Peter starts in the depths of depression and slowly improves his mental health by letting go of old ghosts. Eventually, he falls in love, both with someone and something, making him yearn for a long life. And then he relapses 👀 quite the rollercoaster

Oh definitely - by that point she's not obsessed with self preservation, and some of her critical health issues would have been addressed, so she's not concerned with the extra weight or how far it is to the nearest major port.

Hell, she probably won't even try to guilt trip me for it afterwards.

I sure hope so! If she doesn't improve any, then Meg just continues being an oblivious dingus with awful habits and generally abrasive personality.

Her getting better and actually living up to her hero persona for real is the main driving narrative. She has to learn to value her friends and herself

Aww I love that for Clay! Intention being the most important thing is a cool concept to explore, and protecting the living is a worthy goal!

And Jack's changes seem just as important! Being more open with the people close to him is wonderful!

Had so much to say for Clay, I ran out of words for Jack. Jack doesn't change as much be he learns how to trust people with his trauma. He goes from trying to hide any negative emotion to being able to be open and honest with his feelings.

Clay grows a lot. One idea I'm playing with is revenge isn't bad if done for the right reasons. By the end of the book, he's no longer killing the BBEG to avenge the dead but to protect the living. He goes from an angry kid fighting to prove he's a man to a man fighting to protect others.

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

Av'ry, on the other hand learns to be more emotionally honest and available to the people around him. Not just using superficial charm to dodge real connection.

Also, he is beginning to accept that he can't save Fox from herself, only support her in the decisions she makes.

Fox changes the most in growing to trust herself more, beginning to work through some past trauma and use the power she has available.

However, she also feels even more responsible for the fates of those around her, often to an unhealthy degree, so two steps forward, one step back.