In Jesper Schmidt and Autumn M. Birt’s book, Plot Development Step by Step, the Antagonist is developed as thoroughly as the protagonist, something I never considered before. I think it is because I would view antagonists from the reader’s perspective. A darkness, slipping in and out of the world of the protagonist, tearing apart families, focused on ending the world. And in Lord of the Rings, one of my yearly reads and winter movie binges, its true. But I don’t only read epic fantasy, I read urban fantasy. And in Urban Fantasy the antagonist has more agency. They have wants and needs just like my protagonist Ally.
As this is a novella leading into the main series, the antagonists are not the darkness attempting end Ally’s world. Instead, they are a couple of guys. Yup, just a couple of guys out on the town and they want to find their own enjoyment in life. Ciaron and Darragh, fraternal twins, are working hard to break ahead of their lying, stealing, thieving family by creating their own band. They play small gigs, but intend to build their way up to the big time. Wherever Ciaran leads, Darragh follows. They are going to prove they can make it on their own, and take their momma out of the stressful life they grew up in. When the call comes out that their uncle just needs one favour for the family and he will help them book bigger beerhalls, it is a call they cannot say no too. It helps their family, and their band. How could they lose?
If only Ally and Riley would let the whole situation drop, then it would have been painless for everyone. Well, maybe not Riley’s family, but that isn’t their problem.
Enneagram, The Loyalist
Image belongs to the Enneagram Institute
They are Loyalists, like Logan, but they are an example of what happens when a Loyalist is attached to a corrupt family ideal.
I am grateful the book showed me how important the background and wants of the antagonist is. I now kind of feel sorry for these guys. They just want to make their own way in the world and provide for their momma. Who doesn’t love brothers who are close and love their mom?
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