Alyssa Indira asked Shannon Messenger:

Hiya, so I am reading NeverSeen and as I was explaining all the different special abilities in the elf world, a questioned occurred in the back of my mind. How did you choose which character got which ability? For instance, how did you decide that Sophie was going to be the telepath, polygot, inflictor and teleporter? Why not make her a mesmer or an empath? Or how Dex turned out to be an incredible technopath?

Shannon Messenger A LOT of thought goes into what abilities each character has. I try to pick something that both fits what I know about them as a character, as well as something that will make them useful to the story. But if I make a character TOO powerful and invincible it makes them basically invincible, and that makes for a boring story. Characters are way more interesting if they have limits and weaknesses. Sophie's a little different because she was "designed" by the Black Swan, so I have to consider what abilities they would chose for her to have, given the role they knew she would have to play. I can't say more than that without giving away spoilers. But just know every ability is chosen for MANY reasons.

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