Bitterblue
discussion
Anyone else disappointed with Saf??
Yeah, basically all of us who's given it 2 stars or less. Fire was my biggest letdown, because I really thought KC would do more with all the parallels she'd been building up in the book, but didn't like Saf either.
I couldn't agree with you more! Saf was a COMPLETE let down! In fact, I think Giddon made a better love interest than Saf did. Was it just me or did it feel as if their friendship could potentially become something more? I kept expecting something to happen between them and instead Bitterblue sleeps with Saf! I hated the circumstances in which that happened too...the love stories in Graceling and Fire were beautiful, so this one was definitely a disappointment.I think for me, one of the biggest let downs was the lack of developed ideas throughout the story. I felt as if Cashore focused too much on Bitterblue's confusion and her being left in the dark opposed to Thiel, his story, and the impact Leck's reign had on his other employers. I would have really liked to learn more about that. I feel as if Bitterblue had so much potential to be an amazing book but its execution just fell flat. I definitely wasn't expecting this from Kristin Cashore (especially since Graceling and Fire are two of my most favorite books of all time)!
I agree that Saf was a terrible love interest in Bitterblue. I feel like there was never enough time spent on developing their relationship because too much time was spent unraveling the horrors of Leck's reign. I must say that to me this book was a let down because of how much the story centered around Leck. I really expected an amazing story about Bitterblue herself but all I got was a book filled with questions about what Leck did. Even though it was these same questions that kept me reading I wasn't truly satisfied with the story and feel like I got ripped off by this book that I've been waiting all this time to read. It should have been titled Leck instead of Bitterblue because while his story grew and took over hers fell completely flat!
i thought he was jerk but other than that, he really didn't bother me that much i thought he was a good stepping stone for bitterblue SPOILERS!!! (not sure if this counts as a spoiler, but just in case)
I really want bitterblue and giddion to get together, the age difference isn't as big as i thought it was and i thought they had amazing chemistry and i think they would be good for each other, and Saf served as an emotional stepping stone for her so she could begin to feel stuff like that and be comfortable.
and as for leck's story taking over bitterblue's....leck's story is bitterblue's story, the two are so intertwined that they are basically one long story
I agree. I mean, if you just saw a person you knew since you were a kid betray you and jump off a bridge because he drove himself to insanity.....would you really be in any mental state to sleep with a guy?
Especially if part of the reason your old acquaintance went mad was because he was forced to rape and hurt girls and women?
And honestly I felt like there was too much emphasis on the the pill. Oh and don't forget to take the pill! Here's a stockpile!
I care about this young little girl so naturally since she shows interest in a guy the best thing I should do is give her the pill... I feel like, that should have stopped with the mention of Katsa wanting to plant a patch of it in Giddon's garden. It should have stopped with it being packed in Raffin's bag. There wasn't no need to rub it in our faces in the middle of Katsa and Po and then pile it in Bitterblue's bathroom.
And I agree that Po was solving too many problems throughout the book. While I love Po and was thrilled to see him throughout the book, I felt like it didn't do Bitterblue justice. Bitterblue was confused and depressed and anxious and crying and searching throughout the entire book. But I felt like since the book is about her and her kingdom, and we were "reading her mind" for hundreds of pages, she should be finding most of the answers not using her subjects/friends to solve them for her. Granted she found the puzzle pieces, but I felt a good deal of the pieces were put together by the other characters while she sat and trying to overcome all her madness and her kingdom's madness in her head saying BALLS and MADNESS to the point of annoyance.
It was a beautiful book but I feel as though it was not ready for publishing. While I'm not a publisher nor anyone with authority, I feel as though there was so much in this book that just needed...more.
The sculptures and artwork were beautiful. The ciphering and coding was a brilliant idea, truely. Only I felt it was a bit overused when the whole council was using it. I understand the practicallity, but I felt it made Ashen's cipers less shiny and I feel like if Leck was such a mastermind with his own ciphering he would have caught on to Ashen's ciphering.
Did anyone else find it jarring that Giddon was suddenly such an agreeable warming character? And it was hard for me to see Helda as a spy master when we know her just to be the warm comforting lady that took care of Katsa without judging her. Then there was Raffin and Ban........I mean....they didn't really strike me as starting to sparr and train even with the whole council aspect. Wasn't the whole thing that they preferred to develop their medicines and such?
