Reader Ask: Is there a particular significance to when you choose to use Micah rather than Ezra and vice verse in scenes. I think especially when it isn’t dialogue but rather third person narration that there may be a pattern, but I am not sure. Will we still see him referred to as Micah in the God realm?
This is a great question!
Depending on the POV, you’ll get variations. Old acquaintances from Ezra’s past, as well as Ezra’s academy teammates, will primarily refer to him as “Micah” or “Egan” (in Kai’s case, he’ll refer to him with a mixed bag of names with no rhyme or reason). Agni, or those who know him strictly as the heir to the throne, will refer to him as “Ezra” in their POVs.
But Ezra’s POV is a bit more complicated. In Parts I through II, it’s inarguably Micah Egan’s story. He’s an uprooted desert rat, discovering his place in Concordia’s capital, and forced to conform to a role he was born for, but one that doesn’t fit right. There is some naivety to him, and a bright, steadfast drive to fix everything he considers broken.
But as we move into Part III, we see him grow more confident in his royal role. He’s not as naïve, and he begins to recognize more shades of gray. Not everything that he considers broken is as straightforward a fix as Micah initially (passionately) believed. This is Ezra, but he still refers to himself as Micah in his POVs if only to remind himself where he came from. However, you may have noticed that the POV shifted during the tail-end of Imminent, and he referred to himself as Ezra in the last chapter. He’s gone through too much, and he’s never felt so distant from Micah Egan. That identity is no longer attainable; it is another casualty, but not necessarily a tragedy.
His name changes are deliberate—a reflection of his growth and transformations throughout Triloka. He’ll be referred to as Ezra going forward, but there will always be a part of him who will hold Micah dear. We actually get a conversation about this between Agni and Ezra in the next book.
Thanks so much for the Ask! 🤍
Avery Hendrex 