The Emma M. Lion Appreciation Society discussion
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The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 7
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I’m dying, I need more!! I’ll admit I was/am team Hawkes, but can see some wrenches in there.I’d love to hear if other people also suspect he is Oberon? With a certain pear-scented Titania?
Loved her interactions with the Pirate and his backroom. I want to see those end papers!
We are still owed an explanation about Miss Dowd.
Not sure how I feel about Victoria and my suspicion that she’ll be redeemed and end up with someone I like, but if anyone can make me like her it is Beth.
I want more of everything, but especially more Prof. Fletcher, Jack, Crosby, Countess of Alwick, Roman and more things disappearing and popping up where they shouldn’t be. I cannot wait for the festival and for Stonecrop!!
Upon re-reading I’ve just had the most horrifying thought. Hawkes gets self-conscious after the sermon where Victoria shows up. Praying it is not so, and Lady Silver is his star-crossed amour.
Oh no!! I hope Victoria isn’t Hawkes’ Pear Scented Lady either!!! I like the Oberon theory better, although I’m suspicious of Victoria now too 👀
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(Incidentally, this strikes me as a fun game: start a sentence with “I did not expect…” and fill in the blank with something from Emma 7, but in as spoiler-free a way as possible. Hmm?)
I did not expect Emma’s custom journal to be so meta. 😆
I did not expect Emma to be involved in a duel 😆
I did not expect Titania to show up and outshine Agatha
I did not expect winter carrots to be so entertaining
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I was actually kind of disappointed about the romance thread in this book. I don't think Pierce is the best one for Emma, even though I think she could make it work with anyone in the magical quartet. Every time they kissed/discussed/etc., it was kind of ew for me. Although we've now established that all three men are around the same age, Pierce is far and away the oldest in spirit, and Emma is so young—far too young for him. Perhaps it's the 40-year-old mother of teenagers in me talking, but just no.
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My own personal wishes/predictions for future books:
• Pierce's past catches up with him and the romance ends either through his death or through something from his past.
• Islington is clearly not the one for Emma either, although I do think they could make it work (see above). Ooh, Islington + Victoria?
• I was all for Hawkes after the last installment and am even more so now. Emma's whole life goal is independence, books, and knowledge. Is there anyone more perfect for her than Hawkes? I think not. He would be an unconventional spouse, but then again, wouldn't Emma?
• Hawkes's pear-scented friend: We have no idea who she is. An unwise past engagement, à la Edward Ferrars? A sister or other female relative? An unintended intended? But pear is a good, simple, trustworthy scent with no romantic implications, so I think (hope!) that there will still be room for him to end up with Emma.
• Emma's hijinks are going to catch up with her sometime soon. You can't be hanging out with single men and kissing your tenant all the time without your prudish, busybody Victorian neighbors figuring it out. At some point she's going to run out of brilliant/ridiculous solutions.
• Islington is going to read Emma's journal and get into some sort of physical altercation with Pierce. He totally deserves to read her journal, am I right?
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I would love to read everyone else's predictions for future books!
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I think there was a lot of foreshadowing about the possibility of him hurting her in some way, and how he would walk away if that ever happened. Yup, I definitely think that's on the agenda...
I love how you describe Hawkes as a potential spouse: unconventional, but sharing all of Emma's priorities and passions. For sure. And I would say he's the one who most effectively calms and quiets her when she needs it. With his Shakespeare. And his shoulder to sleep on 🥰 And to me that's worth more than all the other banter/sparkiness that she has with the others.
I find it interesting that in a lot of the book chatter I've seen about this volume, people assume that the pear-scented lady has to be a romantic figure in Hawkes' life, but we don't actually have any proof for that, do we? Like you said, she could even be a relative. I'm paraphrasing, but isn't there a scene where Emma asks Hawkes something like, "Is she lovely?" and Hawkes looks at Emma and says, "She is." I was internally side-eyeing that whole exchange and thinking--ahhh, this feels like a MOMENT 😦 But it's written so ambiguously!
I think what keeps me second-guessing the Hawkes idea is that he's been so otherworldly most of the time that he could easily be read simply as a confessor/mentor/priestly figure. He definitely has a path into Emma's mind and heart (the "footsteps on the stairs" scene, ahh), but how to define the nature of it?!
Dianna wrote: "I was actually kind of disappointed about the romance thread in this book. I don't think Pierce is the best one for Emma, even though I think she could make it work with anyone in the magical quart..."
I’m a shipper of Pierce and Emma. He’s soo dark and mysterious… However, something about Emma and Islington getting into trouble together at church is… interesting… Their banter is lovely…
I am madly in love with Hawkes, as are my mom and my teenage daughters, so I wasn't a fan of the Pierce relationship (though being open to it back in 2/3). But their romance is peaking early if we have tons of volumes to come, so I don't know that this is Emma's final choice yet. Have the same fear others mention of Victoria being the pear-scented lady for Hawkes--she would have to go through a LOT of redemption to be worthy of him. I trust BB to lead me to love her eventual pairings, though!
I am all caught up but—in all seriousness—what colour is emma’s hair? 🤣 Brown, right? Lowkey want to make Lapis Lazuli House in The Sims but I have the memory of a goldfish 😌
I have the same goldfish memory, but please please let me know if you do make it and post it on the gallery!
