Relationships In Tierney James By Kim Ligget

Just like that her lover died in her own two arms. Tierney James is faced with death, hardships, murder, love, and quite literally looks death in the eyes a few times when her life flashes right before her. Is it better for her to follow her heart and be with her new lover, or shall she risk everything to save her friends….and foes? Kim Ligget uses character relationships, character development, and key events to show that familial and friendship relationships are stronger and more important than romantic relationships.

A key example of the importance of family relationships over romantic relationships is Tierney and her mother. They have a strained relationship, and they do not understand one another’s motivations or life choices. Tierney’s

Tierney’s mother didn’t really see much of anything great in Tierney and couldn’t fully accept Tierney for who she was, considering she was much different than how girls were supposed to be. Her mother’s commentary never openly affected Tierney but she wished her mother could see her differences as something unique rather than something negative as compared to other young women. This relationship is important because it shows the growth between that important mother and daughter bond, understanding, and connection with each other. “That’s blasphemy….For Tierney.” (Liggett 402) Even after everything that has happened Tierney’s mother was there for her daughter in the end no matter what, even if it meant praying for

“No shame in hard work….She can work in the dairy or the mill when she returns. That’s entirely respectable. You know our Tierney’s always been a free spirit.” (Liggett 9) Tierney’s father taught her everything she had to know and accepted her for who she was. He understood her differences and he didn’t see them as bad weaknesses compared to the other women. She was her father's little girl and that’s a relationship that should be strong and last forever with an unbreakable bond. “I didn’t do it alone. Your father is a good man, but all good men need a helping hand sometimes. Like Michael, with the fire at the apothecary?”(Liggett 392) All along Tierney’s mother had been the usurper and was doing secret women's work with other women. Tierney found out the true secrets of the grace year and she was relieved her parents had set out to do everything to hurt the girls but that wasn't exactly the case. Tierney always needed her parents and she had a very strong relationship with them and they ultimately helped her survive with every bit of knowledge they had taught her. In the end, Tierney learned that her best relationships were those closest to her which was her relationships with her parents. Although it was rocky in the beginning, they developed strongly to be healthy and important for