Last week before I went on vacation, I held a little contest for my newsletter subscribers.
(What? You don't get my newsletter? Bummer! You missed out! You should sign up now, before you forget. Right over there, just below and to the right of my picture.)
Anyway, to have the chance to win an ARC of When Twilight Burns, the entrants simply had to tell me who they would pick for Victoria's true love–and whether they'd changed their mind since the beginning of the series.
I had many entries, and finally (randomly) picked a winner…Amy W. of PA…from all of the entries.
But there were some people who also wrote lovely epistles about why they picked who they picked, and of those entries, I also picked two winners just because I thought they should win something for their thoughtfulness. (There were lots of great writeups, too, but I picked one from each "camp" that I thought was the best.)
So, here, in their words, are their cases for Max or Sebastian. Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves if you agree or disagree. (I'm sure I didn't even need to say that, did I?)
(uh, warning…there are some spoilers in these writeups. Just FYI.)
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The Case for Sebastian
Oh please, oh please, oh please choose Sebastian for who Victoria ends up with, if she ends up with anyone at all.
Max would be the a good pick too. Probably the more logical pick consider everything he’s been through, and the complicated relationship he has with Victoria.
But there are a few problems with him too. Such as the fact if he did end up with her, it would be kind of of elementary school yard. You know. Boy likes girl, so boy picks on girl. It’s a little cliché. Also, the kiss they shared in the last novel The Bleeding Dusk, for me anyway, kind of sealed the deal that there was no romantic spark between them. True they’re antagonistic relationship is really interesting, and fun, but it was kind of lacking that extra spark.
The third reason for not choosing Max, would also be that, isn't he not a Venator anymore? I know he is still fighting the good fight against vampires, but I think that he would probably be better ending up with a girl who sees him as stronger than her, and maybe unaware of the whole vampire/human struggle?
In my opinion, Sebastian would be the best choice. He has given up his family, made into a better person, and shed blood, sweat, and tears for Victoria. They’re relationship works on so many levels. I don’t see wedding plans in they’re future, only because of the type of people they are, but to establish a final relationship, the two of them works best.
Victoria needs someone like Sebastian in her life to allow her to remember, life is not all blood, and death, and what other grizzly fates she has to have thrown in her face. Its also filled with passion, laughs, and life. Not death. Sebastian brings that to the table. Max would be all work. Rockley, would be boring, and someone else… I’m not sure.
Or you could have her not choose anyone at all. Keep her relationships open. But that’s been done so many times before. Its better to have a final conclusion after dancing around the “who” all this time.
So in the end, please, please, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaase choose Sebastian.
–from Lana P.
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The Case for Max
A man of style or a man of substance?
When I learned of this contest, I was excited to receive the opportunity to articulate why I prefer one character over another. In my opinion, there are only two serious contenders for Victoria: the handsome, urbane Sebastian and the sexy, enigmatic Max.
Sebastian has almost all of the qualities that a hero should have. He is smart, handsome and charming. He understands that the world is a dangerous place and believes that nothing is black and white. Sebastian can take care of himself and Victoria, if need be. He is the epitome of the suave sophisticate who always manages to come out of sticky situations unscathed.
So why isn’t he the man for Victoria? The answer is simple: Max. If Sebastian is the epitome of a charming sophisticate, Max is a prime example of a medieval knight. Strong, handsome and courageous, Max stares down his enemies in the face of overwhelming odds and personal challenges because it is the right thing to do. Some characters see his seemingly “cold” demeanor and don’t recognize a passionate man lies beneath the façade. It is because his feelings run so deeply, that Max has to put them aside in order to do what must be done.
Ultimately, it is his strength of character that sets Max apart from Sebastian. Max is willing to make the hard choices and live with the consequences. He sees that the world needs champions and he steps forward to accept the challenge. Max is a character with an unshakeable sense of honor and loyalty.
So which man will Victoria choose? The one whom she has a good time with, but can’t necessarily trust? Or the man who has been there for her consistently and challenges her to reach her full potential? A man of style or a man of substance? I know which one I would choose.
P.S. My choice has never changed from the first book to the last. Although I understand Sebastian’s appeal, Max has always had more depth to me. Thank you again for the opportunity to state Max’s case.
–from Stephanie T.
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So there you have it, just two of the many entries I received.
It's a good thing I'd had the last book (not to mention the fourth) written before I had this contest, huh? (Actually, as I've said over and over, I've always known who Victoria will end up with. It's never changed.)
And, just for those curious-minded folk: the latest numbers are 58% Team Max v. 41% Sebastian, and the rest either wanted her to have both, or neither.