I just made Emma, Tybalt, Cousin Archibald, and Pierce! Getting started on the house now
I’m a little afraid to admit to being Team Pierce from the beginning on this forum! But as a writer, I just find the way she has set up their relationship very elegantly done. I really like how she has balanced the dynamic so he doesn’t seem to be unfairly in charge of the relationship, despite the age difference. And I appreciate that both of them want a home. I can’t see Emma ever being with Islington because he has his own home base (the very loved Stonecrop in addition to his Rabbit Room etc) and I don’t feel like Emma would be Emma without Lapis Lazuli House. And as much as I enjoy their banter, Pierce has always respected Emma and been acutely sensitive to her needs, much more than Islington has. That being said, I anticipate a lot of heartbreak along the way before Pierce does the work on himself he needs to do. There were so many Chekhov’s guns in this Volume about that. I’m shaking in my boots. Also, I usually find a lot of romance/kissing scenes off-putting, and BB has won me over on this romance. It’s SO well done. From my perspective, anyway!
Is no one else hopping mad at Hawkes at the end of Vol 7?? Worst ad hoc guardian of all time?! Only showed up when she was threatened with being medically declared a lunatic? Poor Declan and Emma both deserved better!
Also, there was a horrible moment where I thought that the three men had physically fought OVER Emma and I was so disappointed! Happy and relieved that BB did not go for that trope. It was so lovely to see I and H defending P. And P being worried that the relationship with Emma might be over, and then not wanting her to see him limp away. So beautifully written to show that he’s got scars he’s not ready to show her. I love the solidity of the relationships between these three men and I keep being amazed and relieved at BB choosing NOT to introduce a love triangle. It’s the very opposite of lazy, tropey writing and one of the things that has me ravenously devouring this series.
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The lack of a love triangle is incredibly refreshing, as you say. Replacing it with a friendship quadrangle is one of my favorite things about the series. By the end of Volume 5 I was so floored by the quality of the relationships that I would have been very happy if any burgeoning romance was delayed for several more books, in favor of more friendship hijinks. But we’re well and truly in courtship territory now!
I think I need to reread Volume 7 soonish and perhaps pay more attention to Hawkes’ unusual guardianship. I don’t know what to make of his link with Emma’s father, and it’s very difficult at this point to suss out his motives for… anything and everything, really.
Thank you!! I do have misgivings about the relationship unless he gets serious about dealing with his demons. It's ironic, because he's been the one prompting Emma to deal with hers, and he's obviously worried about hurting her...but that hasn't translated yet into dealing with his obvious drinking problem, ahem. I guess it is a mark of her youth that Emma hasn't seen it as significant obstacle (and their different feelings about faith). So, yes, it's not all roses, but I love every scene with them together.
Alisha, I am very new to the fandom and I don’t see a FAQ topic. Is there any insider info on how long the series is intended to be? Are we one, two, or three acts into this story?? I need to know how to pace my expectations!
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I believe the series is intended to be about 25 books covering four years. While we wait, Beth has started a Substack where she posts a new short story each month set in the world of St. Crispian’s. It’s available on a subscription basis, I believe $5 a month, or a bit of a discount for a year at a time. (There have been a couple of freebie stories in there, including one just released last week, as well as a free newsletter.) https://bethbrower.substack.com/
Is anyone else wondering if Hawkes is related to Emma? Possibly a half brother (same father?). Knowing this would crush Emma which is why I think he asks her at the end of 7 not to ask him questions..... but clearly there is a relationship between Hawkes and Emma's father. In Vol. 1 Hawkes tells Emma that her father gave him a print, and Emma said her father never gave away prints... and Hawkes just walks away from her. This is why I think they might be similar to each other.
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Hi kindred spirits! I’ve been dying to find others who love Emma and Co- so much so that I’ve kept notes- so without further ado:Who is the “horrible lady” writing letters to the Braithwaits?
What is Aunt Eugenia’s secret?
Who is Hawkes writing?
Why can’t Hawkes tell his story?
Is he the brother (the comment at the last ball) or lover (Oberon?) of the fallen star/Tatiana?
Emma clearly has more wealth- where is it? And it obviously Aunt Petinia smuggling/controlling it.
Is Emma a countess? Is Pierce a dissolute Viscount? So many references. Please let it come full circle.
Re: Islington-Hannah? Sister? Or first love?
Whose secrets are coming out in book 8?! I’m dying for answers!
Here are my fun predictions- Hawkes and Emma are related, but Hawkes is dealing with Family Issues- thank you for the capitalization Aunt Eugenia. Emma’s inheritance is tied up in his decision.
Orr Pierce ran away from home and is really a dissolute Viscount which would be so funny.
I was Team Islington for my first read but upon the re-read am squarely undecided. I really love how Pierce was so tender to her, always so protective and can we talk about the walk around after the ball?!?!
And I doubt Ms Brower will ever see this but as a fellow logophile I’m crossing my fingers that at some point Hawkes and absquatulate are in the same sentence.
I devoured all other Beth Brower books after reading all the Emma’s in a week, so I have faith she’ll bring us through this, I also know my heart is in for some big feelings.
And last but not least every time she write about the reprobates I’m dying to have a spin off series. How fun would it be to read about young Hawkes pre-vicor/full reprobate?!
Oh my goodness, Molly! I’ve never thought Pierce was hiding an aristocratic background but that would be genuinely hilarious! Also, I can’t keep track of all these threads like you can but I love it!
Onwards we go!