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Topics - CrusherJen

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DF Spoilers / WAG: "Queen Mab is dead! Long live Queen..."
« on: March 07, 2021, 11:19:21 PM »
I'm not sure I can claim this as a fully original theory, as I probably read some similar comment on the board that sparked this, but I can't remember where or from who right now. But this idea is in my head, and it won't go away, so I'm putting it out there to see if it might be valid.

There's been serious foreshadowing in the last few books that Winter Queen Mab won't survive the series. Mab herself seems to think so; she told Harry to kill Molly if she ascends to the position, as she believes Molly to be incapable of it.

Mab is an incredible chessmaster. She has plans within plans, and prepares alternatives if her main schemes fail. So if she doesn't want Lady Molly to take her crown, she must be looking for another successor.

What does she need in such a candidate? A woman who can plot and plan with the best of them, and come out on top every time. Someone who is skilled in manipulation and power. And someone who has some kind of relationship with the Court, who will spend significant time around at least one member of Winter, in order to be subtly influenced and shaped into a potential vessel for that power.

If there was already someone suitable in Winter, I'd argue that she would have been tapped instead of Molly as the new Lady. So it's likely that Mab is considering another option...

...so at some point later in the series, I expect to hear:

"Queen Mab is dead. Long live Queen Lara!"

Let's face it-- at first look, Lara seems to get a lot more out of an alliance with Winter than Mab does. The White Vamps are a power to be reckoned with, but the Winter Court is much larger and more influential. Many of the most powerful members of the supernatural community agree to abide by Mab's Accords-- that's major power. There's got to be some reason that Mab's willing to publically ally with Lara and her court, and it's got to be substantial enough to justify working with a lesser power. It makes more sense if Mab is using the opportunity to groom her replacement.

We know that the marriage between Winter Knight Harry and White Queen Lara is, in part, a repayment of debts Mab owes to Lara. But it wouldn't be the first time Mab accomplishes more than one thing with a single action. It gives Harry more protection from his enemies now that the Wizard Council's thrown him out... but it also brings Lara into close association with one who wields the powers of Winter, and exposure to that power may well create an affinity that will guide the Mantle of Queen to her once Mab dies.

And who better to rule than a woman who can control the entire White Court, with all its intrigues and squabbling, as the power behind the throne? We know from Thomas that Lara's also been expanding her influence into the mortal sphere. That would make Lara an even more compelling candidate, as it's clear the Masquerade will end soon and dealing with mortals will become a critical issue. (It's hard to say whether or not Mab knows that Lara's a participant in the Oblivion War. I'd argue that it's just another qualification for the job, as Lara's had experience acting behind the scenes to defend reality, as Mab does.)

Of course, Lara isn't human... but if, according to Mab, Thomas is "mortal enough" to become a Winter Knight, Lara should be "mortal enough" to become a Fae Queen. (But not the Winter Lady. I don't think someone who feeds on lust would do well in a job that requires abstinence.)

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DF Spoilers / Place Your Bets: Peace Talks release date?
« on: July 28, 2019, 12:59:51 AM »
Well, the last forum crash ate our guesses at a Peace Talks release dates, so let's try again. (Fingers crossed...)

My bet is December 17th. It allows time for any needed edits (though Jim uses beta readers, so I don't think the manuscript will need much tweaking.) A five-month turnaround might take some effort, but Jim's a major author in the field and there's a ton of demand for this, so IMHO it would be worth the publisher's effort to make it happen. And the pre-Christmas date encourages Dresden fans and friends to fill their stockings with wizardry...

What do we win if we get it right?

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