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What a fantastic topic Lanni, you've done it again! Gosh this'll keep us nicely occupied til November :) In regards to what vamps are able to feed from, do you know if they can feed from half breeds, or part fey? (What classification of creature do satyrs fall under??) I can't see 100% humans being in Faery but Pritkin once said that fey families claim their offspring on earth and steal them away to Faery, or something along those lines. Maybe Tomas was able to feed on some of those? Or other creatures like the satyrs that aren't fey but are still part of the paranormal world - maybe they choose to hide in Faery? Or maybe they import raw beef steaks from earth, lol.
Glad you like the topic, Duca. :)That's a good pick up about the satyrs, cos didn't we see Mircea feed from one of them in Touch the Dark? But I think they were also half-were or something, unless I'm misremembering.
I think you might be right that there are some half-fey that Tomas might have fed on. It makes me wonder if Drac or his minions fed from Claire when she was kidnapped. Though maybe nobody wants a null's blood, just in case!
But this question about Tomas also applies to Tony who, as far as we know, is also living in Faerie. He might have Black Circle mages around, but I honestly can't seem them consenting to be a vampire's dinner. So how is Tony surviving? Does he have other human servants/slaves or he is popping back to Earth regularly (or permanently)?
I'm becoming more and more suspicious that Tony may not be a fixture in Faerie, as we've been led to believe. He's in league with Rasputin, who had his own court in Russia. Even if Rasputin's a wanted man and can't return openly to his own court, I can't believe he doesn't have a few bolt holes in Eastern Europe where he and his allies could hide out. It's odd that we haven't heard a peep about Rasputin since the first book.
Finally, I keep going back to Mircea draining Cassie's energy into that pot. It's a little annoying that Cassie never thinks about it again afterwards. There's really no justification for this beyond his establishing control over her. So we have the energy block AND the geis. What a dick move, Mircea!! He must have placed this block on her when she was a child, or do you think he might have instructed Tomas to do it?
Also, I'm a little sad that KC says in April 2011 that she'll definitely write more about Marlowe/Gillian. I know she said somewhere else recently that she'd like to finish off their story, but she's never had the chance. I live in hope that we'll get it one of these days. I want to know what happened to Gillian.
Tony was selling witches to the fey. Vamp food in Faerie.
The irony in all the discussion of urban fantasy vs romance is that the more an author creates in-depth characters and situations in UF, the more fans get involved with them and their lives, including relationships. It doesn't mean we're obsessed w romance; it means we are invested in the characters and situations the author has brought to life.
Kathleen wrote: "Tony was selling witches to the fey. Vamp food in Faerie."I don't know that we can automatically assume that the witches are based where Tony is. If they were sold off in Faerie, they may have been taken to other parts of the land. Also, if they've been brought to Faerie for the purposes of breeding, their new 'owners' may not be happy for them to be a vampire's dinner when they're trying to impregnate them.
But, yeah, there are probably a few humans kicking around here and there. It's just interesting that KC has mentioned once or twice that vamps can't survive quite so easily in Faerie. That could be considered A Clue! And it's not just Tony after all. Rasputin and possibly some (or many) of his court are there too, so that could potentially be a fair number of vamps to be fed.
I suppose the simplest explanation is that they're being supplied dinner by someone like Asshat's father, who's powerful and connected enough to kidnap or buy humans to feed the vamps. However, I don't like simple explanations. I much prefer convoluted conspiracy theories and mysteries! :D
I didn't mean Tony was selling witches so he would have food, just that a supply of humans has been trickling in already. Francoise was the there.But Tony is quite capable of taking along or importing his own humans to feed on.
Great post. Have you seen this exchange between KC and Christina. I have to say I'm totally with KC on this. I like the books because they are more than just romance; l like the vamp politics.https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
I *loved* your comment on that blog post, Anna! :D
Continuing the Q & A revisit (which I forgot about. Oops!)Q & A #4
http://www.karenchance.com/news/qa-4-...
Question 3 about Cassie's father is interesting. KC says:
I can point out that he isn’t out and about, so to speak, like Billy Joe. His spirit is trapped, unable to move on or do much of anything else until and if he is released.
