I’m totally going to be one of those people whose first evah post on these forums looks like complaining. I’m not intending to ruffle any jimmies! We’ve all got our opinions/perceptions, and I’m not trying to say that what I see is objective or even necessarily critical. Just observations!
A) At the rate the writing is going, I’m going to be in my grave by the time we get book 3, never mind finish the series 
B) A’s romance. There are many many many comments up there of people having a go at A’s romance. And…yeah. (I like A well enough as a character!). I want to come at it from a (slightly) different angle:
In A’s romance, the problem for me has less to do with A, per se, and more to do with the MC. I think @evilchani has mentioned this a few times? IMO, the way A’s romance works, as written, requires that the MC have…issues…with boundaries and self-confidence/assertion/worth.
That tends to pop up as an issue for the MC pretty often regardless of route (in what I call the ‘auto-dialogue’, where we have no input). Regardless of the personality we pick, auto-dialogue MC has some definite social anxiety issues. MC is pretty frequently worrying about what other people think of them, is passive aggressive (ex. making stink-eye at M in their route for putting their feet on the bed - there’s no option to not notice/care/judge, or to ask M to remove their feet), lacks ownership for their own emotions, assumes responsibility for other people’s emotions, et al.
Consider the (potential) happenings during the Bobby scene at MC’s apartment. Bobby can block the MC from closing their door (this is trespassing). Bobby can physically assault the MC (forcing an unwanted kiss). MC, a literal detective, can’t protect their own space - they’re within their rights to arrest Bobby for either of those things, and they just…don’t. The plot is written in such a way that not arresting Bobby is required; my issue is that these serious red flags of actual abuse can’t be responded to appropriately. The responses we get when this is brought up in the Book 3 demo just make the MC’s forced helplessness in regards to Bobby even worse (detailed more below, under the cut).
Spoilers for book 3 demo under the cut
With M in the opening:
“Maybe we just came across the wrong way?” I venture, giving a half-shrug. (MC defaults to taking responsibility for other people’s reactions. M has to point this out:)
M takes a breath. “You’re too nice to come across the wrong way. This is all on them.” (Niceness is no guarantee at all of how anyone “comes across” to anyone else. But M is right. The werewolves’ reactions is on them (unless we saw MC provoking them or being antagonistic, which we didn’t. Yet auto-dialogue MC just defaults to this faulty line of thinking.)
I think that’s a compliment. (MC isn’t considering whether or not M is correct. MC is considering whether or not M gave them a compliment, which is insecurity and an external locus of control in action.)
Still, I’m pretty sure this isn’t exactly the peaceful resolution the others envisioned…(What did MC envision? MC is defaulting to the imagined/presumed desires of others. Insecurity/external locus of control again.)
In the A romance, MC is perpetually surprised/confused/upset when A acts in accordance with their established personality and patterns of behaviour. MC does this with M, too.
A does the hot/cold thing again: “I stare after him, blinking a few times in confusion.” They’ve known each other for months, and MC is still confused? But then, this is the MC who “avoid[s] thinking about the implications”. Maturity has left the building. It makes it verrrry hard for me to care. I feel like I’m watching a bunch of overgrown teenagers flailing around with their first crush. A’s nearly a thousand years old. MC can be ~35. IRL, I’d run away from both of them. Especially** the MC, who, unlike A or M, is apparently incapable of stating a position, taking a position, or sticking to one (A has this problem, too; at least M is up front about what they’re putting on the table.).
“Even with as much preparation as we do, there are things beyond our control. You can only do so much, Detective.” I attempt a nod. “I guess.” (MC thinks/reasons like a pouty child encountering life for the first time.)
My gaze drops to the ground as I scold myself for the expectation…(It really shouldn’t shock me that MC’s emotional regulation and/or insight is this bad. MC is shaming themselves for emotions. That’s…really, really, not healthy.)
There’s an empty frame, and I wonder if it’s saved for me. (Idea, MC: Ask. “Oooh, F/N, is this one for me? Can I put a picture up, too? Let me know if that’s too much!”)
I shift in the chair to ignore the feeling. (Yup. MC’s emotional life is unhealthy.)
