Why Can't Eb Just Be Honest With Harry?

[Mira]

It was in character, he behaves like that in Changes, but more extreme. Already in the sample chapters he shows a lack of control that is greater than it used to be.

What is surprising is not his feelings and opinions about it and not even his reaction but his lack of control while doing so.

Yes, his bickering with Margaret at the dinner was the tip off that they were related.  However in Changes I wouldn't call the relationship between Harry and Eb all that volatile.  Also Eb escorts Harry back from Edinburgh at the end of Turn Coat, calm, a good relationship.  Eb is clearly hurt when Harry blows him off after he finds out he is the Blackstaff..  But all of that is weird as well because even then Eb never came clean about being Harry's grandfather.   There has been dishonesty from the get go, that never ends well in family relationships. 

[Arjan]

Yes, his bickering with Margaret at the dinner was the tip off that they were related.  However in Changes I wouldn't call the relationship between Harry and Eb all that volatile. 

When they are communicating with stones Eb is immediately demanding him to obey and join him. It takes considerable effort to get through to him.

Only then his behaviour changes.

[Mira]

When they are communicating with stones Eb is immediately demanding him to obey and join him. It takes considerable effort to get through to him.

Only then his behaviour changes.

There is a line though between anxiety, demanding that Harry obey him with the communicating stones.. And all out red zone loss of control anger, that is what Eb had crossed into on the dock that is what had Harry in tears.. Eb in that condition with the power he wields is an atom bomb with the safety removed and is ticking down.  The holder of the Blackstaff hasn't the luxury of going into the red zone, ever, the Blackstaff is too much power that can be abused.  There is only one outcome for that and Harry knows it, if Eb survives the battle, he has to be put down like a mad dog.

[Vairelome]

I'm reminded of Harry's reaction to Eb being the Blackstaff.  For (now, really obvious) reasons, Eb's training of Harry emphasized the intertwined sacredness of human life and the First Law of Magic.  Harry really believed that Eb lived and breathed this ethos, and then he found out that his grandfather had a body count of lots^lots...and had used magic to hit that high score.  Magic, to Harry, as taught by Eb, is the five elements bound by human will.  In order to do magic, you must Believe In and Will your goal, much more than any casual physical action.  ...And Eb had no problem killing mortal minions of the Red Court at Chichen Itza in job lots with a wave of the Blackstaff.  This was pretty emotionally crushing to Harry.

Of course, later, his grandfather murdered Harry in order to reach and murder his other grandson...using magic.

[Bad Alias]

When they are communicating with stones Eb is immediately demanding him to obey and join him. It takes considerable effort to get through to him.

Only then his behaviour changes.

Furthermore, he literally muted Harry.

[TrueMonk]

On some level though, just saying that he hates the whites like Harry hates ghouls really clearly explains to Harry how he feels about them and makes Harry understand his hate. Maybe that is even better for a fast explanation than telling the details.

I mean, Harry just recently entertained the idea that maybe he could kill the ghouls on the way home from the peace conference.

[TrueMonk]

Regarding what they have done to Eb.

At the very least, a white court vampire tricked his daughter into a relationship, then enslaved her and abused (sexually and otherwise I guess) her for years. And then murdered her. Apparently there is something else also that was as bad or worse (my impression).

Yes it would be a logical step to tell Harry about it, but with as much pain as it must be causing him I am not surprised that he has not (yet).

I mean, Harry having two bootcamp kids eaten seems pretty pale in comparison to what the whites mist have done to Be.

[Paviel]

Are we forgetting that a White Court Vampire seduced and then murdered Ebenezer's daughter?

When Harry brought that up in chapter 12, Eb made it clear that that wasn't the only reason why he hated White Court Vampires:

(click to show/hide)

"See? You know why. I hate them because I know them. Because they took someone from me."
"Mom?" I asked.
His jaw muscles tightened. "Her too."

[wildone654]

Because the whole "keep things from Harry" bit is a tool to keep the plot from resolving too quickly. Honestly though, it is getting a bit old and I don't think it was very well done here. In the past the books have poked fun at major tropes and started in the face of classic plot devices and nuances of the genre. Here though it seems the book was really leaning on them out of necessity. Harry didn't look for answers or ask questions in a lot of places in this book that seemed glaring to the point of frustration.


I can't believe I'm going to say this after waiting 6 years, but it almost seems like this book wasn't done. Hopes that BG picks up the spare.

[Mira]

Because the whole "keep things from Harry" bit is a tool to keep the plot from resolving too quickly. Honestly though, it is getting a bit old and I don't think it was very well done here. In the past the books have poked fun at major tropes and started in the face of classic plot devices and nuances of the genre. Here though it seems the book was really leaning on them out of necessity. Harry didn't look for answers or ask questions in a lot of places in this book that seemed glaring to the point of frustration.


I can't believe I'm going to say this after waiting 6 years, but it almost seems like this book wasn't done. Hopes that BG picks up the spare.

  Indeed, this is why the books seems rushed and jumps around like a cat on a stove..