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The BDH Flotilla

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In fandom lingo, shipping refers to wanting and advocating for a romantic relationship between two characters. Their names are typically meshed together into a portmanteau which becomes the name of the ship (think Brangelina). You will read things like “I ship these two!” and “I’m boarding that ship!” meaning the readers want to see the two characters get together. None of these have happened yet. Sometimes there are memes (le understatement).

The Book Devouring Horde has quite the naval force hehe.

“The ships! Tell them about the ships!” from Mary Poppins (1964)

The Metal Rose– the Capital Ship of the BDH. This involves Julie and Derek, and the name is based on the scene from Chapter 11 of Magic Burns, when Derek fashioned her a rose out of a metal coffee can and some nails. Julie has kept the rose all this time, but some of us have carried it in our hearts for 14 long years. Unsurprisingly, Team Metal Rose is pretty hardcore. We would actually go down with this ship. We won’t put our hands up or surrender. There will be no white flag above our doors and wow, am I dating myself.

I think probably my favourite example of how deeply invested people are in this ship was during the discussion that followed the bathtub scene in Blood Heir, back when it was a weekly serial. Speculation was rife whether he had seen the metal rose and therefore recognised Julie. And then, someone suggested that Derek would not remember even if he did see it, that it was just a toy, which he forgot 5 minutes after he made, because the scene did not have the same impact for him as it did for Julie.

“You found a way to hurt me” Hannibal says.

Reeling and bleeding from such a vicious attack, Team Metal Rose picked ourselves up and countered with the theory that Derek probably fashions a metal rose every day he thinks about Julie. Every day. Somewhere in Alaska, there’s a Monte Cristo style cave, with hundreds of metal roses in it! Melodramatic, us?!

The few dinghies floating alongside The Metal Rose are Julie/Ascanio and Julie/Yu Fong the dragon. They’re…cute for trying. The Julie/Saiman water raft sank under friendly fire (as in: Kill It With!).

Karakun– the newest and most high tech of the ships.

Commander Karat of House Krahr, favourite cousin of Arland and best friend of Maud, has chemistry with none other than Dagorkun, the Under-Khan of the Hope Crushing Horde. We first met him in Sweep in Peace as the son of the Khanum, and he’s currently visiting Gertrude Hunt as observer of the spousal selection. All they’ve done was stare each other down and agree a couple of times in conversation, but if you’re a shipper you know that means LURVE.

Miss “I’m too sane to fall in love“. Honestly, it’s like she doesn’t know the romance gods are always listening and wants to tempt them!

Anyway, so the BDH thinks the wedding will probably happen in spring, the bride will wear on-the-shoulder syn-armour, and they’ll settle on the space station near Daesyn – because it’s neutral territory in the vampires vs otrokars feud. The assumptions regarding Lord Soren’s reaction when he finds out are getting more hilarious each week. Barrels of espresso might not be enough!

Michella– Arabella ships are the bread and butter of the BDH navy.

Partly fuelled by House Andrews who said that Arabella’s books, if they happen, would feature several possible love interests until she settled on “the One”, the youngest Baylor is shipped with a lot of suitors. The main ones are Michella (Arabella/Record Keeper Michael) and Jiarabella (which evolved to Jingllebella) for either Stephen or Henry Jiang, the Aquakinetic Prime sons of House Jiang. Or maybe a Madero, or the mysterious sibling of Pancakes Montgomery or yet someone new from Ruby Fever…but I have said too much.

All we know is that we want our girl to have her adventures and take us with her!

Penhiro– The ship that must be protected at all cost. Penelope Baylor and Benjiro Heart, Rogan’s second in command, have had a warm and delicate relationship slowly blooming between them. With whispers and careful steps around it, both the Baylors and the BDH want to nurture it at all cost. This one must never feel rough seas.

Recovered at sea– Thought lost forever or shipwrecked, Sweep of the Heart also brought to port, after many years but more awesome than ever, a long awaited HEA. I cannot speak its name here, because I know not everyone reads SotH in serial form and I don’t want to spoil them before the book is published, but it’s in Chapter 9 part 2.

Gorvar and Beast– Speaking of Sweep of the Heart, you (gender neutral) guys… I don’t know about this one. Brings whole new meanings to screwing the pooch (I’m incorrigible, I know!).

