Me too- that scene was perfect! My problem is, my mind can’t get around the original descriptions of the psychos from the first chapter of Between Jobs- where Athelas looks about forty and Zero mid-thirties. With Pet being seventeen, imagining a romantic relationship between her and one of them just gets creepy to me. Athelas seems like an older uncle sort of role, and Zero seems big brothery. JinYeong could be like a distant cousin or twin brother- someone you play with and purposely annoy the crap out of. So yeah, I’m kind of leaning toward a ship with either JinYeong or Tuatu, since they’re closer to her age.
Rachael Liankatawa
June 25, 2019 at 07:57 PM UTC
I saw Zero as the main romantic interest in the first 2 books. I think because we don’t actually know what he thinks so I interpreted his actions as having more feeling than maybe they had. All his protectiveness could be taken as romantic interest (even though he would be unaware of his feelings).
And I can’t remember how old Tuatu is but for some reason I had him pegged in his 30s…too old for Pet. For some reason age differences among Fae and humans don’t bother me the same way. So even though Zero was described older I didn’t view him that way. Athelas though seems much too old for Pet. Definitely an eccentricUncle!
I didn’t like JinYeong at all in the first 2 books. He seemed too eager to harm Pet but he’s definitely grown on me in a way that if he doesn’t end up with Pet, I want him to find love somewhere. He needs a happy ending!
Caitlin
June 27, 2019 at 09:11 AM UTC
I think it is fascinating the way all of us seem to have focused on different “clues”, depending on our interests, perspectives etc. In my case, I know there were definitely things I overlooked about JinYeong in my first couple of read-throughs.
,
Faith
June 26, 2019 at 02:42 AM UTC
It is so interesting for me to see how many people felt that way about Jinyeong for the first two books. I actually thought how much he cared for her was as obvious as how much Zero cared for her- which is to say, not very obvious, but still there in brief, subtle moments. But, again, as I mentioned in a different comment, I was kind of interpreting things from the perspective of a Korean and by default am a tiny bit of a cheater because I understand all the untranslated bits of Korean, haha.
I’m also with Lynn on this one that you both may end up right! I felt the opposite of intuitive for possible love interests. I never even considered Zero and just barely considered Jinyeong as a possibility, and pretty much thought Tuatu was the main option. I felt so slow when I saw what everyone else had to say! And even though I still sense more familial feelings from Zero, I still feel like it’s pretty possible for that to change.
,
Lynn
June 26, 2019 at 12:47 AM UTC
Caitlin and Rachael, you both may still end up being right and then you get bragging rights, lol!
,
Caitlin
June 26, 2019 at 12:39 AM UTC
I was also a diehard member of #TeamZero for the first three books (I read them all as they were released and have read them multiple times since). And I think Rachel perfectly explained my logic at the time.
I will just add that (as KM Shea pointed out) a lot of us are not used to seeing this much care, depth, and attention being paid to the formation of plutonic friendships. It is one of the unique and wonderful things about this series. But as a ship happy little reader who prefers to know early on who the romantic leads will be, I tended to interpret things in a certain light. And Zero did things that, in many other books or series, would indicate the beginnings of romantic feelings. Even though he argued the hardest against keeping Pet, he went farther than anyone in trying to protect her. And in book 1, Athelas tried to “warn” Pet about Zero and his inability to love, (a classic Obstacle To Romance in my eyes). Then in book 2, Athelas tried to explain to Pet that there was no logical reason for Zero to be trying so hard to save her life, thereby showing that Zero was growing fond of her. Even fairly prosaic things like the fact that Zero is the leader of the Troika, in another style of book, would indicate the he is The Male Lead. So I kinda leapt to conclusions. Having read more books, and reread the early ones, I am no longer convinced that Pet will fall in *romantic love* with Zero, and I am ok with that. Just took me awhile to catch up with some of you more intuitive folks 😀
Faith
June 25, 2019 at 03:44 AM UTC
Eleniel, I actually felt a very similar way! The early descriptions of how old they look got/gets to me too. When only the first two books were out, until I started looking at what other people were thinking, I thought Tuatu was the main candidate for being a love interest, with a hint of a possibility for Jinyeong. For the whole first two books I loved Zero and Pet (and I still do!), but I thought it was such lovely, big brother/sister type friendship (which is one of my all-time favorites in books, but hard to find sometimes). And, obviously, I thought it was purely platonic, so I was actually really shocked when I decided to check out what other people thought and found out he was seen as pretty much the main contender. Aaand that pretty much no one else at that point even CONSIDERED Tuatu a possibility, haha! (I was like, wow, so many years of reading and I was this off??)
