Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Here, it felt to me like he was giving them information without it appearing he wasn’t loyal to the Blood Crown. And given what happens next, I believe I’m right.
Ian tells Poppy he’ll see her in Oak Ambler and then asks to hug her. When they embrace, he tells her he knows the truth and urges her to wake Nyktos, adding that only his guards can stop the Blood Crown.
This shocked me. I wasn’t prepared to have it confirmed that he actually was acting. Perhaps him being a firstborn son changed his Ascension somehow, just like it did with Millie and Callum when they became Revenants. I’m honestly not sure.
When the group arrives in Oak Ambler, he speaks to Poppy and tells her he hopes she is well and that her travels after they last saw each other went well. This could sound innocuous to those around and mean nothing but her trip to Oak Ambler, but we know he’s subtly inquiring if she went to Iliseeum.
The group meets with the Queen, trading barbs, and Ian remains silent all the while.
I saw another flaw in Ian’s disguise when Ileana orders Millie to be struck down and he turns away. After the truth comes out about Isbeth—what and who she is—Ian confirms all of it.
After the Blood Queen puts forth her terms for what she wants of Poppy and Cas, Poppy refuses. As punishment, Isbeth has one of her knights behead Ian.
VIKTER WARD/WARDWELL †
Click here to see a full-size image of Vikter by Alicia MB Art.
Vikter is utterly intriguing—he holds a special place in my heart—and his story is equally heartbreaking and compelling.
Hair: Sandy-blond.
Eyes: Blue.
Body type: Broad shoulders.
Facial features: Weathered, sun-kissed skin.
Personality: Stern. Gruff.
Habits/Mannerisms/Strengths/Weaknesses: Great fighter. Weakness for hot cocoa and chocolate. Prone to migraine headaches. Torn between wanting Poppy to learn and help the Cursed and worrying about her safety because of her recklessness.
Other: Taught Poppy how to fight.
Background: Viktor. Has lived many lives.
Family: Wife = Camilia †. Daughter = infant, name unknown †.
VIKTER’S JOURNEY TO DATE:
Vikter, being a viktor, has several journeys that are worth exploring. For the sake of this dossier, I’m going to give a high-level overview of what I know about his past and then the notable mentions of his time with Poppy.
Viktors are eternal beings born with a goal: to guard someone the Fates believe is destined to bring about great change or purpose. They are neither mortal nor god. Not all are aware of their duty, but the Fates will always put them with the one they are to safeguard. They are always reincarnated. When they die, their souls return to Mount Lotho, where the Arae give them a new mortal form and purpose with no memory of their previous lives. However, some viktors are predestined to figure out what they are and who they were sent to protect. Vikter is one of those.
Vikter had the last name of Ward instead of Wardwell in the time of the gods and was brought before Seraphena to apply a charm to keep her safe and unable to be taken from the Shadowlands. He explains to her that he is a viktor—the first.
His lifetimes between Sera’s and Poppy’s are unknown to me.
The first time I really took notice of Vikter was in the Red Pearl. There’s just something about him. He demands attention without even trying.
The night I set up Poppy and Casteel’s first meeting. Vikter arrived, and it upped my need to get Penellaphe out of the main area and into Hawke’s room. Which I did. The rest of that night, well, let’s just say I took some time for myself.
But back to Vikter’s story…
The following night, Vikter goes to Poppy and summons her to aid a Cursed. They help ease his passing.
When Poppy reveals that she hopes to be found unworthy so she won’t Ascend, Vikter tells her that no matter what she does, she will Ascend.
Knowing what we know now about Poppy’s journey, that statement is very interesting. Because she did, indeed, Ascend—when she died, and Casteel saved her. It just wasn’t in the way we all thought—at the hands of the Ascended.
When they find the Lady in Wait, Malessa, murdered, Vikter arrives after Commander Jansen deems the castle safe. He’s suffering from one of his migraine headaches, and Poppy eases his pain.
When Poppy’s guard, Rylan Keal, is murdered, Vikter arrives with another guard. We know that Jericho killed Rylan, but Vikter did not know that. Everyone was still under the impression that the Atlantians were targeting them. At Rylan’s ceremony, Vikter lights his pyre.
He makes his opinion known after the Duke agrees that Hawke can become Poppy’s new personal guard and then offers some sage advice to him. He also lays down the law about what Hawke can and cannot do with the Maiden.