This book kept me up all night but the thread is unwraveling at a rapid pace for me. It's not held together in the way Graceling felt for me. There's too many big things that are being thrown together in this book when each aspect has so much ammo to be a complete book of its own. I felt that Saf needed so much more development and Fox could have been a bit more fine-tuned. I felt that if Raffin and Ban were going to be in this book that much it should have been more brewed up potions and such than for the approval of gays and a meager nausea potion. I felt like if the crown was going to be in that room and reminded Bitterblue of her father in a twisted way and was openly available for stealing, it should have been mentioned earlier on (or maybe it was and I missed it in all the crazy advisors). And did anyone feel as though the whole outburst of Po and the Lienids in the court could have been much more than how it ended with his brief explanation to Bitterblue? After all, throughout the Graceling and for the majority of Bitterblue, we have no choice but to love the Lienids. The Lienids love their Graceling Prince and so does everyone that has read the book. Such a big BAM and it ends at that section.
Even with all these mixed feelings that I will need to sort out over the next few months, I still love the series and hope Cashore comes out with the next book soon. (although, seeing how long we waited for Bitterblue and how I wish it was more developed, it probably won't be coming out a for some years)
i don't know if i agree - i think that there's a story there. we dont really know the back story on how he came to live where he did and do what he does. we just know that he was abandoned by his parents and that's about it. i feel like he really does have some redeeming qualities but he's kind of put a wall up or shell around himself. he started to allow himself to be helped by others which shows that he's got that softer more trusting side - and i think that there were nuances in the story where you saw that he's really protective of BB which is what she needed.
to build off the Fox thing, i knew that there was more to her story and kept trying to figure it out before they revealed that she was Gray. part of me was kind of thinking that maybe she was Dellian since it almost seemed like some of the characteristics used to describe her were 'monster esque'
are u kidding me!!! i was soo pissed!!! saf u dumb beep beep eep!!!! ugghhhhhh i cant believe he left bitterblue!!!
While his character development/place within the novel was a bit awkward at times .. I really liked his characterization. Cashore made Saf's spitefulness, manipulation, and anger painful to read to convey the emotion between the two characters. As said by Bitterblue (in one of the most memorable lines of the book), he was acting as a person would when someone they loved hurt them. Saf wasn't nothing, just .. human.
That's what I love about Cashore's writing. Her characters have a believability to them; no one is a pure antagonist/protagonist, but a mix of both that leaves the reader wondering where /they/ stand. Unlike many books I've read of the same genre, her characters are able to /change/; more than just flat, one-toned characters that are perpetually happy or sad or whatever the case may be. They're 3-dimensional, emotion only strengthened with the power in Cashore's diction.
If you expected Saf to be an atypical YA love-interest, don't read. Relationships don't work like that in reality. But it's up to the reader to fill in their own conclusions, no?
Monica wrote: "I totally agree...Saf was stupid. Maybe if he'd figured out his Grace earlier, and instead of just sending Bitterblue a couple of "nice" dreams, he could've been relevant and helpful to the story ..."That is such a great idea! I never even thought of something like that, but it would have been interesting for him to send her messages. Also, it could be really helpful with council obligations, because then he could communicate with others without having to worry about ciphered letters and whatnot.
I didn't like Saf either, or Bitterblue for that matter. I thought she would wake up and realize that Giddon was PERFECT for her, but she never did...
i was reallly disappointed that Bitterblue didn't end up with Giddon =(
Apart from his amazing name, i was quite disappointed in the storyline. Don't get me wrong, the last books were A-MA-ZING, but i felt like she used Katsa and Fire too much, like she was recycling characters.
The story consisted of Bitterblue in her tower, ordering people about. I understand she's a queen, but i was getting hyped up for a adventure... And it didn't live up to what i'd been waiting for, for ages.
I felt that we didn't see much of her and Saf, which kinda left me feeling a bit deflated.
The plot in 5 words?
1. Castle
2. Statues
3. Bones
4. ciphers
5. Paperwork
Jennifer wrote: "While his character development/place within the novel was a bit awkward at times .. I really liked his characterization. Cashore made Saf's spitefulness, manipulation, and anger painful to read ..."
Agree COMPLETELY. I thought the Crown debacle went a litte far but over all my only complaint about our mercurial Saf was not getting to delve a little deeper.
