ParanetOnline
The Dresden Files => DF Spoilers => Topic started by: Snark Knight on January 16, 2026, 01:57:47 PM
-
So my local store let me pick up my preordered copy of Twelve Months when it came in this week, instead of the official release day.
I noticed something odd in an early chapter - on the way out of Harry and Lara's first date, she asks why he's avoidant of eye contact, and he explains soulgazes like it's her first time hearing about that.
But Carlos already did one with her, to scare himself out of attraction to her, back in White Night. And she seemed to know exactly what he was doing, telling him it wasn't going to scare her off. That seems like a miss for the betas not to have raised ... might this be another deliberate hint of something hinky going on with the continuity?
-
Good catch. I didn't remember that incident, but I was a bit perplexed in reading the preview that Lara had never heard of a Wizard's ability to soulgaze.
Maybe it was awkwardly done to inform new readers and foreshadow their upcoming soulgaze. Maybe this time, we'll get some info on what Lara (or maybe Fitz) sees when soulgazing with Harry.
-
Good catch. I didn't remember that incident, but I was a bit perplexed in reading the preview that Lara had never heard of a Wizard's ability to soulgaze.
Maybe it was awkwardly done to inform new readers and foreshadow their upcoming soulgaze. Maybe this time, we'll get some info on what Lara (or maybe Fitz) sees when soulgazing with Harry.
Very odd, also one has to wonder about Margaret, did she avoid soul gazing Lord Raith? Or did she not avoid it, and was so alienated by the White Council she didn't care what he was or what he had done? At least until she met Malcolm. However Lara has been around the block a few times, so it does seem implausable that she had no clue about soul gazes. Was she totally ignorant of the soul gaze between Harry and Thomas?
-
... Maybe it was awkwardly done to inform new readers ...
This, I think.
Jim usually includes some new-to-Dresden exposition in every book, and this seems like an example.
I read the Amazon early-release chapters, don't have book in hand yet. But I kinda-sorta thought Lara was trying to elicit Harry to talk more, in hopes of gaining more insight.
Insight about Harry.
Insight about Soulgazes in general: her just knowing they exist, 'gazing on Carlos... these hardly make her an expert!
Also, plenty of people will play the "novice" card -- when they aren't -- for a plethora of reasons.
-
This, I think.
Jim usually includes some new-to-Dresden exposition in every book, and this seems like an example.
I read the Amazon early-release chapters, don't have book in hand yet. But I kinda-sorta thought Lara was trying to elicit Harry to talk more, in hopes of gaining more insight.
Insight about Harry.
Insight about Soulgazes in general: her just knowing they exist, 'gazing on Carlos... these hardly make her an expert!
Also, plenty of people will play the "novice" card -- when they aren't -- for a plethora of reasons.
Or she is trying to stall. Since it was mentioned in an earlier book that Carlos soul gazed her and his reaction, no matter what it was. Though it sounds negative, he must have mentioned it to Harry. No, it doesn't make her an expert, but she may be afraid of what Harry might find out about her, or what she might find out about Harry. Is a soul gaze even possible with a full vampire? Does Lara have a soul to gaze, or is she like a full blooded Fae,no soul so no soul gaze possible? What is important here is context, I find it hard to believe that Lara doesn't know about soul gazes, or even more implausible hadn't heard of them, so what is she playing at? Does she want one, or does she not want one? And either way, what are her motives?
-
Is a soul gaze even possible with a full vampire? Does Lara have a soul to gaze, or is she like a full blooded Fae,no soul so no soul gaze possible?
Thomas was fully activated as a vampire when Harry soulgazed him in Blood Rites. His species status is the same as Lara's.
So it works with WCV ... but I'd guess it would be worse with Lara since she's in harmony with her demon, compared to Thomas restrainig his.
-
Thomas was fully activated as a vampire when Harry soulgazed him in Blood Rites. His species status is the same as Lara's.
So it works with WCV ... but I'd guess it would be worse with Lara since she's in harmony with her demon, compared to Thomas restrainig his.
Not really in my opinion. 1] Their mother set it up, so that might affect it. 2] In the soul gaze a lot of human Thomas remained, remember the mirror image struggle between the very weak human with glasses verses Thomas the vampire with the Hunger in control.
-
Carlos 'gazed Lara.
I presume Harry could, too.
-
Carlos 'gazed Lara.
I presume Harry could, too.
Which means that Lara is lying to Harry if she does claim to be ignorant about soul gazes, not the best way to start a relationship.