Obviously, fellow readers’ comments aside, when book three came around I started to see the possibility of there being something between Pet and Zero or Jinyeong shoot up quite a bit (especially on Jinyeong’s end), and the possibility go down with Tuatu (it seems like they’re going to have a pretty epic friendship), but, like you said, because of the description of their ages when they were first introduced and the completely platonic, not-even-a-hint-of-romance-in-the-future type of I way perceived Pet’s relationship with Zero for the first two books, it’s hard for me to feel completely comfortable with the thought.
Especially for Athelas- yes, eccentric uncle is the perfect word for him, and he’s just way too old. I really love his and Pet’s relationship as well, but in the uncle way! But it doesn’t seem like Pet’s going to get any feelings for him or vice versa any time soon, so I feel like it’s a bit of a moot point. Jinyeong is and at least looks a little younger (At least, I think he’s physically supposed to look a little younger than Zero), so a romance with him always seemed more comfortable for me.
A question for everyone though. I still kind of feel like Zero and Pet have and will end up keeping an awesome big brother type relationship. Maybe it’s because I’m someone where his age messed with my perspective of it from the get-go, but it still feels like Pet adores him in the protective brother/friend sort of way. And for some reason, I see the possibility of that changing less then her ending up feeling something for Jinyeong, even though she clearly has less then zero feelings of romance for the vampire at the moment (haha, Zero puns unintended, although it’s surprisingly perfect for what I was trying to say).
Faith
June 26, 2019 at 02:13 AM UTC
Yes it does! I was mostly just wondering if I was the only one getting very strong familial vibes rather then romantic vibes. Which is actually mentioned a lot in this thread, but at the times I hadn’t fully realized it. 🙂
,
Lynn
June 25, 2019 at 06:28 PM UTC
Faith, I too have interpreted her reaction to Zero’s in a non romantic protective role right now. Pet was alone without anyone, much less a family, for so long, that I got the vibe Zero made her feel safest, She sees him as an ultimate protector. She sees him as this gruff guy who has a little bit of the heart of a teddy bear inside hidden away that she sees peeks of now and again. I think the comfort and affinity she feels around him is like related to needing that in her life. At the start of this series she’s missing her family when these three show up and Zero offers her the most sense of protection which she craves. So while I do see their relationship likely to evolve as all friendships do (and kids with parents, brothers, etc. as they grow), I do see that their relationship is likely to be primarily grounded that way and maintaining. Does that answer what you were asking?
Elizabeth
June 25, 2019 at 03:38 AM UTC
That’s a really good point. We don’t know what exactly Pet is, she could live a really long time. In the scenario of Pet and JinYeong ending up together, I had been wondering if Pet would need to be vampirized, or if JinYeong could be turned human again. It might be neither one of those are necessary.
Caitlin
June 25, 2019 at 02:50 AM UTC
I can totally understand the “perception” issue. I have had that same problem with other books (*glares at the copy of Fire and Hemlock on the bookshelf*). And I really can’t picture Pet with Athelas. The “eccentric uncle” title someone else gave him just fits too perfectly. But, for whatever reason, the age between Pet, Zero, and JinYeong bothers me much less. Maybe because we don’t actually know how old Zero is, or how his age is perceived by other Fae? Is he young in Fae years at least? And hey at least JinYeong was born in the same century as Pet. Also we don’t know what Pet is. Maybe she will have a very long lifespan too?
Caitlin
June 25, 2019 at 03:33 AM UTC
Haha of course that would be your favorite DWJ book. Very fitting 😉 I confess to being quite cross with that book for about a week after I first read it back in high school. Imagine, a narrator that isn’t omnipotent?! A protagonist who is not as he first appears?! What a scandalous outrage! But that was just the first time I read it. On subsequent readings, I learned to appreciate it for the masterpiece it is 🙂
,
W.R. Gingell
June 25, 2019 at 03:16 AM UTC
Wait, you love Fire and Hemlock, too?? That’s such a huge favourite of mine! That one and Hexwood are two of my favourite DWJ books–she was the MASTER of intricate plotting and you-don’t-have-to-explain-everything!
,
Caitlin
June 25, 2019 at 03:05 AM UTC
Oh, this was meant as a reply to what Eleniel said about the original description of the Psychos and how that shapes our perception of them.