I don't understand why people can't wrap their heads around the idea of a story not following a standard as set by everything else in its genre. She didn't have to end up with anyone, she has more important things to worry about. It's called Bitterblue, nothing else, just Bitterblue. Saf's point to the storyline was that he was there and she learned from him. He's relevent through his involvement with her, regardless of what.
It's like the genre has gotten so formulaic that it throws people for a loop when they can't place a new male love interest on the pedastle every time they read a book.
Jennifer Anne wrote: "I was disappointed with Saf. I didn't feel anything between him and Bitterblue. I did however like Giddon and I wanted that relationship developed and explored more. Especially when they went sle..."While I agree it's not a great message and I wouldn't say it was CRUICIAL to the plot I would say it was supposed to be there.
Bitterblue, for a good portion of the novel, is craving affection and most especially the physical kind. She lost her mother only 8 years ago and has spent all her time surrounded by cold, boring advisors and hundreds of people who respect her too much to dare touch her, all forgetting that she is still a child.
And besides, why does it HAVE to be so negative a message to have sex as a form of comfort? I understand it's not good to trust someone quite like Saf at a time of vulnerability but in a time of greif is it really so bad for an 18 year old girl to seek that kind of comfort?
While I adore Kristin Cashore as an author, I have to agree. I liked Saf at first - or at least I liked what I thought he was. I'm not sure I blame him completely though. At times, I found myself a lot more angry with Bitterblue than with him. I think the fact she even allowed those things (the crown, etc.) to happen was partly her fault. She didn't really stand up for herself. Saf wasn't perfect, but Bitterblue could have prevented a lot of those issues. I felt like she was A LOT weaker than Katsa and Fire. I also felt like she completely used Po throughout the book, which bothered me. Shockingly, though, I now completely love Giddon. Po is still my favorite, but I really do like Giddon now. =)
I totally agree with everyone who loves Giddon. He's awesome.
Fontaine wrote: "I was extremely disappointed with him. I thought he was completely wrong for bitterblue. There was nothing I liked about him, and he hardly had any redeeming features. [spoilers removed]I thought..."
well said... =)
I really liked Saf, a lot! I was so sad when he left. I thought for sure they would be together. Although I have to admit Giddon came in at a close second. But I would love if there is another book, with more Bitterblue and Saf.
I have to say, on some things i would agree that Saf was a bit of a let down. But otherwise, i think he was perfect for the role he played in the book, which was having something interesting while nothing really important was happening at that point in the book.
Saf seemed right for Bitterblue, but he was very argumentive. And really? After seeing someone you know jump of a bridge knowingly to his death while you tried to stop him, wouldn't you turn to your love interest to? And half of the things that he got angry about were small. I mean, it's not like she could waltz right into the city letting everyone know she was queen. He made being queen seem like the plauge.
I liked Saf but I can see why a lot of people wouldn't. I don't think KC gave him a decent role in the book he was mysterious at the beginning then just faded out. I liked him but I wanted a lot more of him
I kinda liked Saf.
saf was freaking amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keertana wrote: "I couldn't agree with you more! Saf was a COMPLETE let down! In fact, I think Giddon made a better love interest than Saf did. Was it just me or did it feel as if their friendship could potentially..."I couldn't agree more with you. This book focused waaaay too much on Bitterblue's confusion, which leave very little room for other things. And when Cashore revealed about what Leck did with all the missing little girls, I feel like it was too late to save the book.
And the lack of chemistry between Bitterblue and Saf was beyond disappointing. Frankly, I don't get why they would end up with each other.
I loved Saf, I was really sad he left at the end. Hopefully if there is ever a book in Bitterblue's perspective again he comes back.
I am so glad that I am not the only one who felt that Saf was not only a angry, mean character but a horrible choice as a love interest. I really liked Giddon much better both for Bitterblue but her kingdom too.
Personally, I liked Saf. The only thing needed to be taken out of his character is his stubborn and tight ass attitude. I liked his grace a lot *spoilers* and he cared for Bitterblue (excluding the depressing part). I think he is a alright choice, and I was waiting for *SPOILERS* Bitterblue to give up her level as Queen and go with Saf. I couldn't stop reading this book and I'm on a little side quest to find the other two of the triology :)
Keertana wrote: "I couldn't agree with you more! Saf was a COMPLETE let down! In fact, I think Giddon made a better love interest than Saf did. Was it just me or did it feel as if their friendship could potentially..."
