The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #574: Thirteenth Hour Sequel Update 23 - Aurora's Birth Family

<p>This week&#39;s episode is a little about the family of Aurora, the main protagonist of <em>The Thirteenth Hour</em> sequel - <em>Dare</em>.  In many ways, the whole book is about family, but Aurora, who grew up in an orphanage on a different continent, never really knew her family and had no recollection of where she was originally from.   But she gets to know all about it this book, though not by choice.  In <em>The Thirteenth Hour</em>, there are hints that Aurora comes from a family of powerful magic users, but I left that plot thread intentionally hanging to explore one day in a future sequel.</p><p>When Aurora is kidnapped, she is brought to a technologically advanced city (Aulurwen City, the capital) that looks something like this.  The black castle is where Aurora is brought and study magic and fulfill her family destiny.</p><p>Aurora&#39;s parents are from neighboring countries.  They are both from Guardian families - these are the magic users of their world who channel, guard, and provide the magic their world runs on.</p><p>Aurora&#39;s father when he was about three.  Marshall is Aurora&#39;s grandfather and also comes from a Guardian family, as does his wife, though he leaves that life when she gets sick.  </p><p>Aurora&#39;s maternal family - her grandparents are sort of the opposite of her paternal family in look and personality.  They are outwardly cold, rigid, very thin, and very image and duty focused.   They believe their work as Guardians and maintaining a proper family blood line are most important.  Demetria is Aurora&#39;s teenage cousin and wants the position that Aurora is brought back for.  She views Aurora as a barbarian and is not shy about expressing her views.</p><p>The castle where Aurora finds herself essentially captive has a color palate of whites, greys, and blacks - smooth, cold, minimalist, with sharp lines - a direct contrast to the natural environment of Aurora&#39;s home.  This is a sketch of the room where she is to stay (actually her mother&#39;s room as a child).  She is a bit overwhelmed by it, though later comes to appreciate some of the modern conveniences this world has.  Aurora&#39;s arc literally and figuratively has to do with figuring out what parts of this world and her heritage she wants to keep and which parts she does not want, similar to what all of grapple with as adults.    </p><p>More next week!</p><p>∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞</p><p><br></p><p><em>Once Upon a Dream</em>, the second <em>Thirteenth Hour</em> sound