Get Nerdy With Me No. 13
6 more repeating narrative cycles in the Legendborn Cycle.
Repeating narrative cycles in The Legendborn Cycle fascinate me. I’ve written about it before, and now I’m writing about it again.1 I’ve noticed more careful repetitions.
(1) Sel is separated from Bree by a root barrier at the start of battle — a repeating cycle in book 1 and 2
In Legendborn, in the ogof y ddraig, Bree instinctively casts a protective wall of root mage flame while screaming, “No more deaths!”2 Her “twenty-foot wall of red flames” shields all the Legendborn warriors and Sel as she fights Rhaz, the goruchel, solo. Sel is pissed about being separated from her and unable to come to her aid.
“Don’t ever do that to me again.”
Legendborn, Chapter 56, page 475 (89%)
In Bloodmarked, with utmost trust, Sel agrees to remain behind the root barrier that encloses Volition, while Bree steps to the other side alone to save Dr. Hartwood. It echoes that scene so much from Legendborn.
“I have a plan,” I say, […]
“Does it involve crossing that barrier?” Sel’s eyes narrow.
“That’s the ‘trust me’ part.”
Bloodmarked, Chapter 53, page 487 (84%)
(2) A pinned kiss cycle
In Legendborn, after Nick publicly chooses Bree at the Selection Gala, they rendezvous in a private room. They share a short-lived passionate kiss. Nick pins Bree against the door.
“He walks me backward until my spine hits the door, then his hands slide down to my thighs and I’m airborne, held up by the strength of his arms and press of his hips. I dig my fingers into his hair…”
Legendborn, Chapter 46, page 419 (79%)
In Bloodmarked, after Sel and Bree talk through the king-claiming-“cariad” moment, they kiss. They are outside under the stars, and Sel whooshes Bree against a tree. It’s Bree’s second short-lived, passionate, pinned kiss in this series.
“There’s a whoosh, movement, and I am against a tree, bark digging into my back, Sel’s mouth…”
Bloodmarked, Chapter 52, page 481 (83%)
(3) Sel’s hands on Bree’s face + a path + wistfully saying “alas” X 2
In the Legendborn scene I quote from below, Sel touches Brees face to mesmer her. She’s not a page yet and has seen too much. He mentions fate’s path. He says alas.
“I must admit, Briana, I’m curious. What twist of the universe has set you in my path again?” he asks, his voice quiet, wistful. “Alas, some mysteries must remain forever unsolved.” […]
The last thing I remember is the hot skin of his palm pressed against my forehead.
Legendborn, Chapter 7, page 66
In the Bloodmarked scene below, Sel covers Bree’s eyes as they walk on a path together. (I read this as a physical, non-magical form of mesmer, a consensual one). He’s leading her to her birthday surprise. He says alas.
He reaches for my eyes again, a request, I nod and he wraps his hands around my face gently until the forest is gone once more. We keep walking. […]
“One of my deepest hopes is that one day you will finally believe this yourself, but alas…” He clucks his tongue, voice faux-wistful. “You are too stubborn.”
Bloodmarked, Chapter 52, page 292
(4) Ancestor/scion behavioral cycles - Lancelot
Bree noting this similarity between Lancelot and Nick caught my eye:
Lancelot raises a hand to shield his eyes, just as Nick did when he first saw me with Excalibur3.
Bloodmarked, Chapter 13, page 136
(5) Ancestor/scion behavioral cycles - Arthur
Samuel Davis and King Arthur are cut from the same violent, murderous cloth. Samuel Davis is the Scion of Arthur who rapes and then attempts to murder Bree’s enslaved ancestor Vera. King Arthur, learning what his enslaver-descendant did in Bloodmarked, says, “I wish it had not been committed.”4
He’s being insincere. He is just like his scion.
At the end of Bloodmarked, after grooming Bree for months, Arthur violently possesses Bree’s body and attempts to permanently sever her spirit’s connection to her body. That’s spiritual rape and attempted murder, for the record, and so he just like his descendant. The evil apple doesn’t fall far from the evil tree.
(6) “Silly Thing” X 2
Sel will not allow Bree to fight alone. He’s going to be there in the ring with her, and he’s going to sweetly say “silly thing” to make his point.
He rolls his eyes. “I’m offering to train you, silly thing.”
Legendborn, Chapter 34, page 322 (61%)
“Because, silly thing”—his finger draws along my jaw before falling away—“you truly thought I would leave you.”
Bloodmarked, Chapter 30, page 292 (50%)
Thank you for reading this installment of Get Nerdy With Me, a series where I have been deep diving something from Legendborn and Bloodmarked every day until Oathbound’s release on March 4. That’s 9 days away!
Check out: https://substack.com/home/post/p-156826122
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Legendborn, Chapter 56, page 473
“Nick’s voice cuts through us both. Arthur turns my body until I face Nick where he stands with a hand half-raised to shield his eyes from my light. Our eyes meet across flames of red and blue.” Legendborn, Chapter 56, page 473
Bloodmarked Chapter 13, page 137
Saving this series for Halloween but I may have to read sooner 😩
Sara, you’re really making me want to pick up this series!