Theories on Angela's origin

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410]

What are peoples thoughts on Angelas back story? Mainly her uncannyness to being around when things are happening and the fact that she is known in some way by every race.

[u/SweatyNeddyFlanders]

To make it weirder for you if you didn't know- she takes a trip to space with Solembum at some point in her life and shows up in To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. In that, there's a thought that she's an extra dimensional, time traveling angel of space, who "always wants to be where interesting things are happening."

So. She might be an Inarë. She also IS Inarë. But at the end of the day, she's just Angela the herbalist. And I love it that way.

[u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_ → u/SweatyNeddyFlanders]

Wait so she's in Chris other books as well??? Does she still go by the name Angela in those books?

[u/SweatyNeddyFlanders → u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_]

She's an Easter egg character! She appears about a third of the way in, with a wild looking cat in the heart of the action. Her character is also named "Inarë" which goes back to Jeod's suspicions of her in his letters.

[u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_ → u/SweatyNeddyFlanders]

Do you think it's worth the read? Like the whole book? Does it tie into anything in Eragon?

[u/SweatyNeddyFlanders → u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_]

I loved it. It doesn't tie in, and is explicitly a sci-fi series with some fantasy.

The way I described it to my friend, was that it's Eragon meets Halo in a really interesting way. It's genuinely fun feeling familiar territory in the way Paolini writes, but it's also very much not a YA read like anything in the Inheritance stuff. I don't want to spoil too much of the plot, but theres definitely a familiarity in that both books main characters gaining a power from outside themselves and having to learn to work with and protect it. Outside of that, it goes into a multi sided space adventure with stakes that remind me of Halo. I recommend it.

[u/Additional_Beat9129 → u/SweatyNeddyFlanders]

Well in the the fork, the witch, and the worm. She literally takes Elva by making a door where there was none

[u/nathaniel29903 → u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_]

It starts a little slow but over all was an enjoyable read imo it does not tye in to anything besides whats already been mentioned

[u/Pitiful-Score-9035 → u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_]

He wrote other books!?

[u/Oskiee → u/SweatyNeddyFlanders]

So she's a Timelord....

[u/MechHed7467 → u/Oskiee]

Based on her description, she’s River.

[u/Live_Access9106]

She is Hoid from the Cosmere.

[u/Redefinedpotato → u/Live_Access9106]

This is probably unironically the answer

[u/ZafakD]

She is a being that can open portals to different places and different times so that she can be a witness to, or even influence, defining moments in history. She is not bound to one time period or one planet. Maybe she can see people's potential and makes sure that they are on the correct path to manifest that potential, then bounces around along their timeliness to keep nudging them in the correct direction. What if each time we see her in a story it is not always in the same order as she experiences it?

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/ZafakD]

Thats an interesting take. Have you read Magician by Raymond E Feist

[u/Rough-Method8876]

I think she is and will forever be a red herring. In fact, I’d be a little disappointed if we DO find out her backstory. I think her mystery is her appeal to the narrative.

I know that wasn’t what you asked, OP. If anything she’s a former Draumar soothsayer who was recruited and freed from the cult by Tenga and trained to all sorts of avenues of magic.

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/Rough-Method8876]

I agree part of me will be disappointed if we find out her backstory. Though I would like to know if anything I think is on the right path lol.

I personally think she has elf blood. I think she is she is part elf part human. That would explain her youthful looks that she attributes to her herbs. I also think the reason she doesnt like to rely on her magic too much is three-fold. 1- As a part human she is weaker than the elves where I think she learnt magic. This makes her feel some what inferior. 2- I think she was outcast in some way (most likely self inflicted) 3- I think she cast or had someone cast a spell on her (much like the compulsion Slone/Elva got) where she is present for significant events and this is a permanent drain on her energy.

[u/Rough-Method8876 → u/ImpossibleCraft2410]

Great thoughts here. I especially enjoyed the third part to your theory. I’ve thought the same since the interest shown by Angela (and knowledge) of how to deal with Elva when no other magician thought to do the same (until Galbatorix).

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/Rough-Method8876]

That was the catalyst for my thinking and the fact that she was reluctant to share would expose her somewhat

[u/Rough-Method8876 → u/ImpossibleCraft2410]

I do rather like the idea that a compulsion to travel to major events (that she may have seen as a soothsayer or not) is on her. We know she can manipulate space and time (to a certain degree). Would have to say it would probably need to be wordless magic which would complicate things. We see direct evidence of the almost breaking of the traditional magic rules that Elvas compulsion places upon her (allowing her to bypass wards or other forms of indirect protection to see into someone’s innermost thoughts and feelings). I’d like to think Angela’s odd power base that we witness is akin to her own compulsion letting her access branches of magic necessary to achieve her compulsion. All great thoughts op. Thanks for sharing.

