Chapter 32 Summary: The Most Beautiful Shade of Blue
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens with the group departing Isla's underwater realm, carrying supplies for the journey ahead. As they walk, Beau pulls Lou aside to apologize for his earlier harsh words, insisting that she is his sister and that he truly finds her extraordinary. Lou is moved but doesn't respond directly. When they reach the shore of L'Eau Mélancolique, the magic supporting Reid fails and he collapses on the sand. Lou tries everything to wake him—poking, flicking, splashing water, even attempting to dunk him—but nothing works. Célie suggests a true love's kiss, recalling a fairy tale. Lou reluctantly tries it, and Reid wakes. However, Reid is not himself: he introduces himself as Captain Reid Diggory and recoils when Lou reveals her identity as Morgane le Blanc's daughter. He attacks her, demanding his Balisarda, which is missing. He also fails to recognize Coco and Beau, though he acknowledges Beau as his brother and remembers Célie. Lou realizes Reid has cast a magical pattern to forget her, and Coco explains that Reid made this choice deliberately to protect Lou from Morgane. Reid threatens to return with fellow Chasseurs, but ultimately departs alone, leaving Célie behind with the group.
Key Events
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Beau apologizes to Lou and reaffirms their bond.
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The group reaches the shore and Reid collapses unconscious.
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Lou attempts multiple methods to wake Reid without success.
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Célie suggests a true love's kiss, which rouses Reid.
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Reid wakes but does not recognize Lou, introducing himself as Captain Reid Diggory.
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Reid attacks Lou upon learning she is Morgane's daughter and demands his Balisarda.
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Reid fails to recognize Coco and Beau, though he remembers Beau as his brother and Célie.
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Lou discovers Reid cast a pattern to forget her.
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Coco explains Reid's sacrifice to protect Lou from Morgane.
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Reid threatens to return with Chasseurs but leaves alone, leaving Célie behind.
Character Development
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Lou: Her desperation to wake Reid shows her love and fear. She is devastated by his amnesia, and her grief is palpable. She tries to reason with him, but ultimately accepts Coco's explanation.
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Reid: His transformation into a zealous Chasseur without memories of Lou highlights the conflict between his old self and his new identity. He is confused and aggressive, but still retains some bonds (Beau, Célie).
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Coco: She understands Reid's sacrifice and tries to comfort Lou, showing her loyalty and pragmatism.
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Beau: His apology reveals his growth and his commitment to Lou as family.
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Célie: She serves as a bridge, remembering Reid and trying to calm him, but ultimately stays with the group.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Sacrifice: Reid's choice to forget Lou to protect her from Morgane is a profound act of selflessness.
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Memory and Identity: Reid's amnesia raises questions about what defines a person—his memories or his actions.
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True Love's Kiss: The fairy tale motif is subverted—the kiss wakes Reid but doesn't restore his memory, highlighting the irony and the deeper magical problem.
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Witch-Huntsman Conflict: Reid's ingrained hatred of witches resurfaces without his memories of Lou, showing how deeply his training runs.
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Choice: Reid's deliberate act of forgetting is a powerful, painful choice that shapes the rest of the story.
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Loss: Lou's grief over losing Reid's memories underscores the emotional cost of the war.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a pivotal turning point in the novel. It reveals Reid's ultimate sacrifice and sets up the central conflict for the remainder of the story. Lou must now face the war without Reid's support, and the group must find a way to restore his memories or move forward without him. It also deepens the theme of sacrifice and the cost of love, forcing both Lou and the reader to confront the consequences of Reid's decision.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Reid cast a pattern to forget Lou?
Reid casts the pattern to protect Lou from Morgane. As Coco explains, if Morgane has forgotten Lou, then Lou might be safe, but Reid's memories of her would endanger that safety. His sacrifice is a deliberate act to keep her out of harm's way.
- How does the true love's kiss motif function in this chapter?
The true love's kiss wakes Reid from his unconscious state, but it does not restore his memory. The kiss is a fairy tale solution that only partially works, highlighting the irony and the deeper magical problem. It shows that love alone cannot undo the consequences of Reid's choice.
- What does Reid's behavior reveal about his character without his memories?
Without his memories of Lou, Reid reverts to his Chasseur training, viewing all witches as enemies. This shows how deeply ingrained his huntsman beliefs are, and how much his relationship with Lou changed him. His aggression and confusion reveal the internal conflict between his duty and his lost humanity.
Navigation
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