I 100% agree! Giddon would have been perfect. Saff was useless!
Leti Del Mar
I 100% agree! Giddon would have been perfect. Saff was useless!
Leti Del Mar
I liked Saf but I thought he was way to hard on Bitterblue when he found out she was Queen. Yes, I agree, Giddon would've been great....Maybe if he even became King grt back on Randa for destroying his original home! That was an absolute low blow, mean of King Randa!!
I don't know if it would be in the kingdom's best interest if their brand new king decides, first thing, to act on a personal vendetta using his new political power. :P
I really wanted Bitterblue to have some love life. She barely saw Saf and really wanted what what Poe and Katsa had. Maybe we'll get a book 3.
I really liked Giddon and I would have like to have seen him with Bitterblue as a couple. Sapphire was all wrong for her. Great character for interest and to spice up the plot but a very poor love partner for a queen. Of the entire series, Fire was my favourite.
disappointed in Saf, I will always love Teddy <3nuff said
I see alot of Katsa and Po's relationship in Bitterblue and Saf's. Saf doesn't want to be tied fown and has done unfavorable things in the past, just like Katsa and Bitterblue still loves him although he can't stay with her and she wont go with him, a lot like Po. "It suits them" as said by one of the characters in Bitterblue. I was dissappointed that Saf still left, but if any of you remember Graceling ended almost in the same way, if you think about it. Katsa left Po to confront someone and they ended up *still* having this passionate love for eachother that we see in Bitterblue and I'm hoping that's what could possibly happen between Bitterblue and Sapphire. Now these are my interpretations and could be completey wrong. I do wish I could have seen more of Saf in KC's book, but maybe we will in the next one?
Okay, here's what I think works about Saf; Bitterblue is treated like a queen and a child at the same time. Her advisers are hiding information from her and going behind her back. She is either patronized or feared. Very few people act as though they're no her level (Katsa, Po, Raffin...) and all of them have partners and flaunt their love around freely (I have no problem with this, but poor Bitterblue)
Saf is %100 free with Bitterblue. Though it's not for the best, he is able to be angry with her, honest with her, attracted to her. Everything worked when she was with Sparks. So I guess she liked how he saw her as a person before he saw a queen. She needed that. And they don't end up "Together forever" Neither of them compromise for each other. I think they have a quick first romance and say goodbye. I know there's better out there for Bitterblue, who couldn't really be with Saf in the first place. So every girl has that one guy that she totally regrets. Saf was arrogant, thick-headed and rude, but he visibly softened to Bitterblue towards the end, especially when he regarded her as human. Most of the book I was ready to punch him, but I think their relationship worked and helped Bitterblue more than it hurt her. She needed that bit of freedom he gave her. And she got it, and he left, so she wouldn't have to be distracted or conflicted by him. he was kind of a jerk, i'd never deny that, and the crown BS made me want to throttle him. But I liked the romance. Maybe i'm just a sucker for that. It was a clean break, but it was sweet enough for both of them to look back fondly on.
When I saw there was gonna be another male character introduced into the series I had high hopes for him after the amazing Po. Saf let me down, a lot. I know Kristen Cashore can create really good male leads, so why did she even bother making Saf...?
I found Saf very intriguing and I liked him a lot. I agree that he wasn't in the story enough and I would have liked a lot more of him, especially scenes where he isn't being an ass. I have really enjoyed all of Cashore's books and I enjoyed this one as well but I feel like she isn't very good at displaying attraction between characters. We never realize until the characters realize that they are attracted to the other person and she gives us no clues really. I honestly couldn't tell if it would be Saf or Teddy or someone else entirely who was going to be the love interest until it happened. At least in Fire and Graceling there were clear cut lines of possibilities and likelihoods of who it would be. I mean Graceling it was obviously gonna be Po. Fire most likely Brigan or Nash. There was just so much going on in Bitterblue I had no idea what to expect, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I really liked the story and I was disappointed in a way that they couldn't end up together. But really there was no way they could have. Bitterblue may eventually marry someone who is not royal like Giddon but even in years to come when her kingdom is more stable there is no way Saf would ever be a reasonable choice for a king. He is too unpredictable and controlled way too much by his own emotions instead of reason. Their separation was inevitable and I appreciate that Cashore didn't follow the normal pattern for YA relationships. Though I agree at the end I just felt an aching for something more. There just wasn't enough of the feeling of attraction and wanting between Saf and Bitterblue to make their relationship satisfactory. I don't know if that makes sense. A lot of words for a little point.
