Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion

Lauren wrote: "Thanks for the Mayan pics, Lisa Kay. They really help to visualize the scenes :0)"

You're welcome, Lauren!

Lauren's Answers to ShoSho's Questions for Chapters 28-38

1. This is a very sad moment but somehow not unexpected. I seem to recall a couple of times in previous books when Harry said that the best way to kill him might be to burn his apartment building down.

I wonder if Little Chicago was destroyed - that is such a waste.

42. I was kind of expecting it since Mab made the offer. It does seem that becoming the Winter Knight is the least of all evils - Mab has her issues certainly but she is not into destroying or enslaving humans like the Denarians.

I also think that there will be some way for him to get out of it although it probably won't be in this book.

43. I'm VERY grateful that Butcher didn't go into too much description here - ICK! Did love Toot-Toot's reactions though. Also really enjoyed Toot-Toot's interactions with Sanja.

For some reason, I always think of Dolph Lundgren during Sanja's scenes even though I know there is no physical resemblance whatsoever. Weird!

44. No idea how this is going to play out. I hope that Mab isn't too demanding a boss :0)

45. I like Agent Tilly and the references to Mulder are cute even though it is Scully who needs convincing.

46. I almost cried out on the train NOOOOOO!!!!! when Butters was shot. TG for Kevlar!

Father Forthill sure knows how to play dirty, doesn't he?

47. Yes, the definitely get what they deserve. The Erlking is a very interesting character. I doubt that this is the last we've seen of him.

48. Lol. Yes :0)

49. This is such a bittersweet conversation but just goes to show how close Harry and Murphy are. Love them together *sigh*

@Lisa Kay

#47. Yes, their relationship does seem to be changing - thankfully! Susan really annoys me and that moment when she was suspected of arranging the hit on Harry was actually quite good - I wanted her to be behind it.

Anyhow, I don't want her to die or anything (that would be too bad of me *looking all innocent*) but I do want her to go away and not come back!

@ Lisa Kay

#70- (view spoiler)[I think mentioning the suicide several times was a hint that death is the way out of it (hide spoiler)]

@ Lauren

#41.Awww I hadn't thought about Little Chicago! what a waste

#43.Dolph Lundgren? haha yes weird !

#46.I wasn't expecting that from father Forthill !WTG

@ Lauren


#41 – I was worried about Little Chicago, too! LOL!

#42 – If he doesn’t become the WK, Toot-toot will be very disappointed.

#46 – LOL! Spontaneous emotion in a public place. And, yep, to Father Forthill!

#47 – FOFLMBO! Oh, Lauren.

Do you guys remember when Ebenezar killed Ortega? Of all the old satellites he used the one he and Harry had named "Asteroid Dresden". He was sending a message, :"Don't mess with my boy!"

Gisela wrote: "Do you guys remember when Ebenezar killed Ortega? Of all the old satellites he used the one he and Harry had named "Asteroid Dresden". He was sending a message, :"Don't mess with my boy!""

LOL! You're right!

Lauren, are you still listening or are you finished?

ShoSho wrote: "Lauren, are you still listening or are you finished?"

Yup, I'm done.
Sorry it took me so long. Will answer the last set of questions in a few minutes after I make my tea

It's fine , Lauren! I just wanted to know your reaction to what happened at the end. Both Lisa Kay and I knew it's going to happen

Lauren's Answers to Lisa Kay’s Questions for Chapters 39 – 49

50. 50. I was a little surprised because she is a potential vampire after all but the explanation (that her actions were guided by love) made sense to me. After all the sword is Amoracchius.

51. That is very good foreshadowing (not that I was paying attention to it at the time because I was too busy listening to Harry's implying that he should be Gollum).

52. Possibly. Cristos may take advantage of the White Council being weakened by the disease.

53. LOVED this scene and Mouse talking AND threatening to tear Lea's through out!

Lea is an Unseelie Fae and can only be trusted so far - her nature will always take precedence. However, there is a certain sense of honor amongst the fae so she can be taken at her word - just need to be careful as to the tricky wording of any promises they make.

Mouse admitted to cheating – and winning Harry! Aww! That was so sweet...

54. Very cool!

55. I felt so sorry for the little tyke. She was actually very brave though given the circumstances.

56. Never trusted him for a moment. Was surprised that Harry did.

57. It does seem like it. I wonder which one?

58. I had an idea early on the Ebenezer would arrive to lend a hand but I wasn't expecting Lea's contribution.

59. Thomas is a good person underneath it all. Perhaps this is an indication that he will be able to get his hunger under control and become the Thomas we know and love.

Nope, don't like Lea's interest at all!

Not even Lea messes with Mouse!

60. I was confused at first but then Harry explained that it was Susan engulfed in the light so I just went with it.

61. I was seriously miffed at Martin at this point. Yes, the soulgaze shows his true intentions but I cannot condone his "ends justify the means" approach. His betrayal of Susan was still a betrayal and he was willing to sacrifice a child for the greater good - similar to Langtry in this respect.

62. I can understand his guilt but she made the choice herself. He didn't force her. Free Will is the most important thing - Ebenezer and Murphy highlight this at the end.

63. I'm a little confused by the bloodline curse. I thought it meant that anyone with the victim's bloodline would die - so why didn't Maggie die with Susan? Does it mean that it only works upwards (generations prior) and sideways (siblings) but not downwards (offspring)?

Have we met anyone from the Jade court yet?

64. This was the biggest shocker of the entire book! I'm kicking myself that I didn't see it earlier - Butcher is brilliant at misdirection!

My biggest question now is whether Harry (he's obviously not dead) is going to tell Ebenezer that he has another grandson...

