True. In real life if they said no. I would respect that and be able to move on. But since this is an IF, we can’t move on to another per se (the reader can move on IRL by stop reading A’s path) that would be expected since we’re on A’s path after all. XD
I can’t really say much about these issues. From the looks of it, A does care about their team. Why does the author choose not to let N for example, help A overcome their trauma? And now come to think of it, why does N doesn’t show their overprotectiveness with other members of UB? IMO it’s more like it’s used for narrative rather than realism. Mishka admits she enjoyed various romance tropes. XD
I think they did. Must be a requirement with the agency. I doubt they let their agents suffer.
The issue with A isn’t that they have PTSD (So far I haven’t seen any sign of such). Its fear. Not fear like ‘Oh I’m scared of losing mc’ (Which they are), but their greatest fear is how it would impact them.
Kinda like PTSD…the trigger they will get is whats terrifying them.
I mean they say so themself ‘Losing you would ruin me’. And yet, in this Timeline, A doesn’t have the titles they were born with, there is no kingdom for them or anything. So, its really a fear they won’t be able to handle the loss again.
And the worst part is that they really really really want it. Its that fear that’s in the way. And you can’t force someone or say ‘Well, just go get Therapy!’. Therapy doesn’t solve trauma like this.
I’m not saying that, @resuri08 mentioned that such issues cannot be cured in such short time, all I’m saying is that I don’t think I could help unless I had immortality, and even then I wouldn’t be sure about it.
What romance do you play, if any? I would advise trying M’s route for this one, even if you aren’t a big fan of M. As far as the romances go, it was, by far, the best.
I understand your feelings about the plot. I found the villain pretty bland as well. They were so over the top that it was just hard to take them as a threat. The plot for the kidnappings/Trappers/Sin felt a bit disjointed. I think one problem was that there never felt like there was any real threat to the MC. Grounding the MC for a week felt a bit weird, too. The date/not-a-date chapter could’ve happened if the MC had been working.
As for A, I feel you. It was getting old to me in b2, but there are some pretty good moments with A in b3, if nothing else. And I do not mean the kiss!
Like I said, you should try M’s route and see what you think. There was a lot of progress there. In b4, we may be have to forget it happened, but it’s very enjoyable for this book.
I think there has always been quite a bit of purple prose in Wayhaven, but I agree this book has more of it. I tend to skim when it gets overly much.
You just pushed one of my rant buttons, but it’s late, I’m tired, and have an early meeting tomorrow, so I’ll make it a quick rant.
I’ve never been a fan of Rebecca, but the constant lying is really getting old. It’s like the woman is a compulsive liar. The narrative does try to force the MC to feel bad for her, but it’s just made two of my MCs dig their heels in even more (one had like a 3% relationship with her at the end of b3). One of the other two of my MCs, who actually liked her, is growing distant from her due to the lies. It’s really hard to swallow.
You don’t sound like a hater, you’re voicing your opinion, which is valid. I’d definitely suggest trying a LI other than A. If not M, then maybe N? It won’t help the problems with the pacing of the plot, but the plot was just there as something to force certain moments with the ROs, I think.
@resuri08
You know, this triggered another thought with me. Like I said, the MC feels like a passenger on this journey with A, unable to get off the ride (so to speak), unable to affect its course or speed, and unable to really do anything in the romance other than accept it.
The thing is, the MC isn’t even given a valid reason to not walk away, and in a path where it’s 95% build-up with a lot of pushing away, there needs to be a reason the MC doesn’t just give up other than the plot dictating it. Sure, there are MCs who are happy to just keep pressing A for more, but others don’t feel right with it and would want to put the walls up with them.
A solution would be to hammer that magnetism thing more, giving the MC the choice to want to let it be with A, but unable to turn off their feelings or move on with someone else because of the infernal pull they feel toward A. Let my MC be miserable as hell, wanting what she thinks she can never have, but unable to turn her back on A completely. That would at least be something for those who feel A’s hot/cold is damaging to the MC, instead of feeling like the MC is forced to be an emotional punching bag.
This! So much this! I would eventually try to at the very least treat A neutrally since they want to put a wall between us, and maybe even try and move on with someone else even if it makes me feel like shit thanks to the soul bond, I would not stop until I saw A actually acting towards having something more.
I agree with this. For my A-mancer, I would to see her move on by doing more work and keeping herself busy. I’m never been a fan of creating a cannon fodder just to create angst or use someone to be temp partner for A-mancers. I never been comfortable about that trope. I still have hope that Mishka would make the Detective more like you said.
Edit: I’m also hoping to have this line by the Detective from Pride and Prejudice to A before we start a relationship with A. XD
Elizabeth was much too embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her companion (Mr. Darcy) added, **“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”** (Of course, a modern equivalent with that. )
if you romance N, they will reveal some of their past.
They had a stepbrother they admired and envied, and he was killed by Vampires. But there is more to the story and N never tells you how it ends. So, with that…and their discussion with F (who tells N they must tell the mc about their past, and the way N reacts being afraid of how the MC would react to said past…I sense a lot of regrets and shame…mangled with that fear. So, my theory is that N choose to become a Vampire to take on said Vampire and avenge their sibling. And its something they are ashamed of and regret deeply…it also shines a light on how N is overbearing with their fears…they react differently than A.)
I believe the point @resuri08 was trying to make was that that sort of customisation would require so much time to implement that the project would never get finished, not that it wouldn’t get attention.
Psst, that’s just setting you up for a bigger fall. It’s emotional manipulation 101.
Why? He’s not wrong.
That’s… a form of rejection. That they have a (stupid) reason for the rejection other than “I’m not into you” doesn’t make it not a rejection. But my problem with A isn’t even that. It’s that they keep doing things, sometimes definitely on purpose, to draw you in and then go “lol no”. Pick a lane.
You realise that B4 is the NEXT book, right?
It’s not a detective story at all. It never was.
Also, we have access to a huge library on the supernatural, internet, and the Agency’s database. How in the unheavenly fuck are we BORED?
Yep, I am aware!. It’s really an (over)optimistic prediction but yeah, I do know that I should manage my expectations. But we’ll see, I’ll probably wait for the Book 4 demo before I adjust my expectations.
TBH I prefer when the romance is the B-plot in these games, so I don’t really play “romance-only” games
I do play M as an alternative haha, guess I forgot to mention that in my rant
N is too saccharine for my taste and F is, well. Not my cup of tea at all.
Not in the technical sense, but the MC is a detective and there’s some decent detective work happening in the first two books, so I think it’s fair to expect SOME “mystery” and “problem of the week” plots in the book
With A, it’s like. Okay you can’t be with MC. Angst is great. But why can’t you TALK? Just be honest about what you’re feeling??? The fuck??? Are you a child???
I meant talking like adults in general, about what was going on. Too many clenched fists and not enough words happening here, even beyond what you’d expect for a “tortured romance”
Or maybe I’m just getting too old for this
I do get the frustration though. Like I mentioned above, A is stopping themself from entering a relationship because they’re afraid on how to cope if something happen to the Detective like what happen to their family.
In the end, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea I get that. If you’re taking A’s path, you must have patience. Overall, I’m still optimistic on the next Book 4. I hope we get to see the Book 4 demo soon. I really am curious how Mishka will do this route.
I always thought it fits A’s personality well. They’re stubborn as a rhino.
It’s really an (over)optimistic prediction but yeah, I do know that I should manage my expectations. 
But we’ll see, I’ll probably wait for the Book 4 demo before I adjust my expectations.
