The King of Adarlan ~ Character Discussion

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

A highly unpleasant man, he seems to get a kick out of going out of his way to make everyone around him perfectly miserable. Especially Celaena.

A few questions to think about (drawing from Throne of Glass and the novellas):
- Why did Arobynn involve the King of Adarlan in Celaena's capture?
- Why is the King of Adarlan in cohorts with Duke Perrington?
- Do you think the king will allow his son, Dorian, to take the throne...or hand it to Dorian's younger brother?
- Will the king carry out his threat at the end of Throne of Glass to Celaena?
- If (this is purely speculation) the king is secretly in contact with Arobynn...do you think Arobynn knows that Celaena is alive? What does this mean for her and what do you see occurring in the next book in regards to this? Would the king give away such precious information?

Discuss below!

[talltyrion]

I think Arobynn not only knows she's alive, he's perfectly fine with letting her carry out the king's dirty work for the next four years. But I don't think he's going to go for four years without contacting her. And his perverted idea that Celaena is a "possession" of his scares me the most when he finds out about Chaol. I mean, the king's threats are nothing if Arobynn gets to Chaol first. Let's take a moment to remember how he got Sam brutally tortured to death, and his eyes and his hands and all that sick, sadistic crap, just for loving Celaena.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

WordlesslyAmazed03 wrote: "I think Arobynn not only knows she's alive, he's perfectly fine with letting her carry out the king's dirty work for the next four years. But I don't think he's going to go for four years without c..."

*winces* Yeah. He's pretty psychotic. And the thought of him getting anywhere near Chaol makes my blood boil - though I doubt that Sarah would have Arobynn kill two of Celaena's love interests. And I have to agree - I think Arobynn's perfectly aware of Celaena's situation and whereabouts. Which is so creepy.

[talltyrion]

Extremely. And yes, while I agree that Chaol probably won't get killed off...yet... I doubt Sarah would be too upset over letting Arobynn torture him a bit. Or worse. Which means lots of teeth-clenching and fist-balling on my end.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

WordlesslyAmazed03 wrote: "Extremely. And yes, while I agree that Chaol probably won't get killed off...yet... I doubt Sarah would be too upset over letting Arobynn torture him a bit. Or worse. Which means lots of teeth-clen..."

Perhaps we should get a dartboard with Arobynn's name on it ready. Or a punching bag. Or a stress ball. Because just thinking of the slimy way he acts possessive over Celaena makes me mad!

[talltyrion]

Ooh, you had me at dartboard. I may have to schedule a second Love Sucks Day dedicated to stabbing Arobynn's name. Bring on the obnoxious girl bands.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

WordlesslyAmazed03 wrote: "Ooh, you had me at dartboard. I may have to schedule a second Love Sucks Day dedicated to stabbing Arobynn's name. Bring on the obnoxious girl bands."

Here, here!!

[Sydney she.her]

I think Arobynn involved the King in Celaena's capture as his last punishment to her. Why is she being punished? His reasoning: "I don't like to share my belongings."
My exact reaction is as follows-


...

If the King is in contact with Arobynn, I'm hoping so much that Celaena confronts him and finds out the truth of his betrayal, so that I can giddily read about her slowly torturing the King of Assassins Just. Like. Sam. I sound awfully malicious, but that's how much I despise this man!
Oh, and if the King is in contact with Arobynn, the King could possibly ask Arobynn to keep eyes on Celaena when she does the King's tasks, to make sure she actually completes them! Thus making me worry more and more about Chaol...
But I agree with Booknut, I hope that Maas wouldn't be so cruel as to kill off Sam in the novellas and Chaol in the sequel(s).

[talltyrion]

Perfect. Just perfect.

[[deleted user]]

I hope the King and Arobynn both burn in [h-e-double hockey sticks]

[talltyrion]

Amen, sister.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Diana wrote: "I hope the King and Arobynn both burn in [h-e-double hockey sticks]"

*laughs* Nice one :)

[Rachel , Co-Moderator]

This guy is so creepy, sadistic, and evil.

[Rachel , Co-Moderator]

Why is the King of Adarlan in cohorts with Duke Perrington?

I think Perrington is basically the king's second-in-command. He's really wealthy and powerful just like the King and maybe to prevent Duke Perrington from even attempting to usurp him, the king keeps him close by.

[Tammy]

EXACTLY!! I hope whoever wears that grey ring should DIE!!

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Miss Perfection™ (Rachel) wrote: "Why is the King of Adarlan in cohorts with Duke Perrington?

I think Perrington is basically the king's second-in-command. He's really wealthy and powerful just like the King and maybe to prevent D..."

I also think the Duke is a decoy.

See, The King now has someone to do all his dirty work for him. The Duke can spy on people, utilise his own brand of magic, and arouse people's suspicions. If the Duke gets caught doing the King's dirty work, the King can easily kill him off. He's expendable. The Duke isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. All his actions are orchestrated by the King.

This way the King doesn't need to take any risks with his own person, or garner suspicion.

[Anum]

i think by the way the novella has ended Arobynn was working with the king from the begining...

[Alice (Booksandfreshlybrewedtea)]

i think arobynn cares for celaena but in a completely twisted way.
He didnt want anyone else to have her, so he basically gave her a death sentence even though he could have quite easily of saved her. He's a weird character and i am really excited to meet him in the book
What would he say, will he be calm and collected, hostile, or just charming? i believe he'll probably end up indoctrinating celaena to do some jobs for him. And she'll follow him i just hope that shes strong enough not to fall into the trap


sorry im rambling again! ha!

