Q&A Thursdays #15: Andrew’s Question
For a while now, I’ve been reprising a Daughter of Blood (and by extension The Wall Of Night) Q&A series that featured in 2019.
Today’s question came from Andrew and concerns the “black blades” that feature throughout the series. The black spear is the one first seen by Kalan in The Heir of Night, which reappears in Daughter of Blood.
Andrew: Is there a difference between the “black blades”, which are swords, and the black spear?
Helen: The answer is that there may be, in terms of origin, because the weapons’ origins are as yet unclear. I think readers may detect something of this in the way Kalan’s black spear has more of a “personality” than Asantir’s black swords. However, in terms of how they function, the “black blades” of the swords, and the blade—or head—of the spear are (reasonably clearly, I hope!) next to identical. And when you get the three of them together, they may not be indomitable but they are a force to be reckoned with.
Previous Thursday Q&A Refeatures:
2022:
March 31 — #1 Phoebe’s Question on Book Planning
April 21 — #2 Sam’s Question on Deleted Scenes
April 28 — #3 Sandy’s Question on Characters That Take Charge
May 19 — #4 Lindsay’s Question on Research
June 23 — #5 Chris’s Question on Tirael & “What Would Have Happened If…”
June 30 — #6 Rosie’s Question on the Web of Mayanne
September 8 — #7 Jason’s Question on Weapons & Names
October 6 — #8 Robin’s Question on Tuckerization Characters
November 24 — #9 Josh’s Question on Whether I Have A Favourite Moment in Daughter of Blood
December 15 — #10 Shannon’s Question re Sections or Characters that were Hard to Write
2023
March 30 — #11 Jenny’s Question re Inspiration and Keeping Going
May 18 — #12 Tom’s Question re Food and Feasts
June 15 — #13 Ashley’s Question on Writing Through the Christchurch Earthquakes
August 10 — #14 Bethany’s Question On A Villain