The Sword and Laser discussion

Just wanted to comment in passing that the big reveal at the mid-point was very nicely done. Perhaps I'm just not observant enough, but I didn't see it coming.

(view spoiler)[i.e. the fact that the stories in the book-within-the-book are actually about January's parents, thereby neatly tying the two concurrent threads of the novel together. (hide spoiler)]

That's just the point I've reached, so obviously I don't know where it goes next, but my appreciation of the book went up a notch right there.

I had the same experience with it last night. Did not anticipate it and felt (view spoiler)[some joyful satisfaction (for the character) (hide spoiler)] when it was revealed.

I think I saw it coming around the time the name (view spoiler)[Yule Ian Scholar/Julian Scaller (hide spoiler)] was introduced, so my satisfaction was more about being proved right :D

I never guess things like this but I guessed it a few lines before it was revealed it truly shifts the direction of the story.

Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) wrote: "I never guess things like this but I guessed it a few lines before it was revealed it truly shifts the direction of the story."

That’s the sign of good writing, whether in books or films. You let the reader feel smart by giving them just enough info so they twig to the reveal moments before it happens.

exactly right trike. it's done in mysteries alot. when it clicks give the reader such a satisfied feeling they become a fan!

Lee wrote: "exactly right trike. it's done in mysteries alot. when it clicks give the reader such a satisfied feeling they become a fan!"

Right! It isn't hard for an author to prove that they're smarter than I am. It's much harder for an author to make me feel smarter than I am, and when it happens I always appreciate it.

I saw it coming in for the same reason Dominik did, but still enjoyed it. I guess I was just appreciating the author's skill.

Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) wrote: "I never guess things like this but I guessed it a few lines before it was revealed it truly shifts the direction of the story."

Same for me!

So far this book has been a treat (I'm a little more than half way through at the moment). I'll admit it dragged a little around the 25% mark but the build up to the reveal tying it all together hooked me.

I can't help but get a Pan's Labyrinth vibe from this while reading - equally joyful, fantastic, and real-world horrifying. Maybe this belongs in a new thread, but I'd love to see Guillermo del Toro take on this in film form.

Daryl wrote: "but I'd love to see Guillermo del Toro take on this in film form.

i would pay to see that in theaters.

I think Alix Harrow would be ecstatic to take the money. Bring on the bundles of cash!

I was listening to the audiobook, so the distinction between (view spoiler)[Schollar and Scaller (hide spoiler)] was less obvious. I assumed (view spoiler)[some sort of genealogical connection (hide spoiler)] from pretty early on. I may be mixing up the order of events in my head in hindsight, but I am pretty sure that we learned (view spoiler)[her father was Julian before the mention of Yule Ian (hide spoiler)] as well. That difference was a little easier to hear, but I definitely did a double-take and had to rewind and check if the narrator has said what I thought she has said or not.

Colin wrote: "Just wanted to comment in passing that the big reveal at the mid-point was very nicely done. Perhaps I'm just not observant enough, but I didn't see it coming.

[spoilers removed]

That's just the ..."

I don't know when this first occurs but I figured it out the first time (view spoiler)[skin color was mentioned. (hide spoiler)] That didn't ruin it for me though.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "[spoilers removed]

Also, given (view spoiler)[from very early on January clearly is the key and Locke's name is clearly 'lock', that showdown was pretty obvious. (hide spoiler)]. Again, didn't ruin it, just left me waiting for it to happen.

I had an inkling that Ade was the mother from the very beginning, due to the time frame being generational. Yule being the father took a little longer, but I saw it coming well in advance. There were enough hints to make the leap. And yes, it was satisfying to figure it out in advance. Just the right difficulty, if not a tad too easy.