AMK: Will you like him when he EATS YOUR HEAD? 😉
Haha, Lusty, I thought just the same thing. “OK, I guess it’s come to that part of the book where it’s time to have a tea party!”
So what’s with SSI and the priesthood? SSI being government, I assumed it would be (at least on the “official” side of things) not entangled with religion…
Hmm. Merrick is such an interesting character. He puts me on edge… but doesn’t tip over into being actually bad. (uh… at least, I think not :p)
Lovely lovely Mr A — looking forward as ever to the next installment!
Merrick is inherently creepy, and that put me off at first. Although I can’t help but harbor a little mistrust, I’m willing to give him credit for being smart enough to see that not all problems can be solved by firepower. Also if I recall, he’s been ‘studying’ her for all this time; I hope that this kind of interest can be used to a positive end.
I also would like to see some back story on Merrick; perhaps by revealing a bit of it to Sera, they can come to a common level of understanding.
By the way, how’s Kelton and Tess?
There’s just too much going on other than the SSI and Sera’s beef for me to believe that Merrick is just there to join forces and ‘help’. There’s the creepy mine, Rivet-Hed, Skarsdayle, Stilletta, Sera’s cave of remnants…they may very well all be connected, I’m willing to bet they are given the late timing of the arc, but the focus is too narrow to fully buy what Merrick is selling. There’s something he’s not telling.
Oh, hell, drugs in the tea wouldn’t be effective against a witch. Once she noticed she was getting stoned she’d just magic it out of her bloodstream.
Unless this is one of those crazy-subtle “truth serum”-style drugs, but I don’t think Aaron would use such a ham-handed plot device.
*ahem*
You don’t think that Merrick is terribly happy about having to help Sera, do you? I imagine he believes that she is the only person who can stop the manifestations. Since he also wants to stop the manifestations, they are allies. Not friends, but allies.
we may be 3/4+ through, but there’s plenty still to untangle….. we still have *no* idea what the stuff in the diamond mine has to do with anything, for example……
i don’t think we’re really even brushing against the “beginning of the ending” yet; *maybe* we’re closing in on the ending-of-the-part-right-*before*-the-beginning-of-the-ending……. or sumfin’….
We’re definitely closing in on the final bit of the first part of the last section before the end. The most critical moment of all!
Meanwhile, the real-life Victor Vogel has himself another freakout.
“I’m losing my mind, Charlie! Get me another Cheesecake!”
maybe Serea is a pawn in a power play between Merrick and Victor Vogel. Succeeding Where Victor failed may enable Merrick to displace him in the hierarchy.
Even if Merrick is lying, which I don’t think he is, that would still be a good thing for him to replace vogel.
I enjoy A’s artwork and design now and forever, but I’m beginning to suspect that these exposition pieces are my favorite parts. Each character has a distinct voice, but unity of style is maintained.
I think the phrase “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer” works pretty well for this dude.
My advice for Sera: Trust him, but keep an eye on him.