The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
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Does anyone know if the list of supernatural entities and their eye colors survived the purge monster?
KurtinStGeorge:
I have noticed that a number of readers don't like the way the Winter Knight's mantel hammers the rape/kill message to Harry. It is more than a little disgusting no matter how Jim tones down the description of what the mantel is doing. Even though Harry found a new and creative way to channel the mantel's impulses in Skin Game for his own purposes without letting it control him, the Winter Knight's mantel is a nasty piece of business.
Contrast this to how Lashiel's shadow affected Harry. In Death Masks Harry just heard a voice and some laughter before he sealed the coin up in concrete and some spells. In Blood Rites there was a monologue where Harry says he thinks he used to be a better person in the past. I think that was a subtle clue that Lashiel's shadow was talking to Harry's alter id. Harry involuntarily calls up hellfire but little else happens. In Dead Beat Harry make the choice to call up hellfire and he meets Lashiel's shadow. In Proven Guilty we see Harry becoming angrier. In White Night he almost loses control of his new found anger before he figures out how to handle Lashiel's shadow.
The way Lashiel's shadow worked was subtle, everything occurred behind the scenes. The Winter Knight's mantel is overt and many readers find it disturbing. I'm not sure how Jim can make this situation any better, other than finding a way for Harry to ditch being the Winter Knight.
I think this is another reason why the last two books haven't been as popular with many readers as the earlier ones were.
Dina:
eh, are you sure you want to post it here?
In another topic I commented how I feel people is overreacting to the mantle thing. I have no problem with it and find that his reaction to this makes Harry more human and believable.
KurtinStGeorge:
--- Quote from: Dina on October 09, 2014, 03:46:03 AM ---eh, are you sure you want to post it here?
In another topic I commented how I feel people is overreacting to the mantle thing. I have no problem with it and find that his reaction to this makes Harry more human and believable.
--- End quote ---
I think some readers are upset by the idea of everything in the supernatural world having some kind of mantel. Like, if Mab and the other Queens of Faerie have mantels, perhaps the Leansidhe has a mantel, perhaps Eldest Gruff has a mantel, Odin has a mantel, the Gatekeeper has a mantel. The idea of everyone and everything having a mantel can be more than a little annoying.
However, I'm talking about something which Harry is actually dealing with; and it is something that many readers find disconcerting, at best.
However, rethinking about how Jim might handle the situation, instead of Harry finding a way to ditch the Winter Knight job, Harry will receive training from LTW which allows him to either ignore or transcend the urging of the Knight's mantel. I think that might make Mab realize she will never bend Harry to her will and also decide she no longer wants Harry to be her Knight. What would happen after that I couldn't guess, but it's one way for the situation to be resolved.
frankcesca:
--- Quote from: KurtinStGeorge on October 09, 2014, 07:12:34 AM ---However, rethinking about how Jim might handle the situation, instead of Harry finding a way to ditch the Winter Knight job, Harry will receive training from LTW which allows him to either ignore or transcend the urging of the Knight's mantel. I think that might make Mab realize she will never bend Harry to her will
--- End quote ---
Agree.
--- Quote from: KurtinStGeorge on October 09, 2014, 07:12:34 AM ---and also decide she no longer wants Harry to be her Knight. What would happen after that I couldn't guess, but it's one way for the situation to be resolved.
--- End quote ---
Disagree. As I've said before elsewhere, I think Mab wants an Ender - an intelligent commander who can destroy the enemy, who thinks for himself, but at the end of the day reports to her. Also, as much fun as she has with Harry, I think her best idea for how to de-Knight him would be to kill him and she'd have no qualms if that was what she thought was necessary. Seeing as how Harry's narrating the series, unless he's doing so as a ghost from the other side, I don't see it happening that way. I see him maneuvering or negotiating his way out at some point. He's getting smarter and wilier book by book.
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