Maddie wrote: "Okay, here's what I think works about Saf; Bitterblue is treated like a queen and a child at the same time. Her advisers are hiding information from her and going behind her back. She is either pa..."
I think you explained it better here than Cashore did in the book :)
Maddie wrote: "Okay, here's what I think works about Saf; Bitterblue is treated like a queen and a child at the same time. Her advisers are hiding information from her and going behind her back. She is either pa..."
You know your comment lead me to another conclusion about their relationship. Saf taught her lots about herself and how to love and even how to be a woman. Saf was an ass a lot of the time but he was also so sincere it was sometimes painful.
But he taught her something else at the same time. He taught her how to heal someone. Bitterblue starts the book faced with the monumental task of healing a broken kingdom and it's so big she doesn't know where to start. Thanks to Saf she started off with the comparatively small task of healing herself and one other damaged boy. He gave her a starting point. When she goes to Giddon later to comfort him (and nurtures that connection they had throughout) we see her sort of leveling up in her ability to take care of people. Then later again with her advisers.
These are all important stages in her quest to heal her kingdom and I realize it's not exactly a secret given that it's pretty much the point of the story but Saf is most definitely the catalyst that draws out her nurturing side.
The thing is, the book wasn't meant to be a romance. The romance was second to Bitterblue coming into her own as a Queen. The book in my opinion was about redemption. Bitterblue finding redemption after what happened with Saf was important, it was important that he left on a good note. It was also about redemption for the whole kingdom, so Bitterblue finding redemption with Saf was a good subplot. Saf also taught her lots of things, about the city, about how people were living outside of her palace, and that was important. He ultimately leaves, because that was always his goal. I think it's interesting to show two people who deeply care for each other but maybe aren't in love with each other. As for Saf being an asshole, he was - but you have to understand that there was a deep power imbalance in their relationship that became apparent once he learned she was Queen. You have to understand why that would be scary for him. I think the book was actually the best of the three. It was incredibly emotional. Basically, I think it was just about showing different ways of getting redemption. The advisors had their own (ultimately flawed) way of getting redemption, but it turned out Thiel and Runnemood and Darby couldn't get redemption for the horrible things Leck had made them do. There wasn't complete redemption for the Kingdom, and there wasn't complete redemption for them. There also wasn't complete redemption for Bitterblue and Saf, as things could never be the same with Bitterblue being Queen. I think that's rather a depressing conclusion, but I think it's also a somewhat accurate one.
Anyways, I like that Cashore shows failed relationships and not just "true love" or whatever. I liked Archer being in Fire for that reason too. Not all relationships are meant to be forever, some are meant to show people something and then end.
Thebraveatheart wrote: "The thing is, the book wasn't meant to be a romance. The romance was second to Bitterblue coming into her own as a Queen. The book in my opinion was about redemption. Bitterblue finding redempti..."I agree with everything you said. You made some very good points. I like that Cashore's characters have realistic relationships. So many YA books focus on a "true love" relationship that in real life isn't possible. That is just not how it happens. So I appreciate Cashore's relationships because they don't always work out but at least something was learned from the relationship. I love how strong Bitterblue really was despite her thinking that she was weak. And I also love that she didn't become self-centered and throw a fit when Saf left. She knew he had to and she remembered that there were people that relied on her so she didn't give up on all the people in her life, like the true love characters tend to do when true love leaves them, she stood strong and did what she had to do. Honestly, if I were faced with such a daunting task as the one Bitterblue had to do, well I don't think things would have worked out nearly as well for me. I think Bitterblue had it the hardest out of all of Cashore's characters, she didn't have superpowers to rely on. I agree this was the best out of the three books.
Fontaine wrote: "I was extremely disappointed with him. I thought he was completely wrong for bitterblue. There was nothing I liked about him, and he hardly had any redeeming features. [spoilers removed]I thought..."
WOW I agree 100% ! thanks for putting my ideas into words
:D
I like Saf. I thought the whole realistically portrayed. You fall for people; you obsess about them; you are not meant for each other and things fall apart. It's part of life, and I though Cashore portrayed that aspect of life exceedingly well. Of course Saf and Bitterblue aren't good together; but the emotional resonance between them worked for the book, IMO.