Does anyone think that Cassie's parents might eventually 'materialise' in Faerie the way BJ did, and live out a (sort of) normal life there? Or are they gone for good in the future and Cassie will only see them via time travel into the past? Or is there something else freaky going on with them? Any thoughts or predictions or flat out guesses? :)
Q & A #5
http://www.karenchance.com/news/qa-5-...
Couple of things caught my eye here.
Firstly, the comments about Lia and the timeline, and the fact that Lia's story is set in December has always been interesting to me. In the main series, about three months (roughly) has passed since Touch the Dark to Fury's Kiss. I'm not quite sure how KC is going to work the timeline going forward. If nine books (six Cassie & three Dory) only covered three months, what's going to happen between August and December? (We do also have Day of the Dead set in October.) Will a future book jump a few months from the previous one, with perhaps a few flashbacks to cover what happened in between, or might we see Cassie disappearing off to Faerie and losing a chunk of time that way?
I'm working off the assumption that the Cassie & Dory books will eventually get ahead of the Lia story, since I'd have thought the war storyline would be wrapped up by the final book, so where is that time going to go? (Or does anyone disagree with this assumption about the war being over at the end?) Any thoughts? KC has been very coy about whether Cassie can travel into the future, so I don't know if something might happen there that could affect the timeline that everyone else experiences.
Also, I wondered about Radella's rune. Does anyone think if might have a part to play somewhere down the line? Or is the blessing that Radella gave Cassie the real point of that scene? (Obviously assuming Cassie does return to Faerie at some point)
So there's a couple of talking points, but if anyone has thoughts about any of the other questions in these Q & As, don't be shy! :)
I recently noticed that one of the Lia stories takes place when Saunders is in office and, I think, fairly recently elected.
Yeah, KC specifically covers that in her answer.
But with the timeline moves... so slowly... the only way the dory/cassie books move ahead of Lia is if Cassie misses a big chunk of real time cause she's travelling in the past...
KC has been very coy when asked if Cassie could travel into the future, so maybe that's where the time goes?
Well... it depends how it works. is travelling in the future same as in the past? Does that mean a future parallel Cassie is there? Or does when she travel into the future is she just "new" there. I don't know. Plus how the possibilities unfold... Eeek time travel is DANGEROUS!
I think my head will explode if I think about future travel and its possibilities too much.I do still think the simplest way to lose a few months would be for Cassie to visit Faerie, and we're all reasonably sure that's going to happen. Not quite certain how it will all come together. Presumably Cassie takes out Tony/Rasputin, and meantime maybe Dory & friends take out Asshat's father, and either Asshat or Caedmon take control of the Fey and withdraw? We could follow the war in the Dory books, and when Cassie returns from Faerie everything is winding down. All that is left to do is pair off with Pritkin LOL!
Lannister wrote: "All that is left to do is pair off with Pritkin LOL! .."I approve of your priorities!
I can't imagine Cassie would be traveling to the future, given that it's so changeable. Like how Cassie's visions can be averted by changing her actions (i.e. her visions of a ruined Vegas not coming true because she stopped Apollo). So I don't know if it's a concrete place to visit.
I think, because KC wouldn't answer the question about travelling into the future, it makes me suspicious. But I think you're correct that it would quickly get very complicated.I say a time-out in Faerie is a good way for the various timelines to align. You can lose months or years with a visit there.
I wonder what Caedmon would think of Cassie?
Also, I haven't updated this thread in months. My bad! I'll look out some new questions shortly.
The ruined Vegas didn't come to pass because it would have happened if Cassie went back in time and missed the meeting with Nick's dad. The fissure in the ley line was already happening, and the fight she had with the mages there only sped up the process and destroyed MAGIC instead. Her vision was of an alternate future-what would have happened if she changed the past. As for Cassie actually travelling into the future-that's a tricky one. Why would she do that? How would that be useful?
Sorry, I didn't mean to come across badly, I am actually genuinely wondering in what way would travelling into the future be useful, because I am pretty sure that if Cassie goes to the future, whatever she sees there will make her rethink her every action and probably cause that future not to happen. It kinda reminds me of what Agnes told her in CtD-if Agnes knew what would happen-she would probably change it, even without wanting to-her decisions would be influenced-and changed-by that knowledge.
