*I've been surprised by a lot of things about the reception of my books. For one, I never expected Mildmay to be as popular as he is.*

How about Felix? :-D

I think people like Mildmay because he's honest. Yes he's a thief and an assassin, but he doesn't shy away from that and he doesn't make excuses. His narrative (to me) very much comes across as "this is me, take or leave it".

I read an interview with you (online somewhere) where you said you made them brothers because that was the only way you could get Mildmay to hang around and help Felix, and I think that's part of it too, that he cares so much about someone who a) he's only just met and b) is a complete asshole. :)

That's my penny's worth, anyway.