The characters in the end

[Mihai]

How do you find the characters in the end of the novel? How do you feel they developed from the beginning until the end?

My favorite remains Marcus. Although he is a character archetype in the fantasy fiction I felt closer to him from the beginning. And although I feel that he is the one character of the four with a voice within the story with a lesser development I liked that little bit of tragic history behind him. Especially, because of whom his family actually died. I am fully sympathetic with Marcus and the connection he makes between Cithrin and his daughter and the understanding and friendship he has with Yardem are a delight.

Dawson doesn't suffer many changes either, but the story around him changes constantly. Scheming and politics are a part of his life and that is what makes his arc seem in constant changing. He is not a negative character per say, but I don't see him as a benefactor of his king and kingdom. Conservative he doesn't see that the actual changes could lead to good things. It is also interesting that his connection with the fellow conspirators seems weak, each of them have different visions of the way the kingdom should look like and how the king should rule. That is a very interesting aspect of his story.

Cithrin is in a way a coming of age. She starts as a fearful and insecure young lady but ends up leading the business of a bank branch. Another small cliche here is the use of sex for spying and personal interests, but it only feels this way because I encountered it a bit too often not because it does not help Cithrin's story move forward. Cliched, but part of her changing. It is her first full failure, it is a way in revealing the entire nature of the world around her and that of business. It also leads her to one major flaw in her character, the dependency to alcohol. But I liked that because it consolidates the human nature of her character and makes it even more believable.

Geder is by far the one who travels the most in terms of character development. So many emotions from the start until finish, from falling in latrine until he becomes the protector of the prince. And with such an eventful path. He also offers most of the surprises of the novel. I didn't expect any of his actions, be them Vanai, Camnipol or the seed of revenge that finds a fertile soil in his mind when he sees the potential of Basrahip.

Clara's presence I believe is made with the purposes of resolving one particular twist in the story, but she also has plenty of promise for the novels to come.
Master Kit (I will not say I told you so ;) ) could have been another character with his own arc, but that is also something for the other novels of the series. It is just that Daniel Abraham could have played Clara in the same way, resolve the story around her through the other characters but give her voice only in the novels to come.

[Susan]

I really enjoyed reading about Cithrin. She grows a lot in this one book. Essentially, from beginning to end, her entire life was upended. All that she knew, except the banking, was taken from her with the destruction of Vanai. She then gambles and looses, gets drunk, and is forced back into sobriety and work. In the end, she survived, even prospered.

The reveals about Marcus Wester and his attachment to Cithrin over the book were handed out in little nuggets. I would like to learn more, of course, but I also feel confident in believing he is one of the good guys.

Clara has power in her own right and I hope Book 2 gives us more glimpses into her character. He apparent frippery is a cover for a deeper intelligence.

Dawson - hmm... well, this guy lives by a code, but if you step out of it, do harm to his supposed honor, well, he'll cut your heart out and leave you for his dogs. I believe this is true even for his wife and children, should they choose to actively disobey him.

Master Kit and Basrahip - I wonder if these two will end up going toe to toe. Perhaps they already know each other and previously had a falling out?