I honestly have no idea about the future time travel thing. I'm speculating because 1) there's a biggish gap between the Cassie books and the Lia stories, that presumably has to be filled before the end, as the war's still ongoing in the Lia books, and 2) KC dodged the question. Why not just say Pythias can't go beyond their own time period? Either KC's keeping her options open or she's messing with us!If Cassie were to go to the future for some reason, I presume she'd likely run into the Pythia of that time? And that Pythia might not be pleased to discover that the timeline was potentially being messed with? Although it hasn't happened yet, from Cassie's POV, so arguably she isn't changing anything ..... oh man, my head hurts!
I have no idea about the whole thing really, except for wondering why KC avoided answering the question. For the record, I've copied her response below. (I've copied two questions to give context, though the first question is interesting too.)
Q. What is the furthest back in time that Cassie is able to shift, using her body? As a spirit? Is there a limit to how far she can go in spirit form?That's a total evasion if ever I read one!
The questions are starting to get harder to answer, because doing so requires a lot of dancing around on my part. But let me pull on my little tap shoes, and we’ll see what I can do.
First, there’s the issue of the Tears of Apollo, the concoction that showed up in Touch the Dark, but which Cassie didn’t need because of who she was. But the Senate assumed she would need it, because most untrained initiates wouldn’t have been able to manipulate the power at all without help, much less do what she did. Basically, it’s a potion that greatly increases a person’s stamina and, concurrently, their magical ability. Cassie hasn’t been using it because she hasn’t needed it. But it is still there.
Secondly, there’s Agnes, who you’ll recall teased Jonas that she was secretly seeing Caesar on the side. He didn’t believe her, of course, but you have to wonder why she picked someone from over two thousand years ago. After all, she could have said anyone, from virtually any era. So why pick a time she couldn’t even go to? Unless, of course, she was just trying to flatter him, by saying she’d have to go back that far to find his equal. Only…Agnes didn’t exactly seem like the flattering type, did she? Of course, we only really saw her with Cassie. Maybe she was different with her significant other. Or maybe tap, tap tap.
So I think it’s safe to say that it just all depends, doesn’t it?
Q. Is it possible for Cassie to travel into the future?
Tap, tap, tap, tappity tap tap.
Well we know that Cassie can go back far in the past (with Rhea and the tears potion to help). We ALSO know the pythias can go FORWARD in time because yeah, the scene with the Cherries Pythia and Gertie Pythia - wasn't Gertie going FORWARD in time to return Cassie to her proper timeline?? So pretty sure they can go forward - but prob. only if a demon is spotted mucking around..... poor Rosier. I do feel a bit sorry for him.
Cant wait for more of his and Cassies trials and tribulations escaping from Cherries :) and dodging Hell Hounds... maybe one of them will befriend her because she had fed him pigs feet, ummmm.
Hurry up April 2016.
And while we are on the topic of demons and hell ... was it me but did the consul seem dunno but interested in the idea of merging a demon and vamp after Adra mentioned the demon could BOOST the host vamps natural powers? Or was I imagining it? I don;t think Mircea caught it although Marlow MIGHT have. I was speculating that by hosting demon all the master vamps and less vamps might level the playing field?
Lydia opened a sort of time portal and *sent* Cassie back to her own time (present) from Amsterdam.I think the Pythia Posse also simply sent Cassie home from the 6th Century. No need for them to come along.
Maybe Cassie needs to go back and recruit some other previous Pythias to help her.
