Yahoo Image Search (says from a site called Studio Bueno Comics.)
First, it’s really hard to find a picture depicting a love triangle that isn’t a picture of Twilight. I was lucky to stumble onto this one, which is more of a square. For those that don’t know it’s Spider-Man who has been involved with Gwen Stacy, Black Cat, and Mary Jane among others. These are the big three though. The Black Cat Vs Mary Jane is always a big thing.
Now, there is a theme that Luke Callindor is involved in that needs more than the previous post. His love life has garnered some criticism, which caught me off guard because I’ve heard more about this than anything else in the books. Poor Nyx gets no attention and I have no idea how most of book 3 was taken due to this. For those that don’t know, here is the situation:
Luke Callindor and Kira Grasdon became an item at the end of Beginning of a Hero. She comes from a culture where you are encouraged to date multiple partners as long as you don’t hide them from each other. This way a person can try to bow out if they feel the others are perfect together. Keep in mind that I said date, but sex is a major factor and it’s the one that people focus on. So, people see the Bor’daruk culture as one of sleeping around. It’s a culture that was nearly destroyed by rampant divorce, so marriage is seen as unbreakable. You break it and you’re exiled from the land, which is why you make damn sure you’re with someone you truly love before taking the plunge. Luke comes from a culture that is more like what we’re used to, so he’s unsure of it. He fights it for a while and worries that Kira is indulging too much, which is something that nobody in the story really knows about.
You can tell what’s going to happen already. Another woman will step in and create the triangle. In the end, Luke will have to make a choice between the two women with a lot more weight than a high school girl. It’s a choice that will hurt no matter what and he’s going to be plagued by this for most of the series. The women are friendly (for now) and will be competing, but Kira’s culture makes it a little strange. The other woman spends some time accepting that she won’t win and is along for the ride. There is also the issue of Kira not being an adventurer, so her absence creates more confusion in the situation until the ‘big event’. After all, if she was there then this situation wouldn’t be as much of a mess as it’s going to be.
Yahoo Image Search
The other woman is Sari, which people probably see coming. A fun-loving gypsy is the perfect entrant into this love triangle. More importantly, she is the other side of the coin that is Luke’s life path.
Originally, there was no Kira Grasdon. It was always Sari and Luke, which did turn out to be a rather lame idea due its speed and ‘perfection’. There needed to be an obstacle and then Kira evolved in the first book to fit this mold. The problem appeared with Luke and Sari needing to be together and me not wanting to go the adultery route. That would hurt all characters involved and destroy the relationships. It’s amazing how many have called for Luke to be turned into a cheater or to become a man-whore. At the same time condemning Kira for being a slut . . . yeah, I should point out that nobody really knows what she’s been up to. Anyway, this is where Bor’daruk came from and the rest is history where I still have very little idea who will win. For a while it was Kira and then Sari and then back to Kira and then Alyssa and then nobody and then Kira and then Sari and now I’ve got no idea. Yet, I’ve recently seen how this plays into Luke’s themes. If you read this far then here is the payoff:
Luke Callindor comes from a family of heroes cursed with a powerful wanderlust. They go off to become heroes and travel when they hit their late teens. Some Callindors settle down like Luke’s father while others continue adventuring until they die. There’s also various middle choices in here. As for Luke, he isn’t sure what will happen to him because he’s only just begun. The two women that he’s genuinely in love with show the two paths he can take. With Kira Grasdon, he gets stability and living a calm life without wandering around. With Sari, he satisfies his wanderlust and never has to give up the nomadic lifestyle that he’s infatuated with. Much of this depends on how all three characters mature, but this is a key theme of Luke’s development. Will he choose the life of a retired hero or never give up the road? The fact that he’s in love with Sari and Kira makes this a lot more painful because he doesn’t want to hurt either one. You’ll see the torment and confusion in book 4.
See there is a reason behind this plot line and it isn’t a bizarre way to give Luke a threesome. Not sure the boy would survive that any way.
Legends of Windemere 
If he’s not sure which to choose then maybe he hasn’t met her yet.
LikeLike
Maybe, but it revolves more around the three characters not being fully matured in these matters. Since this isn’t a straight romance story, there’s more to factor in. Luke might love Kira more, but that would put her in danger, so Sari is a ‘safer’ option. Luke might love Sari more, but her current belief that he should be with Kira makes it difficult. Something that people aren’t realizing is that this isn’t supposed to be neat and clean. Luke has the rollercoaster, train wreck romance of the series, so it’s going to be a mess.
The shocking thing is that several people have blamed Kira entirely for this and called her a slut. A few have stated that they would rather Luke and Kira be cheaters than this open relationship, which makes no sense to me. How is adultery better than an open relationship until marriage?
LikeLike
I like where you’re going with this. The complications are interesting. Plus, life is complicated. Relationships are complicated and things mean more when you have to struggle for them.
I can’t believe readers would prefer that they be cheaters. I hope you’re going to ignore that piece of advice, because that’s not a character flaw I’d recommend for your hero.
LikeLike
I agree. Not sure how I would go the cheater route considering the open relationship negates such a label. I’d have to go back and change everything from the opening of book 2.