Lynn
June 24, 2019 at 09:16 PM UTC
I’m with you about not envisioning a romance with Athelas or Zero and Pet. Their relationships with Pet have always had an uncle (Athelas) or parental/protective in an older non-romantic way (Zero) vibe to me. It’s not just the appearance of age though that is part of it. Another part of it for me is the power differential. There is too much of a power differential right now for me to feel comfortable with romance with either of them. It is possible (and likely) that with the remaining books Pet will grow into her own and won’t read as young and be on a more even playing field with them but it will be hard to get these books and the current dynamic out of my head even if that happens. Then throw in that age difference and I get uncomfortable with it. It would be a LOT to overcome.
However, with Jin Yeong, there doesn’t seem to be as big of a power differential to overcome. He’s been in this world longer but he’s an outsider just like Pet. He’s only partly accepted and doesn’t have as much power as the Fae seem to have nor the respect. Right now though, I don’t sense any romantic vibe or interest from Pet for him but that could change easily in the future.
As for Tuatu, what is his age again? I’ve forgotten and the character I have visualized in my head is around lower 40’s so I haven’t thought of him as a romantic potential either. I don’t know why that’s my visual and it’s highly likely that I missed his age in the first book because there was so much to take in about all of the characters and situations.
At any rate, for the moment I’m not shipping anyone with Pet because I haven’t sensed any interest from her about any of the characters in the main books. As a matter of fact, the novella is the first time I sensed any possible interest for her in a character and that went nowhere due to the situation. However, once Pet becomes aware of interest in someone I’ll be more invested but it needs to come from her. In this series, she needs to have the power in choice since she has so little choice or power in most everything else going on in her life.
Eleniel
June 28, 2019 at 08:26 PM UTC
Thank you! I didn’t think that either of them could have fit in the first four. (Actually, I didn’t connect the dude in the coffee shop with Marazul until I reread it after reading Shades of Blue. I was so excited cause I actually knew who that was!)
,
W.R. Gingell
June 27, 2019 at 11:38 PM UTC
Yeah, Goodreads is just confused 😀 Now that I’ve had a chance to get a closer look at the timeline, Cloudy should take place after book 5 and Shades of Blue is (I think!) between books 6 & 7. I finally caught up! (nearly…)
,
Caitlin
June 27, 2019 at 06:26 PM UTC
Goodreads is probably thinks it is 3.5 based on when it was released for individual sale. I know for sure it is later than anything else that has been released so far. I think W.R. said on Facebook that “Cloudy with a Chance of Drop Bears” takes place around book 5 or 6 and “All the Different Shades of Blue” is around book 7 or 8, but I am not 100% sure. Hopefully can clarify that for us in one of these discussions.
,
Lynn
June 27, 2019 at 06:13 PM UTC
On Goodreads it was listed as 3.5 but that can’t be right. I just read book 4 and it looks like that’s the first time ‘Zul shows up in a quick peek. Plus, it can’t happen between 4 and 5 because of certain events in book 4 (at the end) that I can’t discuss until Saturday. So I’m curious when it occurs too.
,
Eleniel
June 27, 2019 at 05:38 PM UTC
Speaking of ‘Zul, does anyone know where Shades of Blue fits into the City Between timeline? I think it has to be after Between Floors- that’s where all of the relationships seem to start cementing- but I’m not sure other than that.
,
Caitlin
June 27, 2019 at 09:07 AM UTC
Yeah, I hear you Eleniel on feeling torn. There are several characters I can picture her with, but I really don’t know where things are going….or even where I want them to go at this point. Plus, even though I adore Marazul, the fact that his story comes in so much later in the series than everything else just makes things even more confusing some how. Oh well, I’m enjoying the ride and it is still really fun to speculate.
,
Eleniel
June 26, 2019 at 04:19 AM UTC
I’m torn… I love Tuatu and am rooting for him, but after reading Shades of blue and seeing ‘Zul’s HUGE crush on Pet…
It could be a really good thing for her to date someone who is so in awe of her. And I really liked Marazul. But Tuatuuuuuu!!!!
,
Caitlin
June 26, 2019 at 01:35 AM UTC
I DON’T KNOW AND IT IS KILLING ME!
