ivy

My brain has been working non-stop since I finished on Thursday with all the different theories. I’m going to break-up my main ones based on topics/characters.

What is Poppy’s lineage/Who is Queen Ileana???

So I don’t think what the Duchess was saying was a total lie. Yes, she was trying to get Poppy to come back willingly but I don’t think what she was saying was total BS. 

First of all, I 100% believe that Ileana is King Malec’s mortal lover that (as far as we know) got turned into an Ascended. If I remember correctly from FB&A, it was said that once it was discovered that he had Ascended her, they were exiled and had never been heard from again. I think Isbeth/Ileana had been pregnant at the time and he saved her to save their child AKA Poppy’s mom. This would also make sense with Poppy’s reveal as the last descendant of Nyktos since Malec was the last deity and was a descendant of Nyktos. 

Further, the Atlantians tried to have every deity killed after Malec, since they would have instant claim to the throne, so Isbeth had to assume the identity of Ileana and hide her child/grandchild away so no one would discover who she really was. Many of Queen Ileana’s actions feel like she has a very personal grudge not just against the Atlantians, but the Da’Neers in particular.

When Poppy confronts the Duchess in the carriage, the Duchess says:

“The Queen will be so thrilled to learn you’ve done what she could never accomplish. Seized Atlantia right out from under them, under her.”

The emphasis on her suggests, to me, a very personal tiff between Eloana and Ileana, which makes sense if Ileana = Isbeth. Also, when Eloana sees Poppy and gives up her crown, Poppy senses from her:

“...even as a potent, helpless sort of rage drenched the space around her, one that carried the stench of a long-buried fear come to fruition.”

I think that long buried fear was that King Malec had offspring and that they would come back to claim her throne, as would be their right because of their deity bloodline. 

What I still haven’t figured out yet is how Ian and Poppy’s parents fit into this. I am still not 100% convinced that who Poppy believes are her parents are actually her parents. Why is Poppy special but Ian isn’t??? There could also just be something special about the female bloodline in particular, but I am not sure. Also, where is Malec?? I doubt Malec = King Jalara so perhaps Malec did die a long time ago during the War. So many things left unanswered but I am excited for the reveals I know will come in the next two books!! 

Alastir is shady af

I think Alastir *for sure* knew Poppy’s parents and was contacted to get her out. He seemed to recognize their names when he asked Poppy. I think he realized what Poppy and her mother were and had them killed, but by whom I do not know. Poppy remarks that the man who held her wrist the night of the attack had red splotches, though I don’t know what that means since I don’t think we have met anyone who matches that description yet. 

Further, Poppy constantly notes how Alastir’s voice is so familiar and she assumes it is because he sounds like Vikter, but I think it is because she heard him before in her childhood. 

The night of the attack aside, Alastir was 100% involved in the attempt on Poppy’s life at the end. Beckett is his grand nephew and Alastir was a little too insistent that Cas speak to him alone, away from Poppy. Whether Alastir was following Jalara/Eloana’s orders or making his own, I don’t know. 

At the end, Alastir says:

“It’s not too late. It’s not, Eloana-”

Here I think he is talking about giving up the throne/crown. Everything Alastir did was to prevent Poppy from making it to Atlantia because he knew exactly what she was the whole time. He had always known. If Poppy had agreed to go with him on that first day, I am certain he would’ve had her killed. 

We get a false sense of security from Alastir because every time Poppy senses his feelings she feels that they are genuine, but he is over 800 years old. The man has learned to carefully hide his true feelings by now. Also, as a bonded wolven the person you share the bond with can sense some of what you are feeling and I don’t feel like you can betray that bond and their trust without being able to hide your true intentions. 

Should also note that Alastir is one of the only wolven at the end who was not put into their wolf form and trying to protect Poppy. Shady. As. Fuck.