“Oh, you want me to make the decision?”…“Someone better, seeing as we can’t.” No pressure then (sic.). (Well, no, MC. They’ve deferred to you to make a decision that they can’t/won’t. If they react poorly to your choice, that’s on them, not you, but M isn’t here to point out your reasoning failure this time…oi. If either of them get pissy, feel free to point that out.)
“So many visits all in one morning…” I mumble, trying my best to hide my exhaustion…I shut the door for the second time that day to a visitor invading my personal work space…I look at her expectantly, waiting for her to explain why she’s added to my list of visitors before I’ve even had a bolstering cup of tea…[goes on to have a non-priority, non-work-related convo with Rebecca]. (Idea, MC: “I’ve been in meetings all morning, and after last night I’m exhausted. I’m going to fetch myself a cup of tea if you’d like to wait.” Or maybe: “I’m exhausted right now, and have a whole day to get through. I can have this conversation [time], or we can agree on another [time].” I understand what’s happening here is for plot reasons, but as often happens, the plot requires that the MC doesn’t assert themselves. Even when the text itself gives us ample reasons for them to do so (I’m exhausted/space invaded).
“Wonderful!” I exclaim, throwing my hands up before sucking in a breath and pinching at the bridge of my nose. “This is just what I need.” (External locus of control again. I’ve spent the entire last chapter listening to MC whine about their woeful circumstances. Please stop it and adult. Please. A and N then step in to cognitively reframe the situation for child!MC, like M did earlier.)
I quickly make a mental list of the tasks that need accomplishing and who would be best at what. At least, I hope. (I know, MC, confidence is something we need to work on.)
“Let’s hope our questioning doesn’t just make it worse for them,” I mumble. (Boundaries, MC. Their daughter was kidnapped, your role is to find them. That requires asking questions. You aren’t responsible for their emotions. Please stop.)(I’m not saying the MC can’t care. Ie: It’s unfortunate we have to bother them with more questions…"
“The kidnapper was a supernatural,” I begin, slipping my notepad into my pocket as an excuse to take a moment to wrap my head around the idea. (At this point, why does the MC still need to wrap their head around the idea, esp. when they knew the victim was supernatural? And why does the MC need an ‘excuse’ to pause for a moment? Ah. Because the MC is far too preoccupied with how they “come across”.)
(In the A-has-dirt-on-face scene, the lack of options to not lovingly wipe the dirt away is a bit unfortunate. Boundaries, MC. You can has. To say nothing about the MC having options to glomp on and/or attempt to kiss an A that’s already made clear that they don’t want a relationship…ew. Bobby-level ew.)
“You can’t make me feel this way and give me nothing.” (Make you feel? External locus of control. Take ownership of your own emotions, child!MC.) “I don’t know if I can do this anymore if you won’t.” (Projection - A has outright denied any relationship. Ew.) “You know a woman could get ideas…” (Violating A’s request for a boundary. Ew.) “Is this…really what you want to do?” (A has said so many times. Stop second guessing someone’s attempt to place a boundary. Ew.)
I manage to force myself to turn away and press the emotions back. (This romance runs on unhealthy repression. Ew.)
(Note that in A’s POV scene, A at least has the self-awareness that the MC lacks. I find the MC far, far more troubling/offensive in this route than I do A. By a long texas mile.)
I don’t think anyone has used the word ‘brazen’ since the eighteenth century. (Yeah, they have…)
“I’m sure I’ll find some time to fit the extra work in somewhere.” (Honestly, if there are six books of the MC working a double job, I hope this is the last one we have to listen to their constant complaining about how tired they are. It’s making me tired.)
I grip my breakfast as I stare over at him. Confusion stays my hunger for a moment. Is he actually making conversation? (This isn’t actually the first time he’s done this (ie: be superficially polite, which is about the state most of the relationships are at right now ;), but as with M, MC is forever surprised that they don’t conform to MC’s simplistic expectations (M=jerk, A=business).)
The expression is beyond a surprise… (I wish the narrative would stop pointing out that ERMAGERD the LI’s orientation to MC has slightly changed, ERMAGERD, are you not SUPRRISED!?)
I lean closer, drawn in by the intimacy of the memories he’s sharing… (Only…it’s superficial, factual detail about other people. What intimacy, exactly? Weird description.)
