Metal Slinger

Schneider’s fantasy world depends on various magical elements, and the magics that certain people possess can take on three primary forms: matching bonds that link two romantic partners, blood oaths that compel those who swear them to follow the oath or risk death, and magical gifts that present Heirs with specific abilities. (For example, Jovie can wield a light-based magic, while Acker can manipulate metal, and other characters are suggested to have powers of magical persuasion.)

The people of Schneider’s world treat these forms of magic differently. Magic gifts are framed as being genuine gifts that have been bestowed by the mythical figure of Mother Nature, who serves as a deity in the narrative world. (However, some characters question the legitimacy of this idea by suggesting that the connection between Heirs’ magic and a deity is propaganda that King Edmond perpetuates in order to create a society that elevates Heirs over those without magical gifts.) Moreover, Hallis expresses doubts that magical gifts are truly a gift, contending that they frequently cause havoc for those who possess them.

Blood oaths are viewed in a starkly different light; they are broadly feared and considered to be dangerous. Although Acker uses blood oaths to make a romantic declaration to Jovie, the rest of the characters see his action as reckless and impulsive. Indeed, the blood oath comes back to haunt Acker, as it frees Jovie to betray him without fear for her own safety, given that he cannot act against her for fear of violating his oath to never harm her.

Finally, matching bonds occupy a median position between these other forms of magic. Some characters (such as Wells and Olivia, who are happily matched and married) see the bright side of the bond as an incomparable connection with one another. By contrast, Beau and Hallis worry about the chaos that reigns when people with matched bonds find themselves at odds with one another. Acker and Jovie get a chance to experience both the positive and negative aspects of their bond, as they have a short-lived burst of happiness only to suffer heartbreak and betrayal when Jovie reveals her scheme to overthrow King Edmond. Magic therefore occupies an ambivalent role in the world of Metal Slinger and is just as likely to cause problems as it is to solve them.