So, Spellbinding launched yesterday. This is a collection of short stories in the Magic University universe–seven of them by me and ten by other writers playing in my sandbox. They’re all erotic except for one and they all explore more deeply into the characters and backgrounds.
I wrote a lot about Frost for this one. The novels are so much from Kyle’s point of view that as readers we are left guessing about a lot of what is going on in Frost’s head and what he is “really” like. I finally get the chance to let him speak for himself in these stories.
You might have seen yesterday’s “Characters on the Couch” post on author Cecilia Dominic’s blog about what a visit from Frost to a psychologist would have been like. Thinking about delving into Frost and Kyle a little more, I decided to try something other than Tarot cards this time. Just for fun I decided to take a free online version of the Myers Briggs Personality Test, first as Frost, then as Kyle.
For those unfamiliar with Myers Briggs, it’s a rubric of personality types where you try to figure out where you are on a few scales: introverted or extroverted? thinking or feeling? judging or perceiving? intuitive or fact-seeking? The combination is often expressed as four letters. For example, I’m an INTJ: introverted, intuitive, thinking, judgment.
To take the test as a character, I answered the questions as if I were them, though, and the results were startlingly spot-on. So if you ever wanted to know more about Kyle and Frost’s psychology, here you go! Under the cut:
KYLE: ENFP (Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling, Perception)
Our hero is depicted in the Magic University books as both a poet and a crusading knight, an artist’s soul striving to express himself while his quest is for nothing short of True Love.
So how fitting is it that the site where I took the test (16personalities.com) begins the ENFP description with this quote?
“I want to know what you ache for – and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool – for love – for your dreams…”
Spot on! Wikipedia even says this type is called “the Champion” and is part of the group of Idealists. That is Kyle through and through!
So is this from 16Personalities: “If they’ve found a cause that sparks their imagination, ENFPs will bring an energy that oftentimes thrusts them into the spotlight, held up by their peers as a leader and a guru – but this isn’t always where independence-loving ENFPs want to be.” Right on target! When Kyle rewrote the prophecy for his junior project in The Incubus and the Angel (book 3), it quickly turns him into a kind of cult figure, but Kyle wants to stay hidden from the strangers who come to Veritas seeking his advice.
And how about all those nights Kyle lies awake thinking about Frost? “It’s not uncommon for ENFPs to lose a bit of sleep asking themselves why someone did what they did, what it might mean, and what to do about it.” (16Personalities)
Also this from 16Personalities: “ENFPs will spend a lot of time exploring social relationships, feelings and ideas before they find something that really rings true. But when they finally do find their place in the world, their imagination, empathy and courage are likely to produce incredible results.” That pretty much sums up the plot of the Magic University books, doesn’t it? Kyle searching for true love and his place in the world, and when he finds it, he’ll fight for a spectacular happily ever after.
Now, what about Frost? Dear complicated, twisty-minded, wounded soul Frost. Kyle would dearly love to know him better, so what happened when I gave Frost the test?
I tried this one at the site (PersonalityPathways.com/) and came up with INFJ. I was surprised by this–I didn’t think Frost and I would come out so close in type. I checked it with a couple of other questionnaires, though, and it came up the same. According to Wikipedia “INFJs are the rarest type, and make up only 1% or less of the population.”
Frost has been shaped by a very hard life, yet under it all he remains true to his convictions. Kyle isn’t the only one who wants to save the world: Frost does, too. He just has his own secret agenda for how to go about doing it. As 16 Personalities says: “INFJs indeed share a very unique combination of traits: though soft-spoken, they have very strong opinions and will fight tirelessly for an idea they believe in.”
This sounds, in fact, a lot like the Frost we come to know through his actions on books 2 and 3: “The passion of [the INFJ’s] convictions is perfectly capable of carrying them past their breaking point and if their zeal gets out of hand, they can find themselves exhausted, unhealthy and stressed. This becomes especially apparent when INFJs find themselves up against conflict and criticism – their sensitivity forces them to do everything they can to evade these seemingly personal attacks, but when the circumstances are unavoidable, they can fight back in highly irrational, unhelpful ways.”
Another site (PersonalityPage.com) describes INFJs this way: “Most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.”
That is Frost to a T!
That site also says some things that speak to the conflict and relationship between Kyle and Frost:
“INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring.”
That is certainly how Kyle feels about it.
“[INFJs] are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.”
Yes, just ask Kyle about how Frost reacts to him, with angry outbursts and attacks–and Frost’s body is the ultimate manifestation of the conflicts he has internalized.
Lastly, I know some sites talk about which personality types fit well in relationships with other types, so I did one last search to see what the experts say — can Kyle and Frost ever be truly happy together?
Personality Page pretty much pegged it, and had some advice for Kyle as the ENFP trying to love an INFJ: “Your partner has some very definite ideas about what is right for them and what is not. Sometimes it seems as if you have met an invisible wall with them, where no matter how you push they seem to slide about but cannot be made to move further.” Very accurate description of what Kyle finds with Frost.
But are they meant for each other? My eyeballs bugged out of my head when I read this opening to a Thought Catalog article entitled 7 Things You Should Know Before You Date an ENFP:
“ENFPs are all-or-nothing people in their lives and in love. They take romantic relationships seriously, yet approach them with enthusiasm and warmth. ENFPs crave meaningful connections with their partners and are likely to leave a relationship early on if that connection is absent. This type is best matched with an INFJ or INTJ.” (Emphasis mine.)
See?? Kyle and Frost could really be good together if Frost will just give Kyle a chance!
It’ll all come to a head in the final book in the series, The Poet and the Prophecy, which comes out September 15th!
(Get Spellbinding now Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and Smashwords.)
Magic U characters took the Myers Briggs test: the results were startlingly accurate
