I tried to figure out why the entire Vin/Elend Venture love story annoys me so much. And it feels like Shallan/Adolin Kholin all over again for me. Slightly damaged but oh just so slightly teenage girl falls in mutual love on first sight with a son of the most influential House. Vin, who suspects everyone, but Elend is immediately and immutably “a good person” for her.
I guess this type of Disney-level relationship works for certain people (they’re called teenagers). But not for me. Abercrombie gets it, but not Sanderson. Relationship is struggle, and without struggle there is no meaningful relationship. Relationship is compromises, and neither Vin/Shallan nor Elend/Adolin need to compromise on anything.
This frustrates me, because Sanderson does get so many things right. Like the idea of an empire stagnating. But not relationship.
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