I've seen some interesting theories and speculations--any of which may be true--but I think in this story it may be okay to take some characters as sort of archetypes without waiting for a plot twist to smack us with their deceit. I think Ryan plays a role similar to a fairy godmother, good witch, or Gandalph (Dumbledore for the younger people). Ryan could ultimately be evil, but it would be like Yoda smacking Luke upside the head and taking over as a Dark Side Emperor.
Although this is a creative and unique story (which I love), I think it has certain themes and story elements that will probably hold true. I think this because I read a lot of fairy tales as a kid, and while that doesn't mean all stories have to follow a certain pattern, I think some things usually do. I think this particular story has some similar themes to The Snow Queen (where a MC saves her childhood crush after a shard of goblin mirror entered his heart and made him a huge jerk) or maybe The Wizard of Oz (where everyone wants the wizard to give them something that they actually had all along).
Ryan seems to me to be a lot like the wise women who help Gerda in The Snow Queen (The Finnish woman and the Lappish woman) or Glenda the Good in The Wizard of Oz. These types of characters are powerful, but they do not solve all the problems for the MC or anyone. They give the good guys aid, put them on the right road, set them up to meet friends, push them in the right direction, and then wait for the MC to do what needs done (or figure things out). They may be planning something or manipulating the characters, but they are doing it so the characters can ultimately win (though winning is often about doing whatever it is the wise and magical mentor wanted to happen). It's a sort of benign manipulation like those annoying teachers who won't just tell you the answer because they think you learn more when you figure it out for yourself.
Of course, this means Sihan and Karis are the friends the MC meets along the way. That makes them like the royal couple Gerda met while searching for Kay or the scarecrow and tin man that Dorothy found on her path (sort of not exactly--Sihan kind of acts like he cares more about fooling around than work and Karis sometimes acts like a hard ass). Maybe they are more like Ron and Hermione (for those who don't read the older stories). Anyway, companions often have weaknesses that may temporarily make them do wacky things, but they ultimately support the MC. I put them in the "trust but watch them in case they get a goofy idea" category.
At this point, I am not sure whether Logan is like the Robber Girl, who will start out trying to keep Gerda for her own but then become a true friend and take the path of redemption, or like a flying monkey. Right now, I find him very suspicious and I think of him as a flying monkey--but I could be wrong.
I've seen some interesting theories and speculations--any of which may be true--but I think in this story it may be okay to take some characters as sort of archetypes without waiting for a plot twist to smack us with their deceit. I think Ryan plays a role similar to a fairy godmother, good witch, or Gandalph (Dumbledore for the younger people). Ryan could ultimately be evil, but it would be like Yoda smacking Luke upside the head and taking over as a Dark Side Emperor.
Although this is a creative and unique story (which I love), I think it has certain themes and story elements that will probably hold true. I think this because I read a lot of fairy tales as a kid, and while that doesn't mean all stories have to follow a certain pattern, I think some things usually do. I think this particular story has some similar themes to The Snow Queen (where a MC saves her childhood crush after a shard of goblin mirror entered his heart and made him a huge jerk) or maybe The Wizard of Oz (where everyone wants the wizard to give them something that they actually had all along).
Ryan seems to me to be a lot like the wise women who help Gerda in The Snow Queen (The Finnish woman and the Lappish woman) or Glenda the Good in The Wizard of Oz. These types of characters are powerful, but they do not solve all the problems for the MC or anyone. They give the good guys aid, put them on the right road, set them up to meet friends, push them in the right direction, and then wait for the MC to do what needs done (or figure things out). They may be planning something or manipulating the characters, but they are doing it so the characters can ultimately win (though winning is often about doing whatever it is the wise and magical mentor wanted to happen). It's a sort of benign manipulation like those annoying teachers who won't just tell you the answer because they think you learn more when you figure it out for yourself.
Of course, this means Sihan and Karis are the friends the MC meets along the way. That makes them like the royal couple Gerda met while searching for Kay or the scarecrow and tin man that Dorothy found on her path (sort of not exactly--Sihan kind of acts like he cares more about fooling around than work and Karis sometimes acts like a hard ass). Maybe they are more like Ron and Hermione (for those who don't read the older stories). Anyway, companions often have weaknesses that may temporarily make them do wacky things, but they ultimately support the MC. I put them in the "trust but watch them in case they get a goofy idea" category.
At this point, I am not sure whether Logan is like the Robber Girl, who will start out trying to keep Gerda for her own but then become a true friend and take the path of redemption, or like a flying monkey. Right now, I find him very suspicious and I think of him as a flying monkey--but I could be wrong.