[Jessica]

Alright so who do you guys think the "real" bad guy is here.. I think the King is just a puppet for someone else.. All the old players are coming back, so who were the bad guys pulling the Valgs princes strings against Gavin and Elena?!? As the books talked about old players other than the Valg princes??

[Lois]

I definitely think that the king isn't a member of the true dynasty (as Dorian is, I believe) but that he and Hollin are usurpers! I say this because for one, Dorian is nothing like his 'father' or 'brother' in any way, physically or in the aspect of their natures. For the former, I believe it says in book one that Dorian has sapphire eyes - is this a possible link to Celaena? I'm not too sure! Also the fact that Dorian has magic - where did it come from? Is it something you inherit or does it 'attach' itself to you as a part of your soul? If it has to be inherited (I can't remember whether it does or not; I plan to re-read the books this summer!) then is the TRUE king (ie. Dorian's real father) a powerful sorcerer who'll come into play in later books? And if so, why is the 'king' as we know him on the throne? Apart from power, what else is he after? And how has he tricked his way to power - with Wyrdkeys, meaning he does have one? Also the fact that we don't even know the king's name yet, with prequels and three books out! Does this mean that when we do learn it, we'll know the king for who he really is - a usurper, and nothing more?

[Dara]

I think the king of Adarlan really is a king. After all he was described "sneaking around Elena's tombs when he was a boy.

[Serena]

"i think arobynn cares for celaena but in a completely twisted way.
He didnt want anyone else to have her, so he basically gave her a death sentence even though he could have quite easily of saved her. He's a weird character and i am really excited to meet him in the book
What would he say, will he be calm and collected, hostile, or just charming? i believe he'll probably end up indoctrinating celaena to do some jobs for him. And she'll follow him i just hope that shes strong enough not to fall into the trap"
~Alice

I agree. And I really hope Celaena ends up capturing and torturing him for days and days until he dies the most horrible death (sorry that sounded really violent but I really hate Arobynn).

I love how this was supposed to be a discussion about the King of Adarlan but instead it ended up with everyone hating on Arobynn. Hope they both go die in a hole all alone. They deserve it.

[Dara]

I really wish Arobynn could have his POV written, so we could know his twisted little head better.
P.S. Don't u think it'd be so cool if he and the king of Adarlan had some sort of showdown of the bad guys?

[Kelly]

Lois wrote: "I definitely think that the king isn't a member of the true dynasty (as Dorian is, I believe) but that he and Hollin are usurpers! I say this because for one, Dorian is nothing like his 'father' or..."

Yeah, Mort did say that. But he never said his name or called him a prince. He could easily of been another noble's son or, heaven forbid, a commoner/servant. I think that is why we still don't know his name.

[Serena]

I wish we could get a POV from the king of Adarlan (although probably not going to happen). I want to find out why he is so against magic. I know he says it's an insult to the gods and whatever but something must've happened to him to cause the hatred. Anybody have any theories?

Also I am so curious as to why his name is never mentioned and there is not much description of him other than "massive" and "imposing" and stuff. Is he old?

[imashamedofmyoldreviews]

*******SPOLERS FOR QOS!!!!!***********


I initially thought he was very cruel but didn't have a reason to be which always mystified me. Now that I know what happened, I actually feel sorry for him. He was robbed of his childhood, he was banished in darkness which normal people couldn't handle even for one year, he was forced to do everything that the Valg wanted even though he knew it was horribly wrong, didnt have a life, never fell in love, was always hated for things he could not help and it was all very sad. Death was liberation and a gift. I really feel bad for the ex-king.

[Lexie]

You know what I kind of agree with you. It's quite sad when you think about it.

[song of the east]

BookishSerendipity wrote: "*******SPOLERS FOR QOS!!!!!***********


I initially thought he was very cruel but didn't have a reason to be which always mystified me. Now that I know what happened, I actually feel sorry for him..."

Lois wrote: "I definitely think that the king isn't a member of the true dynasty (as Dorian is, I believe) but that he and Hollin are usurpers! I say this because for one, Dorian is nothing like his 'father' or..."

Kelly wrote: "Lois wrote: "I definitely think that the king isn't a member of the true dynasty (as Dorian is, I believe) but that he and Hollin are usurpers! I say this because for one, Dorian is nothing like hi..."


You know what I think? I think (view spoiler)[ that the reason we still haven't disclosed the King's true identity is that he'd (or rather, Erawan's minion) banned his name from ever being uttered because it would rouse the human inside of him. It's probably just me but that's all I could make of it. forget it its a stupid theory im just going back to writing the fanfic about him

And no, I think he is the genuine father just as Dorian is the genuine heir. After all, the former once mentioned in QOS that he used his "blood" to execute the spell that wiped out magic from the continent-ish, thus immuning his "bloodline" from it. That would explain Dorian's dominance in wielding his magic. and let's not even get to Dorian's identical physiognomy with that of Gavin's Adarlan's first King

And for the king's confession to be a hoax would contradict SJM's claim that she had cried writing the scene. why would she cry if she knew that it was all just a joke
(hide spoiler)]

[Zeyah]

Gods dammit.
His name is Dorian Hallivard the First.

[Melissa Elsie]

I have a question on why Dorian hates his father so much after reading "Queen of Shadows". I will hide the full question just in case people who have not read the series yet, doesn't want any spoilers.

If you need to message me to answer, that is fine.

Full question here:
(view spoiler)[In "Queen of Shadows" we find out that Dorians father, The King of Adarlan, was taken over by a demon as well. I don't know if I missed something in the first four books or hadn't read it since I am not finished. But why do they not only still hate the King, but didn't seem to think he was worth saving. You would think they blame the demon inside of him. (hide spoiler)]