I thought that Mircea placed that hold/grip on Cassie’s power while Cassie was unconscious when Tomas put her to sleep and brought her back to Magic? I thought Cassie felt different when she woke up more tired and sluggish but attributed it to the way her night went, and when Billy released it, is when she realized that had been what she was feeling. As far as another reason other than controlling Cassie by keeping her where Mircea believed was safest, well he knew at that time all that nasties that were after Cassie and the evil things they could do to her hurt, and the Cassie of that time he tried keeping there, did not, she was ignorant to that fact, and if she had gotten completely away and gone alone after Jimmy with no help or rescue then the black circle would have gotten her. I don’t think Mircea planned on keeping the block on her power without them talking and her understanding what was really going on, he knew she would need to use her gifts and power in the future and that could of gotten her and many others killed if she couldn’t. As far as the geis…well he did say he knew once she reached the throne he wouldn’t be able to keep control over her, and if he hadn’t of placed the “keep away” sign or fence on Cassie I can only guess to the abuse she would of endured as a child by the many bad sorts who came throughout Tony’s, Mircea’s visit wouldn’t have deterred them all it had Tony treating her better, but what about some of his goons or others passing through who might not know or care? The geis we’ve established didn’t create feelings, but tool them further, quicker to a whole other level, and Cassie admitted herself later on she loved Mircea before and regardless of the geis, once she got her head together. I’ll keep the dick moves of the White Knight and Cassie’s multiple life attempts from those for a different day, another thread. I think in regards to the time line, and Cassie’s “luck” both those things have served their purpose. I really thought Cassie was involved in getting Tomas out of Faery, and that we would of read about it, but so far haven’t gotten to that part yet, but maybe not. Not sure of the timeline but didn’t the Dark Fae king get taken hostage, and the circle promise the queen they’d help her free him? That was the reason she attacked Cassie? Maybe all this happened and he released Tomas sending him back?
Also the Roger question was very interesting. That there is more to him then just his connection to Artemis, he was interesting and someone of importance and power before their association or in his own right? If there was a before, who knows. For someone who seems like a goofy, clumsy dupe, he has power and brains, or maybe like Cassie he’s just really lucky an that’s where she gets it from. He also had some kind of purpose or goal, working for the guild and connections getting in that group, again he doesn’t seem like the type, it’s easier to belief he’s the puppy or right hand traveling after Artemis taking his cue from her, along with her help out smarting the black circle and nearly draining them, which all of the silver circle couldn’t do. It’s also odd not only does Artemis have one child throughout her years, where several of her other kind had many children, but Cassie is so far the only half human one we know of right? Hard to believe they didn’t breed with humans more but maybe it isn’t important yet to the story.
As far as Cassie traveling to the future, I’m guessing it’s a skill she would use when she least expects it and needs it the most, then spends some time trying to figure out how to do it on purpose, what instance will this happen, when it happens and why is curious. She can use the power to look at other angles and see how her actions will affect the future, where she can decide how to change the past, but we haven’t seen her use it that much, the only times I remember is at Rafe’s sick bed, where the “change’ wouldn’t of stopped at Magic but continued, and another in the holding cell at Magic freeing the circles prisoners.
And the farthest Cassie can travel back in time, I wonder if that is what we are seeing with her and Pritkin, or if it'll keep and we'll see it used for another purpose.
Not every Q&A will generate a lot of discussion, so I'll do a few at the same time if that's the case. And I'm going to do that with the first three. Here is the link. Go read then come back!
Q & A #1:
http://www.karenchance.com/news/qa-1-...
Q & A #2:
http://www.karenchance.com/news/qa-2-...
Q & A #3:
http://www.karenchance.com/news/qa-3-...
So here are a couple of questions to kick off discussion, but feel free to post any questions or thoughts of your own.
From the second Q & A, someone asks how vamps survive in Faerie, since they can't drink Fey blood. This makes me wonder about Tomas, and how long he was actually in Faerie. According to Day of the Dead, it's October when he re-emerges, but that doesn't mean it was months for Tomas. He was still healing and would have needed blood, so does this perhaps imply that Tomas was only in Faerie for a very short time? Or are there other humans kicking about the Dark Fey court? I still want to know how Tomas got out and who was chasing him (I think they were probably Fey.)
Question 5 in the third Q & A ... there's Mircea being a controlling dick again! I wonder if he ever discovered that his 'energy pot' was breached. And how would the story have gone if Billy Joe didn't break the ward? Would this leave Cassie unable to use the power without Mircea's co-operation (for a while, anyway)?
Anyone else got any thoughts on these questions?