Thinking about perceptions and relationships in HtN

Something I wish we’d gotten more of in HtN was Harrow’s perceptions and relationships with people contrasting with Gideon’s previously held ones. We got this a little bit with Crux, Ortus and Ianthe, and it was one of the more interesting parts. Crux I think was the starkest contrast; the support and relief he’d provided Harrow when he’d been possibly the most abusive presence in Gideon’s life was really fun to see. Getting to know Ortus was so unexpected and cool as well, when he’d been barely a pathetic afterthought in Gideon’s mind, and Ianthe becoming a main character was honestly one of the highlights of this book and I did not expect (or want!) to enjoy her so much.

Another interesting thing this illustrated was that despite her obliviousness and lack of guile and her almost puppy dog eagerness to make a connection with people, Gideon is actually not easily manipulated. We see this over and over: Gideon had a huge crush on Cytherea, she idolized her mother, she fantasized constantly about her mystery father, but without fail, the moment they reveal themselves to be manipulative, shitty people, she doesn’t hesitate to change her view of them and she’ll fuck em up if she needs to. She was even ready to turn on Harrow this way when she thought she’d murdered someone. She’s loyal as shit but more than that she’s dedicated to her (surprisingly well calibrated) moral compass, and her devotion isn’t as easy to manipulate as you’d think.

Harrow, by contrast, this secretive genius who’s always five steps ahead, trusts no one, analyzes every interaction… She fell hook, line and sinker for John’s manipulation, and it was heartbreaking to watch. Obviously she was deeply compromised, but I was just so struck by how fundamentally vulnerable she was when Gideon had been, despite everything she’d been through, actually very resilient. But also it wasn’t just Gideon herself and her coping mechanisms contributing to this solidity, it was obviously the two of them together. They were just so much more resilient together. And Harrow in this book, more than anything, was fundamentally alone.

Once again I just wish this book had given me more Relationships, more People, cuz really the strength of these books imo isn’t the setting or the plot or the mystery, but the characters.