What are, in your opinion, the similarities and diferencies between Erida/Taristan and Mare/Cal?
Damn that question looks as if it was taken from an exam. Introduction to ships in YA I
I love the way you worded this, so academic I feel like I will get graded and I'm a slut for essays... ok that sounded so weird wtf let's get to the matter at hand.
Similarities: royals falling for raggedy (sexc 😏) slumdogs with anger issues and special blood that for some reason is super important to the story. Both non-obvious variations of Enemies to lovers. That's it.
Differences: The most important one to create contrast for the sake of this analysis is that Marecal, as I've mentioned a few times before, represent redemption and mercy for each other, as well as accountability for their actions. They are a particular brand of Enemies to lovers that is so well cooked imo, refusing to fall into toxic behaviors all through the series (not that's there's anything wrong with shipping toxic stuff for fun), that the EtL part flies over a lot of readers' heads. A cinderella story turned into a coming-of-age story about breaking free from the predestined path, either out of necessity in Mare's case or pushed by tragedy in Cal's case. Their love is so interesting to me bc it is a source of a shitload of problems for them, but also their reward after they go through hell in their respective journeys of self-actualization. They are the poison AND the cure (unlike m@reven where they are only poison 🤧)
On the other hand, Eristan is a load of toxicity the size of a luxury resort pool in Ibiza and boi do I want to swim there until my fingers turn to raisins. They not only enable each other's worst traits, but they also encourage them bc that's what they freaking like lmao. I mean, there are other, deeper more intimate things about them I'm sure we'll get to see in future books that will turn their union into something more ✨spiritual✨ as it happened with marecal over the RQ series (at least I hope so). Right now, what we have, and the reason I'm obsessed with them, is because they are the predestined path for each other, in the sense that being together is the smartest choice for their respective goals. They are a EtL speedrun bc as soon as Erida sees Taristan can be used in her favor, she accepts his hand in marriage, no hesitations. One of my favorite motifs of all times can be found in Eristan, Death and the Maiden, and Victoria writes them so exquisitely😩👌. It's all about the sexual awakening and the death of innocence to give way into adulthood, the apparent darkness of it and its scorn toward moralizing children's tales. It's no coincidence Taristan is an "older" man, and that Erida is in a role of authority, subverting the damsel/princess in distress trope. It's so blatant I get flustered just thinking about it. THE EXCELLENCE
Again, to clear things up, Eristan = being together is the solution = corruption. Marecal = being together is a problem = redemption.
Finally, a disclaimer, this is all literary analysis pulled out of my hat for fun. If you don't vibe with it, carry on and don't send the Purity Police™ my way. I can distinguish fiction from reality just fine, thank you very much.













