Thanks guys, I'm glad you're digging it.
Not surprised the B&W is preferred, since that's the way it was created, but the bounce light has some benefits. I'm still torn on the issue of the eyes... my AD and editor instincts tell me that a character looking towards the viewer is more engaging than someone looking within, but then again I feel like the eyes closed makes her look gentler, which is a nice contrast to the giant sword and the bloodstains.
I'll think upon it. If I could poll votes I would.
The blue mist basically comes from the same trick I used for the Steel Inquisitor image I did a while back. The aqua blue is just the inverse of the red, which makes it the complimentary color. Also it makes the mist look spooOOOoooky, and keeps it from just being fog to someone who's looking at it for the first time and without context. You want someone who's never read the books to still recognize that the mist is special.
Brighter red blood against the bright red light on the blade would just end up being red on red on red. Since the light is already a pretty rich color, I'm afraid it would be overkill. I think I'll hold that as it is.
I agree that Vin should be paler, but the red light warms the skin. Her flat tone is somewhere closer to a pale cream. I'm not sure if I should try and compensate for that, since the resulting color is the natural blend of the red light against the pale skin.
As for chunky ash, I was hoping big dark flakes would read as "closer", since the flakes which overlap her set the scale. Is that not working?
Get your kicks in while you still can. After I post it to my public gallery I'll be loathe to mess with it again, in this particular form at least.