If Saf was supposed to be Bitterblue's love interest or even her first love this is disappointing. I don't feel like there was tht much of a connection between the teo of them. Teddy could have easily been the love interest also. Besides them kissing their relationship was horrible. But maybe KC left her love aspect open for a reason.I feel like KC left this open because [*SPOILER. maybe BB is going to visit Nash in the Dells. Who knows what could happen. She could have a love triangle going on with Giddin and Saf or just continue to a better lover story for Saf and BB.] I do really like these books but I didn't like how abruptly this book ended an with so many questions unanswered.
Heidi wrote: "If Saf was supposed to be Bitterblue's love interest or even her first love this is disappointing. I don't feel like there was tht much of a connection between the teo of them. Teddy could have eas..."Incidentally in a blog post KC wrote she was talking about the author's intentions vs. a reader's expectations and how these things don't always mesh. She'd been commenting on a bad review of a book she was fond of but a friend has asked her if the post was about Bitterblue and how it fails as a romance.
Here is the quote:
But I suppose this blog post could have been about Bitterblue. I would have to agree that it fails as a romance. Here are some other things it fails as: Historical fiction. True crime. Poetry. Time travel. Cook book. Instruction manual for flying a helicopter. Seriously, it's like the worst helicopter instruction manual EVER.
And here is the link:
http://kristincashore.blogspot.ca/201...
Just to put it in perspective - sure Saf is a crappy love interest but the novel seemed to be more oriented to BB's coming-of-age and the restoration of her kingdom.
Thanks for the link. I'm not saying I hated the book. I actually really liked it. I just feels troubled when this get left unanswered. I'm just hoping she'll write another and she'll answer some of them. All in all I love this series. I even made my bestie buy the first to..haha.
Excuse my awful typing I'm typing on my iPod.
Heidi wrote: "Thanks for the link. I'm not saying I hated the book. I actually really liked it. I just feels troubled when this get left unanswered. I'm just hoping she'll write another and she'll answer some of..."Oh no I didn't think you hated the book, I just thought that link might be interesting :) I love all three and I forced them on my friend too. I would love nothing more than another book about Bitterblue going on a diplomatic mission to the Dells.
That's my prediction. I think KC will write another about BB going to the dells. There is to much left unsaid about her kingdom and other things to be finished.
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I thought he was mean and spiteful to bitterblue and didn't respect her or her authority at all. (view spoiler)[I lost count of the many times he spoke rudely to her and offended those in her presence. Not to mention how he stole her crown and walked all over bitterblue. I still cant believe she wanted to save him although he had committed treason, did things out of spite and continued to be an ass after the many times bitterblue actually said sorry. I cant even remember him ever apologizing or being grateful for what bitterblue did for him--not even once. That includes are the saving and manipulating people to make sure he's safe. (hide spoiler)]
I'm still absolutely horrified and shocked when bitterblue, out of the blue, decides that she was ready to sleep with him. It came after a traumatizing event (someone's death) and I just thought it was a horrible message. And normally i avoid the whole the character was bad for females everywhere sending a message thing.
I hated how useless he was. If he was to be a romantic interest of bitterblue, he should at least made more appearances and tried harder to help. I still remember after he stole the treasonous item that it was hardly one of his priorities to retrieve it until much later.
And did anyone else notice how bitterblue was always crying out for help? And always to Po.
Normally, it's the love interest who has to do all the saving (or sometimes the heroine herself), and sometimes i understand the break of a white knight trope.
But ultimately Saf was the worst YA male love interest I've ever seen. I know there are cliche bad boys out there who are overdone, or boys who are too nice and too willing to do anything for the heroine, guys who are perfect, too beautiful or stalker-ish. But Saf just wasn't anything.
I know it can be argued that it's new and different to have someone like Saf. But he didn't win me over at all. Regardless of what direction the author takes to make a character, I still think someone in Saf's position should have been likable.
Honestly saf was the biggest let down of all. My problem was he just...bleh. And considering what happened in the end (view spoiler)[where he left anyway (hide spoiler)], im starting to wonder what was the point of his role? He was the romantic interest who never went anywhere. And i wonder if it would really have made the novel any different, or even better, if they just had a platonic relationship? Or was it so important to have romance in this book although it wasn't great?
I apologize for the bad typing as I'm doing it on a difficult device.