Unrequited Love: Qhuinn and Blay
Unrequited Love
a discussion with Ciara
Spoiler alert; If you haven’t read the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward as far as Lover Mine don’t read any further! And shame on you!
Unrequited love is one of the most romantic plots a book can have.
Think about the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Although they are brilliantly written, funny, romantic and exciting books, the romanticplots are actually quite formulaic.
Vampire meets female, falls in love instantly;they usually get together for a short while, have an argument or are separated, and eventually fall in love again and stay together.
They all follow this pattern, the only difference between them is the cause of the separation or argument, and the length of time they’re apart.
One of the big exceptions to this trend is the relationship, or lack thereof, between Qhuinn and Blay.
Their relationship is genuinely difficult and largely non-existent, but by bucking the trend in this way, JR Ward is creating a fascinating and heart wrenching subplot.
All other romances in the series eventually come to the same conclusion, even if it takes the characters a while to get there. What would be interesting about yet another perfectly happy couple?
I remember quotations between Blay and Qhuinn, which broke my heart. “I don’t do redheads,” “Take care”… I remember them all. I don’t remember romantic declarations of love between the happily settled couples, because when it happens as often as it does in the series, it loses all meaning.
I love the series, I love the characters, but the excitement and suspense is removed from a relationship when you know how it will conclude. Not even death has kept vampires and females apart.
Blay and Qhuinn are an ongoing adventure, they keep you coming back time after time, and every word uttered between them is exciting. While the conversations between V and Jane or Wrath and Beth may be heartwarming, they aren’t exciting anymore.
The greatest romances in literary history are tragic or unrequited, or both. Blay and Qhuinn may not go down in history as the vampire equivalent of Romeo and Juliet, but their unrequited love is one of the most exciting ongoing subplots in the entire series, and given the quality of the series, that’s saying a lot.
I’m so a Quinn/Blay fan, but that shouldn’t be a surprise… ANYWAY! I’ve heard they are getting a novella but not a book. Makes me sad but at least we get to know what happens.
I am a SUCKER for angst. Always have been. Qhuinn and Blay bring me that and I love them for it. Don’t get me wrong though, I would love to see them together at some point but man oh man do I love their struggles.
I don’t think there is anything even remotely romantic about unrequited love. It’s painful to experience and even more painful to watch. The Blay/Qhuinn thing frustrates me to no end. I would be a lot happier if Blay would grow some balls and walk away from Qhuinn and find his happiness elsewhere.
Of course, no one would ever mistake me for a romantic person, and maybe I’m missing the appeal of this kind of pairing. It just seems hurtful, painful, and really sad that Blay would keep a flame burning for someone who isn’t interested. Even if Qhuinn changes his mind, and it looks like he might, why would anyone want someone who had hurt them so badly in the past?
Excellent post! Thank you!
I agree but even though you know how the relationships will conclude, i think its exciting to wonder how they will make it through their conflict/arguement and eventually end up together. At least thats how I feel.
God, I want them together!!!