Chapter 17: Asar – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
Asar sits in Egrette’s office, a space covered in letters, maps, and diagrams that reveal her genuine effort to rule. He recalls their childhood: Egrette resented him as another sibling, and their father Raoul set them up as natural enemies. Now Egrette openly admits she had Elias stab Asar during the Descent, a move she considers necessary for survival. She discloses that Nyaxia appeared to her, as she also appeared to the House of Blood, and mentions that Shiket has been preparing Atroxus’s followers for war. Egrette sees the fast-approaching Melume as perfect timing—an event not due for another fifty years. Asar requests permission to go to Ryvenhaal to research spells that can only be performed during the Melume, claiming they will strengthen the kingdom’s soldiers and weapons. She agrees, but reveals that Gideon, their father’s former loyalist, is unwilling to give her the same allegiance. She wants Asar to become her new Gideon. Asar is repulsed by the idea of stepping into that role, but he forces himself to remain composed. Egrette dismisses him with a parting remark about second sons and daughters underestimated by the world.
Key Events
- Asar arrives in Egrette’s messy, work-filled office and observes that she has been governing with genuine effort.
- Egrette admits she ordered Elias to stab Asar; she justifies the betrayal as the only option in vampire politics.
- Nyaxia has appeared to Egrette and to the House of Blood; Shiket is rallying Atroxus’s followers for war.
- Egrette mentions the Melume is approaching far earlier than expected, and she views it as an opportunity.
- Asar asks to travel to Ryvenhaal to study spells in the archives that require the Melume’s open wells.
- Egrette reveals that Gideon will not transfer his loyalty from Raoul to her, and she hints that she wants Asar to replace Gideon as her indispensable magic wielder.
- Asar feels a visceral revulsion at the thought of becoming Egrette’s instrument, but he hides his reaction and secures permission to leave.
Character Development
Asar
- Demonstrates political cunning by quickly switching from questioning Egrette to proposing a mission that serves his own goals.
- His visceral reaction to the idea of becoming “the new Gideon” shows he still possesses a moral line he will not cross, even to secure his position.
- He studies Egrette’s workspace and revises his low opinion of her competence, acknowledging she might be more capable than he assumed.
Egrette
- Reveals a pragmatic, unsentimental side: she orders her brother’s assassination without guilt, viewing it as standard noble survival.
- Shows strategic ambition; she has been actively governing and is excited by the potential of the Melume and the war with humans.
- Attempts to manipulate Asar by offering him a defined role in her court, but her transparent desperation for a loyal mage exposes her own weakness.
Gideon (mentioned)
- Though absent, his stubborn refusal to serve Egrette underscores the deep personal loyalty he held for Raoul and highlights the rift between the old regime and the new queen.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Family as Political Arena
The sibling relationship between Asar and Egrette is framed entirely through power struggle. Asar reflects that sharing Raoul’s blood set them up as natural enemies, a dynamic that mirrors vampire-human conflict.
The Shape of Power
Egrette’s disorganized but earnest office symbolizes her hands-on approach to ruling, contrasting with Asar’s earlier image of her as a resentful princess. The open windows and sea breeze connect her rule to the kingdom she now controls.
Betrayal as Currency
Betrayal is treated not as a moral breach but as a necessary transaction. Egrette’s admission that she ordered Asar’s stabbing is met with his acceptance; he cannot hold it against her because the rules of vampire nobility demand it.
The Melume as Opportunity
The Melume, a magical event that grants access to powerful wells, represents both a deadline and a chance for Asar to act independently. It also ties the chapter to the larger cosmic changes Nyaxia is orchestrating.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 17 deepens the political and magical stakes of The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk. It confirms that Nyaxia is directly intervening in multiple houses, accelerating the conflict between vampires and humans. Egrette’s clumsy attempt to recruit Asar as her new Gideon reminds readers of the danger of being bound to a monarch’s will. Asar’s plan to use the Melume for research in Ryvenhaal sets up a mission that will test his loyalty—and his willingness to use forbidden magic. The chapter also humanizes Egrette slightly, showing her as a ruler who works hard, even if she remains ruthless and manipulative. For Asar, the encounter reinforces his isolation: he can trust no one, not even his own blood.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Asar accept Egrette’s betrayal without anger?
He understands the brutal logic of vampire aristocracy—whoever does not seize the throne will be executed by the one who does. Anger would be pointless because he would have acted the same way in her position. -
What does Egrette’s offer—to make Asar her new Gideon—reveal about her rule?
It shows that she lacks a loyal, powerful mage of her own. Gideon’s refusal to serve her leaves a gap she cannot fill with her own skills, forcing her to rely on a brother she just tried to kill. This weakness makes her vulnerable despite her ambition. -
How does the early arrival of the Melume affect Asar’s plans?
It creates a narrow window for him to access spells in the Ryvenhaal archives that require the ritual’s open wells. The event’s unexpectedly early occurrence suggests that the recent shifts in fate—likely caused by Nyaxia’s direct interventions—are accelerating magical and political timelines.
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