 Auul Tzu puppies would be terrifyingly cute, though.

When evil things get injured, sometimes they find this ship: Not a BDH ship, this is my personal yacht, because Mod Prerogatives and all that.

This is Roman, Chernobog’s volhv. He likes his personal space.

His name isn’t even Semionovich, it’s Roman Grigorievich Tihomirov so I got that wrong for a start.

I am Mod R. I *also* like Roman’s personal space.

Apparently, I’ll have to contend with some witch. Pfft. I’ll keep hoping for the NY Times bestseller Volhvs in Moderation!

Let me know in the comments which BDH ship you sail, or forever be known as a lily-livered landlubber hehe.

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Comments

  1. I’m Team Metal Rose, but I don’t want a direct path. They both have issues and it’s fun to see Ascanio lose his composure!

    I like Karakun, but I think the real joy there comes from Caldenia in a sort of mother-in-law role and how Karat might deal with it. I’m giggling like a maniac just thinking of it!

    Michella also appeals because I’d like to know more about Michael. I think they both have a ruthless edge that could work, if it didn’t get it of hand.

    Penhiro ask the way!!!

    Love the SotH ship a hope we haven’t seen the last of it!

    Gorvar and Beast: my question would be who would they live with? Would Wilmos move into the inn? Would they split custody? That one comes with several difficulties, but could be fun.

    Roman needs his own story and love! That book will be hilarious!

    Can’t wait to see how it all turns out!!!

    • I misunderstood Karakun, but I still support it. That would be awesome, but I really would love to see Caldenia mentor a new and hostile bride.

      • I have a feeling one of her mentoring sessions would involve telling the bride to keep poison on hand.

  2. Small Magics. I ship Siroun and Adam. I want more of Siadam. The short story was captivating (as all House Andrews’ writing is)…loved it. The short story was a promising tease; their story needs to be told please.

  3. I’ve always had a soft spot for Ascanio…kinda wish could cross different Andrews universes and hook him up with Arabella. She’d sort him out and could see him falling to his knees in awe the minute she transformed. I don’t really like anyone yet for her, will have to wait and see.

    Really looking forward to Arabella stories as well as one for Roman.

  5. I’m down for most of these. Penhiro – this isn’t a ship anymore. The only way this evolves is of they catch him sneaking out of her room or there is a wedding.
    Karakun needs to happen. It would totally strengthen the story and be hilarious. “Oh that is Aunty Karat, ya when bad things happen we can call on the hope crushing horde and a large vampire clan.

  6. Metal Rose Metal Rose!
    *sets up wards around Penhiro*

    Also, I don’t have much opinion about Arabella, other than reeeeeeeally wanting her to get a book.

    And Leon. Can Leon have a book? We need to see how his self-appointed Dark Horse status shakes out given the stats

  7. who is out there shipping julie-saiman good god jail time, reminds me of arabella-augustine shippers lmao double jail time

  8. I am definitely in the minority here, but I was never on board Team Metal Rose. From the beginning I thought Julie would outgrow her puppy crush and they’d move into a sibling relationship. When Ascanio showed up I was like “oh, it’s the real love interest!” and I had the same reaction to Yu Fong. I still maintain that either of those would have been great with Julie! But I recognize that after Blood Heir all my hopes on this front are completely sunk.

    Totally onboard with the possibility of Karakun (they could go so many interesting places with it!), and Penelope and Benjiro are too cute for words.

    I ship Roman/Happiness. I just want him to end up with somebody!

    Anybody else ship Stoyan and Johanna from Iron and Magic? I love the idea of someone from each set of the advisors getting together. He loses his train of thought when she enters the room. And he started learning ASL for her! They’re adorable.

    • I liked Stoyan and Johanna too!! If we get to see Hugh again, I hope they get exposure ????

      • Me too! Thanks for the reminder.
        Not looking forward to seeing a major character killed off though in next Hugh and Elara book.

    • Yay! There’s two of us! I feel the same way. I always liked Yu Fong. But then again, I’m also team “Andrea/AnyoneotherthanRaphael”

  9. I didn’t realize how many ships I was aboard until you laid out at all the details. Metal Rose, Karakun, Michella, Penhiro, recovered at sea and a HEA for Roman. I’m aboard all of them????

