#my theory is that shannon locked down that mesmering was physical then made beguiling the mental counterpart

[the-way-astray]

in love with the way ms. messenger changes how mesmering works with every book.

in the first book, it's implied that he can literally erase people's memories (???), which is retconned and never comes back, and also that he doesn't have an area range to work within.

in the second book, it's implied he can literally change how people think and their thought processes and beliefs as opposed to just literally physically controlling a person's actions.

it's only in the third book that we get the version of mesmering that carries through the series: the one where he can only control a person's physical actions but they are still mentally in control of themselves and can fight his hold.

then in the fourth book, it's officially confirmed that he can't instigate any lasting change, such as having a law signed, because that would involve changing how a person literally thinks rather than just their physical movements. this contradicts what he says in the second book. it's also confirmed he has a people number limit.

then in lodestar, he is again apparently able to control people's thought processes??? unless he was literally physically pushing people out of the way, but the way he says "motivate" implies there's a mental component.

then in nightfall, it's confirmed that he does in fact have an area range that he can't work outside of, contradicting what he said in the first book. oh, boy.

(the version i trust is unlocked, which says that mesmers can control people's actions and behavior, but the person is still conscious and could resist the mesmer's hold, but usually can't. so that lines up with everblaze and beyond.)