Maybe people prefer fictional relationships to not be as complicated as real ones. Though that doesn’t explain the popularity of a few book series.
LikeLike
Both are good choices. Good luck Luke. Nice explanation.
LikeLike
Thanks. You’d be surprised at some of the responses I got after the third book came out. I think the finale will entirely depend on Luke’s evolution and which life works best for him.
LikeLike
I agree with John, you explain this very clearly. That is a tough situation!!! I admit I come from a religious background that doesn’t gel with or understand Kira’s culture’s approach to sex so I wouldn’t be able to root for her just because I don’t think that approach to sex is healthy for anyone. Maybe that is a problem some readers are having, like you point out. It’s one thing for readers to put aside cultural actions that have no moral weight attached to them, but there is SO much moral weight attached to sexuality.
LikeLike
I think people’s religion and opinion on sex is a big factor. Though, I’ve had some people consider Kira a slut and suggest that Luke go on a revenge sex spree, which really throws me off. One even told me he preferred Luke and Kira be cheaters than this. So I’m not really sure how the morality grounds work for some readers.
As for the moral weight attached to sexuality, I think that’s another culture difference. I’m not that religious and I grew up with a casualness about sex. There are cultures out there where it doesn’t have the same moral weight as it does in our culture. Also, it’s funny how sex is the focus here. This tradition encompasses even going out to dinner with another woman/man.
One of the challenges here that I haven’t been able to put into the book yet is that part of the tradition is impossible for Kira and Luke to go through with. It’s the introduction protocol, which is supposed to happen prior to any activity. With them being apart, this action puts them more at risk of breaking up.
LikeLike
I agree with everyone here that you explained things very well. You know your characters. Who Luke chooses will tell us much about how much he’s grown. I could tell that about both of my brothers when they finally chose someone to settle down with.
LikeLike
I’m looking forward to when Kira comes back into the story too because the Luke/Sari relationship will be further along. So, it will drive her to take things more seriously and step up her game.
LikeLike
Can you say, “As the World Turns”, I love the soap opera-esque properties of this, very fun indeed.
LikeLike
Thanks. I think that’s how it should be looked at in some ways.
LikeLike
Luke, Luke, Luke… 🙂 I’m already invested. Looking forward to forming my own opinion on who I think he’ll end up with while I read.
LikeLike
Well, I hope you forgive me for the third book. Seems to be a real blood boiler. Makes me wonder how people are going to react to the ‘Monster’ villain that appears.
LikeLike
Oh no. Well I’ll keep that in mind, but I don’t mind a monster. Now I’m worried for Luke. You can’t kill him off, he’s the star. Right….? LOL
LikeLike
I’m sure he’ll be fine . . . for a while. Though, at the end of the book I’m writing now, he’s kind of made the ‘Monster’ villain really mad. Odd thing is that this villain isn’t the main one or the scary looking one.
LikeLike
This taking us back to the other day, huh? Yea. How exciting. I think you’ll be just fine. I think it’s great that this villain has caught you by surprise. I’d bet a lot of writing has been produced because of it. I suppose, we’re all shocked when we encounter the sleeper type villian. It hooks us right up.
LikeLike
This guy is an oddity among my characters. The others grew from their original ideas as I wrote, but this guy jumped to his final level of evil. So, I’m always scared of what he’s going to do next. I have to write a scene with him in it tomorrow, which usually ends with me taking an hour break to do something happy.
LikeLike
Taking a risk at this point in the series is perfect. I say why not. You’d better take time to decide what your happy payoff will be. Maybe some Three Stooges or something like that, possibly playdough with the little one. You can make cupcakes to have with dinner. Good luck to you, for sure. Just go for it.
LikeLike
Might take a walk for hot cocoa or read a book. The events won’t be as despicable as they normally are.
LikeLike
Okay, despicable? I’m already going to read the series, no need to throw around words to create wonder… You sold me already. 😀
LikeLike
I’ll try to behave. 🙂
LikeLike
LOL 😀
LikeLike
This actually kind of reminds me of the Adem from Patrick Rothfuss’s “The Wise Man’s Fear”. They’re similar, in that they’re very sexually liberated … but they’re also fairly ridiculous, as they don’t think that men have anything to do with children being created. I find it interesting that people are taking issue with your characters like this when you’ve made it clear that this is how the culture works.
LikeLike
It’s been an interesting outburst. I’m wondering what will happen when the characters actually go to Bor’daruk where these traditions are the norm.
LikeLike
Gwen Stacy and Black Cat have nothing on Mary Jane. Spider-Man and Mary Jane all the way!
Anyway, interesting triangle you got there, Charles. I’m inclined to mention Twilight, but you already did, so I won’t go there! Nonetheless, this seems more fascinating to watch from a distance as to what will happen next!
LikeLike
As much as I love Black Cat, I have to agree. She works well with Spider-Man, but I don’t think she fits as well with Peter Parker as Mary Jane. With secret identities, a true romance that isn’t an obvious failure needs to have the hero’s two sides connected.
Twilight has been mentioned, but I’d like to think this is a more twisted and exciting romance. Everyone knew who she would end up with at the end. Luke isn’t as clear. It’s funny that I threw in so much foreshadowing for both sides that I’m not even sure who’s going to win.
LikeLike