“When?” I prompt, the sudden chill in the air crackling against the comforting ease from a few moments before. (Bit pushy, rude, and unempathetic to me. Prioritizes A spilling the beans to MC in pursuit of pseudo-intimacy rather than responding empathically to A’s emotions. Ew.)
(The whole bit that follows with Bobby in the station is the MC utterly failing (regardless of the option you pick) to deal with Bobby, until Verda or Tina come to the rescue. Ew. I’m finding it terribly uncomfortable to be stuck in the POV of this overgrown, helpless child. The only thing the Bobby route is succeeding in so far is laying down precisely the sort of thinking and behaviour that gets people trapped in abusive relationships. Double Ew.)(Ie: Even the “get out of my station, now!” option results in the MC immediately allowing Bobby to redirect, reframe, and take control of the conversation. MC allows it and has to be rescued. This happens again in the flyer scene. I’d have fewer issues with it if the MC was at least allowed the self-awareness to realize that they need to ask for other people’s advice/help in dealing with Bobby, and/or showed awareness of the extremely toxic dynamic.)
(The offer of being able to cyber-stalk their chosen LI is a bit creepy. 
)
“I know.”…“How much do you know?” “Everything.” “He told you everything about the supernatural?” (LOL. MC made quite the assumption! It amuses me. Eric: “What? Supernatural!? About his affair with Tina…what the…Supernatural!?”)
I roll my head to one side to look at the wall. “I haven’t done much good so far.” (MC, taking responsibility for the state of Verda’s feelings. Gets a pep talk from Eric.)
This might actually work, I try to convince myself with more optimism than I actually feel. (MC denying their feelings/trying to willpower their feelings to be something they aren’t. Par for the course at this point.)
If you read all of that, you probably get the point. The MC is basically the same regardless of route, though due to the setup and pre-determined flow of the relationships, it tends to me to be most egregious in order of: A>M>N>F. Regardless, my point is this:
This game is supposed to be happy fluff reading. It introduces some pretty weirdly dark themes (trauma, a narcissistic relationship (Bobby route, Mayor). They don’t need to be the focus. Nonetheless, it’s a (mostly) first person narrative. The fluff reading has me stuck in the head of an unhealthy person, and asks me to root for an MC and RO with dubious social skills and mental health. While putting that MC into situations that, IRL, are very often dangerously bad news, relationally. Without giving the options to deal with it effectively.
MC needs to come into my office. I’ll offer the sessions pro-bono! CBT, EFT, and some good boundary work are called for. On the basis of the MC’s thinking and behaviour as detailed in the books, I’d consider social anxiety and codependency to start. Self-efficacy and internal locus of control as focus for CBT. Differential diagnoses: Social Anxiety Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (insufficient to diagnose any of the above on the basis of the books, but the themes are there).
I don’t think writing the MC this way was intentional, but it’s what we’ve got! Too much in common with bad otome characters for me to find the MC’s skin as comfortable or fluffy as intended. In a pretty thorough read-through, I spent most of my time reframing the MC’s thinking and very little just enjoying the fluff. I want to love these books, but the MC makes it really haaaaard.
Or, in other other words, I have less issue with, say A or M as characters, and more of an issue with the ways MC is forced to relate to, think about, and interact with them. Alas.
. I feel like both Nate and Felix would be totally down for it! Nate would act really sweet, and Felix would just be having fun in role playing. Adam and Mason though… neither of them would be super thrilled. Adam would think it was a bad idea, sense he’s scared of loving me for whatever reason 
. Mason would think it’s stupid, and act super grumbly. But eventually, they’ll both go along with it
But I recently did a replay of the series again, so Wayhaven has been on my mind a lot this past month! 
Anyhow, what I wanna ask is: what is everyone’s verdict on whether the detective’s LI will, at some point during the series, end up having to drink the MC’s blood in order to save themselves from a dangerous situation? This is something I’ve wondered about quite a lot, so I’m curious to hear other people from the fandom’s thoughts on this possibility! 
And what do you think about this trope itself? Would you want this scenario to happen or nah? As I already mentioned, I personally absolutely adore this trope and if it ever happens in Wayhaven I’m probably going to be squealing from delight for real. 