  12. I’ll do like Dina when she build rooms and do incredible physic feats… i am ALL teams and will sail on all these ships ????

  13. Oh and Mod R?
    you’ll not only have to contend with some witch for Roman (small peanuts…), You will have ME to deal with. I will defy you in singular dual!!!!

    En Garde!!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. Love these. I like ‘Unbella’. For the future Arabella and Unknown future love.
    Also I do hope that someday Ilona And Gordon work with an artist to create and sell. BDH picture or T-shirt.

  19. Metal Rose! There could not have been a more perfect ending to Blood Heir ???? No way has it been 14 years though! It hasn’t, has it? You’re making me feel so OLD.

  20. I’m surprised no mentioned the possibility of “Karookie” = Karat + Cookie! He could bring some fun & lots of sneakiness to the vamps, and if their kids wore jewellery they could “sparkle” too. 😛

    P.S. I believe HA mentioned the possibility of a “sexy djinn” as a possibility in future, so does that mean that Mitchell (the uplifted Ghoul) might get in on the romancing?

  21. House Andrews needs to team up for another choose-your-own-adventure. The BDH can plug and play whomever we want together and see the chaos that unfolds.

  22. Loving your posts, Mod R.

    Have always been team Metal Rose. Couldn’t wait for Julie to grow up for something to happen with Derek and jumped for joy when Magic Stars was published.

    Can’t wait for Arabella too. Need to see more interaction between her and Stephen and also Michael as they both seem so reserved.

    Penjiro – both so deserving.

    I like all your other ships, Mod R, and would also love to see something happen for Augustine (He really needs someone to crack that shell open) .

    Cornelius deserves some new love too although tough act to follow as he had such a deep bond with Nari.

    So much to look forward to!

  23. Am I the only one shipping Derek/Ascanio? Possible triad with Derek/Ascanio/Julie?
    For me it screamed tension and lust ????

  24. See, Metal Rose and Penjiro are pretty much canon, so saying I ship it doesn’t say much.

    While I am 100% Team Karakun, I’m not sure that’s a Space Destroyer of Love so much as a Pleasure Cruiser (if you know what I mean).

    Who doesn’t want that super awesome vacation fling? Bonus in strengthened diplomatic relations too (as long as it didn’t end like Karat’s last f-buddy hookup, but I believe our Otrokar can handle it)

  25. Oh my, so many ships. I’m guessing I’m the lone dissenter on Metal Rose, I just don’t ship Derek and Julie. There’s just something that I just don’t like about the two of them that I can’t get behind them being together and I love each of their characters, though Derek a little more. ???? I don’t know who each should be with, I just feel that they should be with other people. Oh well.

  26. Is there a possibility in HL for Leon & one of Alessandro’s sisters to have a HFN? Mainly for the comedic effect of her trumping his Film Noirish comments with (stereotypical) Mafia film comebacks.

    Also, could Lorelei come back to provide Ascanio with a love interest that knows what it’s like to grow up as a spoilt brat?

  27. Michella and The Metal Rose – they would make a great goth metal band! ????

    (also those are my fave ships)

  28. Orro needs love interest outside cooking. I think a girl called Jellica, so the ship would be called….’Orojel’…..

  29. I love all the ships, but the good ship Karakun is my favorite. I REALLY want to see this ship sail beyond the horizon!

  30. Team Metal Rose???????????? 4ever! Also Arabella❤️Stephen, imagining her metamorphosing while in a kungfu fight with all the bad guys, in the middle of a bamboo forest, with Stephen Jiang manipulating a water sword next to her.

  32. Team Metal Rose all the way. He recognized her by how she rode the horse. Swoon. Also Magic Stars made it clear how they felt, especially him.

  33. Team Julie/Yu Fong until Derek seriously realizes what he can lose and steps up his wooing game. Make him work for it. Make him angst. Make him suffer like Julie suffered. Mua ha ha

  34. Gosh! So hard to choose! Julie and Derek ANNND— Arabella and a great one, writers choice.

  35. I always enjoy the shipping posts due to the hilarious ship images hahaha. If there’s no Innkeeper this week, it’s a good substitute lol. May House Andrews enjoy their well deserved vacation!

