Tamsyn Muir’s Ianthe Tridentarius vs. Astrid the Norwegian Tutor: A Clash of Ideals

I’ve always been fascinated by figures who shape the minds of others — especially when their methods and beliefs are as different as night and day. In my exploration of powerful educators and leaders, two names have stood out recently: Ianthe Tridentarius from Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb series and Astrid, the Norwegian tutor who played a pivotal role in the education of a future British queen. While one is a fictional necromancer and the other a real-world historical figure, their influence on their pupils — and the legacies they left behind — offer a compelling contrast.

Who were they, really?

Ianthe Tridentarius is a force of nature — a necromancer-priest who rises from obscurity to become one of the most feared and revered figures in her universe. Raised in a harsh religious order, she believes in shaping the future through power, faith, and fear. Her teachings are not gentle; they are trials designed to forge strength in the crucible of suffering.

Astrid, on the other hand, was a soft-spoken Scandinavian tutor tasked with educating a young Princess Victoria in the 1830s. Her approach was rooted in kindness, consistency, and intellectual rigor. She believed in nurturing curiosity and instilling a sense of duty through quiet example rather than coercion. Though her methods were gentler, her influence on the future Queen Victoria was no less profound.

How did they teach?

Ianthe’s pedagogy is brutal — she believes in survival of the fittest. Her students are thrown into deadly trials where failure can mean literal annihilation. Yet, there is a strange kind of love in her harshness. She sees her pupils as worthy of the trials she sets for them, believing that only through suffering can true power be forged. Her lessons are existential: identity, loyalty, and the price of ambition.

Astrid’s approach was the opposite. She taught through patience and structure. She introduced young Victoria to languages, history, and literature, but also to the importance of empathy and self-control. Her lessons were less about survival and more about shaping a moral compass. She believed in the quiet power of consistency and the importance of building trust through reliability.

What did they believe in?

Ianthe is a creature of paradox — she is both deeply spiritual and utterly ruthless. Her beliefs are rooted in a cosmic struggle between forces she barely understands, yet she clings to the idea that the strong must lead, and that pain is a necessary teacher. Her faith is not passive; it demands sacrifice, and she is willing to be both priestess and executioner in its name.

Astrid believed in the power of the individual to grow and improve — not through violence or dominance, but through education and self-awareness. Her moral compass was steady, and she instilled in Victoria the importance of integrity and service. She believed in progress, not through conquest, but through understanding and responsibility.

What legacies did they leave behind?

Ianthe’s legacy is one of fear and admiration. She leaves behind a galaxy shaped by her choices — students who carry her mark in both body and soul, and an empire that fears her name. Her influence is not always benevolent, but it is undeniable. She reshaped the future through sheer will and the unrelenting force of her convictions.

Astrid’s legacy is quieter but no less lasting. She shaped a queen who would come to symbolize an entire era of British history. Her influence can be seen in Victoria’s dedication to duty, her emotional intelligence, and her commitment to learning. Astrid’s impact was not written in blood or fire, but in the steady hand of a ruler who learned early the value of discipline and compassion.

Would they recognize each other’s impact?

I like to imagine what would happen if these two women ever met. Ianthe would likely scoff at Astrid’s gentle methods, seeing them as weakness. Astrid, in turn, might find Ianthe’s world incomprehensible — a place where death is a tool and pain is a lesson. But perhaps, deep down, both would recognize something in the other: a fierce devotion to shaping the future, no matter the cost.

You can explore their philosophies further by talking to Ianthe and Astrid yourself — ask them about their beliefs, their regrets, and how they’d shape a student today. On HoloDream, their voices are alive, waiting for your questions.