So while I loved Ember's End, there was one area of the book that feels somewhat disappointing. I think this comes primarily from the fact that S.D. Smith did a time skip, going from the moment of the Stone Sword breaking to the first Feast of the Mending, a period of more than a year's time. Unfortunately, encapsulated within that year-or at least the time right at the beginning of it-are a lot of character moments that I think it would have been very enjoyable to read about. These fall into one of a few categories:
Reunions
A major part of the conflict involved in the Green Ember series is how families and friends have been torn apart by the actions of the Lords of Prey and their allies. Very near the beginning of the story, the family of Whittle and Sween is separated, and it isn't until Ember's End that they reunite. However, there are other family and friend group reunions that didn't get any sweet reunion scenes. These include, but are not limited to:
*Wilfred and Whittle-I feel like the brothers should have gotten at least one scene together, particularly after what Whittle went through in defeating and then trying to save Garten.
*Smalls and Emma-we heard how relieved Emma was to not have to be queen, but it would have been nice if she could have had a sibling moment with her brother.
*Wilfred and Heather-because I feel like Heather deserves a "you're not dead!" moment with her uncle.
*Smalls and his brothers-this would have been quite an interesting scene, with the penitent Winslow and Whitbie greeting the brother they once rejected. For that matter, it might have been interesting if the whole set of royal siblings-including all the other brothers and sisters we never got introduced to-put in an appearance.
*Picket and Weezie-okay, I know they weren't separated for too long, I think a lot could have been done with Weezie seeing Picket after he awoke from his coma.
*Smalls and Lady Glen-after he nearly got himself killed going to help her in The Green Ember, it seems a shame that Smalls and his mom didn't get a moment like she and Emma did.
*Maggie and Edward-I'd been anticipating just such a moment since "Stitcher" introduced himself properly to Sween in Ember Falls, and...nothing.
First Meetings
As fun as it is to imagine reunions between long-separated friends and family, the idea of character who have never before interacted with each other also has some appeal to it. One of the things about having a story from the points of view of multiple characters, often in completely different locations and situations, is that you tend to have one character or group interact with characters that the other(s) won't end up meeting, or at least not to begin with. But when/if they do, it can lead to some interesting developments, like a certain Lady of Rohan meeting a certain Captain of Gondor, if you know what I mean😉. Of course, it doesn't have to be romantic, as other relationships can prove interesting. Some ideas I favor:
*Heather and Weezie-it seems a shame that we didn't get to glimpse Picket's sister and his then-future wife getting to know each other. I can see the pair of them bonding over concern for Picket during his coma, Weezie being astonished when she learns who Heather is, and Heather helping to comfort Weezie when she learns about Helmer's death and doubtless fears that she'll also lose Picket after learning just how bad his condition is.
*The Commandant and someone who knows who he really is-do I really need to say more?
Well, those are my thoughts. If anyone has any such encounters they feel like we missed out on, feel free to share.
I agree with all of those you said!!!! Somehow I've always imagined Picket waking up and then Weezie going to check on him, thinking he's still in a coma and him just being like, "Hi".
And Edward and Maggie, I really wish we got to see that.
And Whittle and Wilfred would have been so great!!
I was so sad they they didn't let Stitcher reunite with his wife :(
On another review, it would also be nice what happened to the forces of the secret citadels aside from Blackstone. We read about them mustering prior to the final battle, but then we hear pretty much nothing about any of them until Jo runs into a group of Chelmsford bucks who tell him Lord Felson is dead. As far as the rest of the book goes, it seems as though the Terralains, Blackstone's army, the Royal Warrenguard, and the Highwall Wardens are carrying on the battle. Part of the Warrenguard engages Farlock's army before the Terralains and Blackstone take over, while the rest of them end up engaging a wolf army that attacks from the east. The Highwall Wardens, meanwhile, take the brunt of the Preylord assault, consisting as they do of elite archers and engineers operating catapults and bowstrikers.
"Like a certain Lady of Rohan meeting a certain Captain of Gondor, if you know what I mean." Yes!!! Haha... I totally agree with all the listed possible scenes! A scene bewteen Heather and Weezie would have been amazing... in fact, I may be wrong, but I don't think they ever officially meet in the books. Do they? Hmm okay, I know I need to reread them soon... Anyway, I was also so looking forward to Maggie and Edward's reunion, so it was disappointing not to get that (although, in the midst of the epicness of reading it, it escaped my mind until later). Ember's End was incredible and awesome, but it definitely would have been so nice to have some of these reunion scenes included.
First off, I always love your post @Kilmarnock228 . I always love the way you think, the endless possibilities for different scenarios. I feel like Smith definitely missed out on writing some of these occasions, for in my opinion, they would be fun and meaningful to write. I could even see him doing a short novel, or even a novella called “Reunion”, or something better named, where he would got in to the accounts of both characters being reunited. @Fleck Cove, I think Heather and Amber would be a fantastic one to write about. Likewise, I believe Picket and Lokson would be interesting, considering they both know Jo.
yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was so sad when those weren't shown, especially the Maggie and Edward scene!
hmm... Heyna and Weezie!,
Sween and Maggie Weaver
Helmer and Whittle [though this did not happen, since Helmer sadly died.]
Lokson and Jo
Picket and Lokson
Heather and Amber
i could go on forever lol