    Julie and Ascanio are like Kate and Hugh, witty banter and interesting interactions but more of a love/hatred dynamic. And to be sure, Ascanio was never as bad as Hugh and kidnapped Julie in a tower prison for days on end slowly starving her to death… I didn’t realize Team Metal Rose was the official name, I was thinking more Dulie or Jerek but Team Metal Rose is far more creative.

    Did we ever come up with a name for Kate/Curran and Sean/Dina? All I can come up with for Sean and Dina is Dean and that seems so boring lol (and just makes me think of Rory and Dean from Gilmore Girls so not helpful).

    Also clearly need to read Sweep of the Blade because for some reason I thought Karat might be gay or possibly bisexual, I dunno where I got that from! Also how is her name pronounced? Because I’ve just been saying Carrot in my head all this time. Is it Kah-rat or Kah-rot?

    • House Andrews say it “karat” as in “karate” without the e at the end, but as long as fans don’t fight about it, they’re usually very chill on reader pronunciation, so say it however comes naturally ????

  36. I know I’m late for the question time but…
    I’m re-reading KD I’m on book 2
    Ship wise…
    RED
    could he be a contender for a ship with Aurelia/Julie 10+ years later?

  37. I’m all in with the metal rose. One day I hope to see Romans story because he is just an amazing character with so much depth to explore. And I would be on board for a wlw ship for Arabella.

  39. Team Metal Rose – Hell Yes!
    But don’t you think that Karat (I mean c’mon she’s awesome) … could aim higher than Dagorkun?

    I just have a feeling that House Andrews could do better by her than … him. *sniffs disdainfully*

    I am entitled to my own ship even if you ****ers sink it ????

  41. I want the full story on George/Sophie AND I want a book where Jack finds his HEA…..& then a book on Gaston & then a book for Roman….& then a book for…pretty much everyone ????

  42. Well, mod R , thank you for the informative post.

    In regards to Beast and Gorvar— everyone has their own definition of love / affection/ friendship. Since both are independent minded intelligent beings not rocks, it’s their choice to make, ours to respect.

    I don’t have a particular ship. But it was entertaining what my fellow BDH think. Diversity makes the world go round. ????

  44. Thanks ModR, you rock. I was so happy when I opened the blog and saw you’d posted. This was so much fun!

  45. Team Metal Rose.

    And i also want to brag that I called Nickandra (Nick/ Desandra) right from the Conclave scene in Magic Breaks. {imagine a dancing walrus here }.
    Also, I love Jinglebella like my friend Al, but I did watch the House Andrews and Ms Frost discussion. so..

    But that is a ship for other times.

    I wish someone with Aunt B,s personality showed up for Ascanio and beat some sanity into him.

    • And I think Jack should be careful about vanishing into the woods for a couple years. William tried that, look where that got him?

  47. Full Metal Rose!!

    So you know that when I say the Karakun ship will fall to the artillery of the Good Ship Karton (slightly less bad than Gastat, but also funny), you know that I will not be moved.

  48. OK, I enjoyed this so much. From the original well written post (thank you Mod Romanismine- great pic of the two of you btw) to all the clever comments triggered by it.

    I laughed the most at the comments about how the families would react to Dagorkun. BDH has some hilarious minds as members. Someone in this thread mentioned a Klaus/Karat potential…caught my attention off the top, but Klaus has to find his family first I think.

    I am a fan of Julie and Derek, don’t actually see how it could be anybody else for either of them. They have too much history with such deep roots. It would hurt my feelings for them to be denied their HEA after everything.

    Speaking of HEA, I’m also a fan of the SotH embedded HEA. [Erased everything I wrote re this after that sentence because I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone.]

    Absolutely Benjiro, because they seem to be really well written for each other. Strong, yet gentle souls who could support each other and be even stronger for all those around them that are supported by them. I’m sure there are a couple of places where the Baylor ‘kids’ remark that they feel better when Heart is there. Kinda like a father makes a family feel better, safer.

