History Literature / ElementalBlessings

* [[spoiler:ArrangedMarriage]]: Vernon and Elidon arrange this with the Viceroy of Soeche-Tas for twelve-year-old Corene. Zoe was [[{{Understatement}} not]] [[{{BerserkButton}} amused.]]
* AttemptedRape: One of the things that makes Dominic Wollimer a nasty piece of work. Corene has been terrified of him since he tried to force his way into bed with her.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Alys ''tries'' to hide her bitchiness. At this point, no one's buying it.

* [[spoiler:HiddenBackupPrince]]: [[spoiler: Rafe Adova, twice over.]] Naturally this makes [[spoiler:Steff, his brother]] one too.

* [[spoiler:NotBloodSiblings]]: In a completely nonsexual example, [[spoiler:Josetta, Corene, and Natalie don't share a single drop of blood.]]

* PoliticallyActivePrincess: Since King Vernon lacks a male heir, eldest-daughter Josetta has been raised to be this, even though she hates it and has no natural talent for it. Corene ''does'' discover an interest in trade relations, but hates court intrigue.

** Malinqua is suffering a succession crisis of its own, as the empress's direct descendants are all dead [[spoiler:until her grandson shows up]] and none of her nephews have been officially named heir. Each nephew has a "flaw" that makes the choice a fraught one: Garameno is in a wheelchair and the people don't want a crippled emperor; Jiramondi is openly gay and Malinquan society is distinctly homophobic; and Greggorio is charming but none too bright.

A series of novels by Sharon Shinn.

The first novel, ''Troubled Waters'', follows ''coru'' Zoe Ardelay. Her father Navarr, brother to the ''Sweela'' Prime, was exiled from the capital city of Chialto ten years before. The day of his funeral, Darien Serlast, King Vernon's favorite advisor, arrives to collect Zoe. He claims she is to be the King's fifth bride, but something about his story just doesn't add up. Upon entering the capital, Zoe slips away and loses herself in the heart of the city, hoping to find herself again. What she discovers draws her back into the world of scheming and politics she thought she had left behind forever, but it is the only way to uncover the truth behind her father's banishment and the secrets that Darien Serlast would do anything to keep.

The third novel, ''Jeweled Fire'', is slated to be published in November 2015 and will follow ''sweela'' Princess Corene as she runs away to the neighboring royal court of Malinqua.

* BodyguardCrush: It looked like Foley had one on his charge, Josetta. Ultimately subverted: ''Josetta'' was interested in him, but he refused. [[http://www.sharonshinn.net/HTML/elementalbless.html The official blurb]] for ''Jeweled Fire'' suggests this will happen with him and Corene instead.

* TheChessmaster: Darien Serlast

* TheGoodChancellor: Darien Serlast. [[spoiler: So good there's a very real chance he'll end up king.]]
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: Alys, King Vernon's third wife.
* GreenEyedMonster: Alys is a bitch to everyone, but this deserves special mention as 75%+ of her vitriol towards Zoe stems from the fact that she still considers Darien Serlast her territory.
* [[spoiler:HiddenBackupPrince]]: [[spoiler: Rafe Adova, twice over.]]

* [[spoiler:NotBloodSiblings]]: [[spoiler:In a completely nonsexual example, Josetta, Corene, and Natalie don't share a single drop of blood.]]
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Taro Frothen, although it's less ''acting'' stupid, and more ''looking'' stupid and not bothering to correct anyone who buys it.
* PapaWolf: Darien Serlast to Josetta and Corene in ''Royal Airs''. [[spoiler:Of course, he actually ''is'' Corene's father.]]
* PeoplePuppet: There's compelling evidence that the ''Coru'' Prime has this power, and it's implied that the other Primes do as well.
* PoliticallyActivePrincess: Since King Vernon lacks a male heir, eldest-daughter Josetta has been raised to be this, even though she hates it and has no natural talent for it.
* PrinceCharmless: Prince Ghyaneth of Berringey. Oh so much.

* TheProfessor: Kayle Dochenza

* SugaryMalice: Alys, again.

NeedsWikiMagicLove

* BelligerentSexualTension: Zoe and Darien in ''Troubled Waters''. By ''Royal Airs'', they're married with a daughter.
** Although they still bicker. Of course, they knew that going into the relationship.
* BerserkButton: Go ahead, threaten anyone under Zoe's care. I dare you.

* BodyguardCrush: It looked like Foley had one on his charge, Josetta. Ultimately subverted.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Kayle Dochenza

* FieryRedhead: Alys, full stop. Played with in her daughter, Corene.

** People ''thought'' Josetta's guard Foley also suffered from this. Subverted in ''Royal Airs''.

* SuccessionCrisis: A lot of Welce's political problems stem from this. There ''are'' heirs [[spoiler:even if three out of four of them are illegitimate]], but choosing the ''right'' one is giving the Primes an ungodly number of migraines. [[spoiler:Then, when they finally get a legitimate heir, she winds up having a mental disorder that renders her incapable of functioning in society, starting the whole mess all over again.]]

* SuccessionCrisis: A lot of Welce's political problems stem from this. There ''are'' heirs [[spoiler:even if three out of four of them are illegitimate]], but choosing the ''right'' one is giving the Primes an ungodly number of migraines.

* TranquilFury: Zoe's anger has degrees. She's perfectly capable of giving you a verbal smackdown if she thinks you deserve one, but if you're stupid enough to go so far as to press her BerserkButton, her rage goes from firey-hot to icy-cold, and she will calmly and serenely [[spoiler:completely flood your city. Or boil your blood. Or rupture aneurysm in your brain. Whatever strikes her fancy.]]

* PrinceCharmless: Prince Berringey. Oh so much.

* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: Alys, King Vernon's third wife.

** ''Coru''--Water and Blood--Lalindar Family

* PeoplePuppet: There's compelling evidence that the ''Coru'' Prime has this power, and it's implied that the other Primes so as well.

* ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou: Darien's attraction to Zoe. Highlighted by the fact that he's ''hunti'' (unyielding), and she's ''coru'' (ever flowing).

* AerithandBob: Compare Zoe, Darien, Vernon, and Natalie to Josetta, Elidon, Seterre, Alys, and Corene.

* RebelliousPrincess: Both Josetta and her younger sister Corene, albeit in different ways.

* BelligerentSexualTension: Zoe and Darien in ''Troubled Waters''. By ''Royal Airs'', they've married with a daughter.

* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: The people trying to kill Josetta in 'Troubled Waters' invoke this to cover their trail.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Taro Frothen, although it's less 'acting' stupid, and more 'looking stupid and not bothering to correct anyone who buys it'.

* PoliticallyActivePrincess: Since King Vernon lacks a male heir, eldest-daughter Josetta has been raised to be this, even though she hates it and has no natural talent for it.