I love love love Shades of Blue. It is my second favorite entry in the entire series so far (after Between Floors). So I would be very happy to see that happen, but I never know where things are going in this series so I guess I am just going to have to wait to find out. *sigh*
,
Lynn
June 26, 2019 at 12:43 AM UTC
Caitlynn, you didn’t come across as critical at all. I just know that with writing things down sometimes meaning isn’t clear and was trying to clarify. I love book discussions and how they make you consider ways of looking at it all with different perspectives and insights. However, I prefer in person book discussions because it’s easier to get your meaning across and I know that I sometimes don’t communicate my ideas as well as I think I do. But I’m loving the back and forth here and am enjoying getting your’s and other’s takes on all of it.
That’s good to know that she’ll be going on a date in the future and it will reverberate with the psychos in interesting ways. I think when she starts getting more and more agency and coming into her own it will even up all the dynamics. I also don’t think Pet is the only one who needs growth to be ready for romance as many here have alluded to as well. I can’t decide if Jin Yeong is a red herring or if we are supposed to root for him. Do you think the date will be with a certain Mer character from the novella?
,
Caitlin
June 26, 2019 at 12:16 AM UTC
Lynn, that makes COMPLETE sense. If I am understanding correctly this time, you are saying (in part) that Pet needs to mature emotionally and reconnect with her humanity before she gets involved with anyone. And part of that process should involve some conscious consideration of dating/romance/etc. I completely agree with that. WR did recently mention on Facebook that later in the series Pet is going to go on a date with “….someone” and it is going to cause some strong (and presumably hilarious) reactions among the Psychos. So, I think we are definitely going to see what you are talking about with Pet consciously expressing an interest in at least the idea of romance and making her first forays into the world of dating on her own terms.
And I hope I didn’t come across as critical earlier. I was just fondly musing on what we know about Pet’s personality. I love how wise and blind she can be at the same time. Keeps things very interesting to say the least! But yes, I agree that much has been thrust upon Pet, and it will be good to see her taking more control in the future.
,
Eleniel
June 25, 2019 at 07:52 PM UTC
Thank you, Faith- I knew I wasn’t crazy! I do think it was that he was not much older than Pet. If anybody can find the sentence about Tuatu’s age, can they post it in a comment? For my sanity?
,
Lynn
June 25, 2019 at 06:16 PM UTC
Caitlyn, I should clarify that I don’t expect the romantic feelings to initially come from Pet. I agree that she wouldn’t recognize them if they developed without some help. I’m just saying that for me to ship her with anyone I have to feel like she’s realized it’s what she wants. I don’t want her to fall into something like she’s fallen into so much of everything else. I want her to realize it’s what she wants. Therefore I’m not shipping her with anyone because, right now, she’s too disconnected with those types of feelings. Once they arrive (or rather are acknowledged even just subconsciously in a way we can see) then I’ll start shipping. However, right now all we get is the way everyone else is possibly responding to her and that’s not enough for me in this scenario to ship anyone just yet. Does that make more sense?
,
Faith
June 25, 2019 at 04:13 AM UTC
Also, Caitlin I totally agree with you that if Pet does start having romantic feelings for someone, it’s going to take her by surprise. Like you said, it really doesn’t seem like romance is the type occupies her mind. 😀
,
Faith
June 25, 2019 at 04:08 AM UTC
Lynn, thank you for the comment! I was having trouble formulating why I felt the way I felt at possibly seeing a romance with Zero or Athelas vs Jinyeong at this point until I read what you wrote. You perfectly described part of how I feel, but couldn’t quite put my finger on. Although I also agree that this could change as the series progresses and characters grow.
I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I think it was mentioned somewhere early on that Tuatu is somewhere in his early twenties-ish. Or that he looked like it. Or that it seemed like he was only several years older then Pet or something of the sort.
,
Caitlin
June 25, 2019 at 03:03 AM UTC
It is interesting that you are waiting for Pet to show signs of romantic interest first. I am the opposite 😛 I keep waiting for one of the guys to form a noticeable attachment. Personally, I think that when Pet does develop romantic feelings for someone, it is going to take her very much by surprise. I just don’t think that romance is really something that occupies her mind. (Small no-context spoiler: I think ‘Zul had her pegged when he observed that she doesn’t seem the type to make the first move). For that reason, I also think she is unlikely to notice someone else’s attention or interpret it in a romantic way. So again, I think she may be a bit shocked if/when someone declares himself.
,
Eleniel
June 24, 2019 at 09:57 PM UTC
You’re right about the power difference- I didn’t really think about it that way, but it was something I subconsciously noticed.
I can’t find it, but I’m pretty sure the first book mentions that he’s younger- I always assumed he’s somewhere in his twenties. Anyone know for sure?
Bình luận