65. I'm leaning toward stupid at this point...

66. I really like Vadderung's character. I still don't understand the hints he gave Harry though...

Do you mean that Harry could be reincarnated as the Merlin? Interesting... I do think he might end up being in the position of the Merlin at some point though.

67. I have an idea that she will end up with the Carpenters - a loving and safe home. Also, it would be quite apt - Harry took care of Molly so Michael and Charity return the favor.

Yes, I think he will see her again and she will learn that he is her father (why does that sound like Star Wars?)

68. Yes, she will take up the sword. It is her destiny. The question is when and under what circumstances.

69. They are so cute! Of course, Harry's dying puts a put of a damper on things...those two really need to get their act together!

70. Train + Tunnel = Murphy's Law. Lol!

Poor Harry. Just as things were looking up he goes and gets himself shot! He's obviously not dead - there are more books in the series :0)

I'm interested in how he is brought back - will it be Mab who does something? Also, who shot him?

71. It is a cliffhanger - Harry seems to be dead and the light in the tunnel implies that there is more to come.

@ShoSho

#64. There was something in one of the books (perhaps Proven Guilty) about Margaret's diaries in Ebenezer's office. At the time, we were told she was his apprentice but now its clear she was also his daughter.

Really looking forward to Ebenezer finding out about Thomas too :0)

@Lisa Kay

#70. I think Mab will bring him back. She's not going to let Harry get off that easily!

Gisela wrote: "Do you guys remember when Ebenezar killed Ortega? Of all the old satellites he used the one he and Harry had named "Asteroid Dresden". He was sending a message, :"Don't mess with my boy!""

Excellent catch, Gisella!

ShoSho wrote: "It's fine , Lauren! I just wanted to know your reaction to what happened at the end. Both Lisa Kay and I knew it's going to happen"

I also knew it was going to happen because someone mentioned it in one of my GR groups - they really need to learn to use spoiler tags!

@ Lauren

#51 – Ah, yes. Harry and his low self-esteem.

#52 – Yeah, that’s what I’m wondering, too.

#53 – ♥Mouse♥

#55 – You’re right! Maggie is very brave. Makes me wonder if JB will have her as a heroine in a future spin-off series. That would be cool.

#57 – Me, too. I’m very curious.

#59 – “Not even Lea messes with Mouse!” - LOL!

#61 – Excellent point!

#62 – Did you notice that JB threw in “Kevorkian” and I believe “Kevorkian-esque” or something like that a couple times?

#63 – I agree; this could have been explained a bit more as to why Maggie didn’t die, too. I think you’re right, though. I was worried about all those directions.

I don’t believe we’ve met anyone from the Jade Court; it was just briefly a book or two back. (Or maybe more! LOL!)

#64 – Very true, JB is… because I briefly thought of them having a blood connection, but then dropped it because of his knack at misdirection!!! Yes! Will he tell Ebenezer about Thomas?

Your response to ShoSho for this DQ – oh, yeah! Forgot about those files. Thanks for the reminder.

#65 – LMBO!

#66 – Yeah, I could read them again. The whole hospitality thing and the donut and some cryptic talk.

#66 – Hmmm… I wasn’t thinking reincarnation, just a Merlin for the new age. But, now you have me thinking. I think it is possible he might make Merlin (the position) one day, too.

#67 – Oh, yes. The Carpenters would be great. LOL @ Star Wars.

#68 – Ah!

#70 – LOL! And, yes, I’m very, very suspicious about it being Mab who shot him!!

@ Lauren

#57. Probably not Uriel !

#61.He reminded me of Langtry too

#62.It was free will but he showed her the way. She wouldn’t have thought about it on her own.

#63. I remember I had a good explanation for myself when I was listening! I’m not sure if I remember it correctly . Something along the line that now that Susan is a vampire ,the vampire part of her is the active blood and her blood ties with humans are severed . The curse killed the vampire part of all the almost-vampires and not the human part. Does this make sense?
I don’t think we have met anyone from the Jade court.

#67.I didn’t think of that! I really really hope so.
LMAO@ star wars

#70. OMG ! how apt

Lauren wrote: "ShoSho wrote: "It's fine , Lauren! I just wanted to know your reaction to what happened at the end. Both Lisa Kay and I knew it's going to happen"

I also knew it was going to happen because someo..."

I hate it when I get a spoiler because someone didn't use spoiler tags!

@ShoSHo and Lauren

#57. I thought it was Uriel! Now I can't remember why I thought that, maybe there's something in the next book?

@ShoSho

#63 - yes, that makes perfect sense. So it is the vampire side of Susan that died and as Maggie is completely human it didn't affect her at all.

Gisela wrote: "@ShoSHo and Lauren

#57. I thought it was Uriel! Now I can't remember why I thought that, maybe there's something in the next book?"

Hmmm...I don't think it is Uriel because he is attached (for want of a better word) to Harry. So Murphy should get her own archangel (it's only fair), lol!

I'm leaning toward one of the more well known ones - either Michael or Gabriel. Since we already have a characters named Michael, my money is on Gabriel.

Something else to consider, remember in White Night when Mouse killed the Skavis, how Molly was affected? In the ss "Aftermath", we learn that the night Harry wiped out the Red Court, women had nightmares. Molly was right there in the "eye of the storm", do you think she took a psychological hit? Will this event have a long lasting effect on her psyche?

Huh hadn't thought of that. It is possible and because you mentioned ,I'm thinking it's going to happen :D

It was pretty bad for Georgia, it probably is even worse for Molly

Yes, Gisela, I remember that because I was going to ask why the pregnant women were affected; I didn't get that at all.

I don't know why women with power were affected, but I think Georgia was doubly affected because the baby has inherited her power.

Nor why it was only the women...

Maybe because women are more sensitive than men?

**shrugs**

I know women - when pregnant - increase their volume of blood by... or gosh! I've forgotten... 25%?