#joscel

She’s probably one of my favorite characters. While it can be quite ludicrous how overpowered she is with her sex abilities, beauty and speaking three billion languages, Phèdre’s just so … INTERESTING. Many characters I like are some of these things, but I can't name very many who have quite as many bullet points worth listing.

I love how clever she is. A lot of other fantasy series main characters stumble upon solutions, get lucky or a god sends them dreams. Phèdre makes a lot of decisions, comes up with unique solutions and gleans a lot from reading others. I enjoy an active protagonist with agency in the story; Phèdre is almost always the driving force in the narrative.

I love how her intelligence is earned. She may conveniently have a gift for language, but we see her studying a lot. Phèdre doesn't magically understand religions and politics, she researched. We see her spending time learning new languages. She's even done her due diligence on sex things! 

I love that she's religious. She definitely has a very complicated relationship with more than one god, but Phèdre unfailingly believes. I think her faith adds a dimension to her character. 

Similarly, I love how much she loves her country. To truly believe the lengths Phèdre would go to in this trilogy, you have to buy that SHE cares about what she is trying to protect. You feel that every time she thinks of home. She even remembers the smell of Terre d'Ange! 

I love that she's so strong, but not in the physical sense. She never learns to fight; she kills two people the entire trilogy. That which yields is not always weak. I find it fascinating that a masochist is somehow our protagonist. While it is a central part of her character, it doesn't imply weakness or incapability.

I love that she, at times, hates who she is, yet Phèdre rarely wallows in self-pity bemoaning her fate. I mean, she has all the reason to, but that can get so very tiresome to read. The first person perspective gives readers a front row seat to all of the inner diatribe of protagonists. It isn't uncommon that they end up sounding pretty whiny. Fitz from Realm of the Elderlings is the reason I couldn't like that series. He just endlessly mopes about the poor hand he was dealt. 

I love how cognizant she is about the deaths she has caused. It's refreshing to read a story that is self-aware enough to remember all the casualties/victims along the way. Phèdre never lets us forget the names of those who paid a price. 

I love that she's vain. Phèdre unfailingly comments on every character's physical attractiveness. I'm quite sick of female protagonists seemingly always needing to be not conventionally attractive or is pretty but is "above" caring about her appearance. That would flat out not be believable for a courtesan. Heaven forbid, she loves pretty clothes and taking baths!

Though a tad repetitive, I love her love/hate relationship with Melisande. I’m trying to recall ever reading a hero vs. villain dynamic where they’re in love with each other, much less a sadomasochistic flair thrown in. The reasons for Melisande sparing Phèdre multiple times in the trilogy are a bit contrived, but we ARE given evidence that she cares about Phèdre too.