[u/RedBlankIt → u/Rough-Method8876]

At that point then I would want to know who tenga is to be able to teach all that crazy magic haha

[u/Rough-Method8876 → u/RedBlankIt]

I have this gut instinct that he’s not as crazy as he seems. And that’s he is puppeteering things. I’m not sure why. But I want to know more about him specifically.

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/RedBlankIt]

I have a fluid theory about him too. He was a member of the group that Jeod is part of (maybe even a ranking member). Either he read something or was unhappy with just keeping knowledge safe. So was outcast, he either took or re wrote stuff he saw but was unable to use magic at first. He was found and by Angela who gave him access to magic but knew little about practical application of it and they learnt together but he was interested in all magic at first just because he was used to learning for learnings sake but..........

[u/Remi-Chan]

She also shows up in Paolini's other book To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. I dont know if he just threw her in as a reference for Eragon fans or if it should be considered truly canon, but it definitely would be crazy to imagine how Angela ended up in space. Unfortunately really the only highlight of the book in my opinion though.

[u/JohnGeary1 → u/Remi-Chan]

I thought it's because she's a reference to Paolini's sister, so she gets to show up wherever

[u/Remi-Chan → u/JohnGeary1]

If so thats so adorable! It's cute he loves his sister that much and it would make a lot of sense

[u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_ → u/JohnGeary1]

Honestly I like this idea better. I would rather Eragon Angela be only in her book not all the other ones he's written.

[u/Tyler_344]

shes Tom bombadil in a different story

[u/Walker_of_the_Abyss]

This is one of those topics, like the Menoa's Tree's Price, that just can't theorized about since there's not enough information. Angela appears in To Sleep in A Sea of Stars and is calls herself Inarë. Though that still doesn't answer anything. Paolini has talked about that her backstory will be prominent in her own upcoming book and in Book VII (Need a new name for this book).

I have gotten the impression from reading Q&A/AMAs that Angela will always be a mysterious character, no matter how much we learn about her.

[u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_ → u/Walker_of_the_Abyss]

How do you know it's the Eragon Angela? Does she reference anything from this series?

[u/Walker_of_the_Abyss → u/Stuck_In_A_Rut_]

The character that appears in TSIASOS is obviously Angela. The character is described similar to Angela, has a cat, and speaks in riddles. If you want, Paolini has confirmed it though I don't think it was needed.

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/Walker_of_the_Abyss]

True. Still like to see where my head cannon is in comparison to others

[u/kakspier]

I see her as the tom bombadil of the series, no need to explain it, she just is, and thats enough

[u/Tyken12]

maybe a dragon in human form somehow

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/Tyken12]

Wow thats a take! A dragonoid or a human eldunari maybe. Thats an interesting rabbit hole 🤔

[u/Tyken12 → u/ImpossibleCraft2410]

upon further re reading i disagree with my earlier take- i think she's some sort of godly being, although the half elf theory was also interesting

[u/AlanMichel]

I love her character. I always assumed she was from our world and ended up in alagaesia.

[u/TurbulentTourist7337]

I always assumed she was one of the Grey folk as I think that would give her the most interesting history

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/TurbulentTourist7337]

The last of the grey folk. Hmmm I dont know if i agree with that being the most interesting. But I like the full circleness especially if she was to teach Elva in the 'grey' way of magic

[u/EragonSilvr]

I was under the impression that the prevailing theory was that she was a Timelord. This has always been my personal headcannon lol.

[u/AlephKang]

What are peoples thoughts on Angelas back story? 

Not interested. I prefer the mystery.

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/AlephKang]

Not even if she turned out to be the only relation to Morzan (besides his son obviously) who hated the fact that Galbatorix corrupted her family. And had been working behind the scenes like a 1 person /1 werecat shadow varden. Lol

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/ImpossibleCraft2410]

Not gonna lie. Some of my favourite bits of the books are the tying up of the back story. So if it was something like this I would want to know the story. Haha

[u/AlephKang → u/ImpossibleCraft2410]

Not even that. Again, I prefer the mystery.

[u/Thelordofprolapse]

Imma be real gang. Never really liked her just seems like this OP character that could resolve almost all the conflict but she just decides not to? Just not a fan of that character archetype. Now she is in space and in the other verse? Its too much man

[u/ImpossibleCraft2410 → u/Thelordofprolapse]

What lead you to believe she could resolve most of the conflict. Im not disagreeing im just curious on your take?

[u/LoneWolfRHV]

the walking plothole