    I agree with Leon being excellent story fodder. Somewhere in a previous blog I read some clever soul’s thought that Leon could be Baranovsky’s son and heir to that 3 billion dollars. If Leon did pair with one of Allesandro’s sisters he could probably clear out all the Sagredo debt and clear the way for the other younger sister to take over from her bad guy grandpa as head of the family. It would be fun to think of the crabby grandpa having to cope with a daughter being head of the family and it would be nice for Alessandro to be free of all that guilt and just able to love his family. I would have to get my head around why Aunt Gisela would be attractive to Baronovsky, who apparently is interested in unique and special women. Makes me curious about the mysterious, lousy mother who always has a boyfriend.

    Also earlier in this thread I read that someone thought Augustine and Lina should get together. Totally agree. Lina mentioned early on in the first trilogy that she takes two hours to get herself together in the morning. I think she totally lied and she’s an illusion mage. She changes so often and so flawlessly that illusion seems the most likely. The fact that she can make people think it’s just makeup means she’s probably even better than Augustine, because everybody looks at him and knows he’s one. Plus I like her wry sense of humour. I think Augustine would support a short story…I’d like to know what Augustine did with the information Catalina gave him to trade for the whereabouts of the lab where Alessandro was held. Did he get his satisfaction? I also suspect that Lina will have to quit MII before Augustine will see his way clear to take the needed steps.

    I would like to see a tiny bit about Bern and Runa’s nuptuals…no ideas about how that would fit, maybe as a link the way Nevada’s wedding was a bridge to the second trilogy? I just like the characters and, although they’re a little one dimensional, they’re still good. Bern picking up Runa from the floor when the mechanical spider was loose made me go ‘awwww.’ Plus it would provide more of the continuity that Ilona and Gordon do so very, very well (the older adult conversations, poor Grandma Frida having a traumatic event each series and the love interest having an integral role in her rescue, and so many other examples.)

    Would like to see more of the ‘next generation’ interactions. Matilda and Ragnar and their Jadwiga adventure made me laugh. It makes me happy that they’re friendly and teammates. Not sure they’re old enough to be shipping, but they make me smile fondly.

    Not sure Victoria needs to be matched to anybody. She stated quite clearly that there was only one man she would ever love. She seems to have a positive relationship with her child’s sperm donor, and with Caesar. Just not a loving one. I agree with the post early in the blog that posited that Victoria doesn’t cause her grandchildren physical harm. She seems to be employing the ‘hella tough love’ approach she used with her own son.

    Likewise Cornelius. We were told quite clearly that it was very unusual for him to have bonded with his wife and he’d probably never experience that again. He seems comfortable with his current life and finds satisfaction in his work and raising his child. The catharsis he realized after the meeting with Tatyana will likely smooth his life out even more.

    And finally, as for Arabella, I love the HA proposal that she not be limited to one potential love interest. I find Michael interesting, and I think Stephen has tons of room for character growth, but I also would like to find out more about Trevor. I agree with the earlier post that the Keeper is Caesar and I worry that Michael might be involved on the dark side. He was certainly painted dark by his description as looking like a gangster and his willingness to kill on the Keeper’s command. On the other hand he did warn Nevada that her deal for a favour to the Keeper was ‘a mistake’ so maybe he’s undercover or a secret good guy. Stephen is obviously straining at the seams to be the good son, jealous of his brother the bad son, and maybe he really did love the acting action. He seems to feel his sister gets away with things he can’t and it would be good for his parents to have to deal with their daughter as head of the house…just like the Sagredos 🙂 OK, might be waving my feminist flag a little there. But I really want to know more about Trevor. He runs the whole Tremaine shebang from the sound of things. He’s obviously in Victoria’s confidence and he has had some very interested powers hinted at. We have no idea the range and potential of what Arabella can do and I’m very interested in seeing how her magic emerges. She and Trevor could take over House Tremaine.

    So in my head we have House Baylor, House Rogan, House Baranovsky, House Harrison, House Etterson, House Sagredo, House Duncan and House Tremaine as a united/related power block, with softer links to House Montgomery and House Latimer.

    Dare I say it, they could rule the world 🙂 But then I think HA totally rules and so do their characters, and their Mod R.

  51. In truth I sail all of them, well except Gorval/Beast because that would be downright psydically painful for Beast. My number 1 ship is The Metal Rose but I also find Karakun quite intriguing!