Because Setz is isolated and isn't involved and it is mostly her POV. Honestly I was more interested on the politics and how Rayton and his mother had the plan for the coup and after the coup. But then I realized that Sets wouldn't know much about what's going on because of how isolated she was. Rayton didn't involve her after the coup politically to protect her since there was still a lot of unrest.
The psuedo incest did make me uncomfortable. Rayton knew the entire time that he wasn't related to her (birth mark on his shoulder is genetic from his birth father-sign of being from this clan, hence the bandages-and it is subtly implied that his mother told him everything), but on her end she only found out after witnessing Rayton kill the emperor and making that confession. That one moment shouldn't have erased all those years of literally believing they were of the same blood for 4 years. Perhaps her isolation had led her to completely rely on him that when she thought that her only source of comfort (her only friend counting both lives) would be taken away during marriage that twisted sibling love into possessiveness to romantic feelings? I am still trying to wrap my head around this, and this the only conclusion I could come to. It was mentioned that Setz is developmentally delayed due to the abuse and even had stress induced aphasia (unable to speak, anatomy works fine but neurologically couldn't speak).
Also the past lives bit. I am not even going to bother trying to understand that. That was a messy subplot and honestly had no substance to the story. The story would have been just fine with Rayton has Ethan's descendent that's sucking his powers away, none of that past lives plot nonsense. Also trying to make Setz and Sharwina (idk spelling and I can't be bothered to go back to find that name), the same person was absolutely not right. Sharwina didn't have to be Setz past life, instead could have just simply been "I'm showing you my memories to help with this mess and I can do this because I'm this powerful magical being and this took up my life essence and I did this because I love Ethan." Having Belitz (another "god" that was friends with Ethan) try to make Setz choose between Rayton and Ethan was entirely unfair as Ethan was like a father figure to Setz.
The overall premise of the story was entertaining and definitely not something I would reread, but this was fun to analyze. More of a turn off your brain story and just roll with it.
Because Setz is isolated and isn't involved and it is mostly her POV. Honestly I was more interested on the politics and how Rayton and his mother had the plan for the coup and after the coup. But then I realized that Sets wouldn't know much about what's going on because of how isolated she was. Rayton didn't involve her after the coup politically to protect her since there was still a lot of unrest.
The psuedo incest did make me uncomfortable. Rayton knew the entire time that he wasn't related to her (birth mark on his shoulder is genetic from his birth father-sign of being from this clan, hence the bandages-and it is subtly implied that his mother told him everything), but on her end she only found out after witnessing Rayton kill the emperor and making that confession. That one moment shouldn't have erased all those years of literally believing they were of the same blood for 4 years. Perhaps her isolation had led her to completely rely on him that when she thought that her only source of comfort (her only friend counting both lives) would be taken away during marriage that twisted sibling love into possessiveness to romantic feelings? I am still trying to wrap my head around this, and this the only conclusion I could come to. It was mentioned that Setz is developmentally delayed due to the abuse and even had stress induced aphasia (unable to speak, anatomy works fine but neurologically couldn't speak).
Also the past lives bit. I am not even going to bother trying to understand that. That was a messy subplot and honestly had no substance to the story. The story would have been just fine with Rayton has Ethan's descendent that's sucking his powers away, none of that past lives plot nonsense. Also trying to make Setz and Sharwina (idk spelling and I can't be bothered to go back to find that name), the same person was absolutely not right. Sharwina didn't have to be Setz past life, instead could have just simply been "I'm showing you my memories to help with this mess and I can do this because I'm this powerful magical being and this took up my life essence and I did this because I love Ethan." Having Belitz (another "god" that was friends with Ethan) try to make Setz choose between Rayton and Ethan was entirely unfair as Ethan was like a father figure to Setz.
The overall premise of the story was entertaining and definitely not something I would reread, but this was fun to analyze. More of a turn off your brain story and just roll with it.