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There's something transcendental about a fan being part of its object of... respect? Desire? Maggie is a fan of this world. Even as you identify with the person as a main character, they are also outside, being impressed by things around them as much as you are. If done right, it is a strong bond that makes the MC even more "identify-able". Admittedly, done wrong, it's pretty cringe.

You know, I'd say I am coming to the opposite conclusion. I am a pacifist who feels bad for swatting a fly and will release a spider outside to go on its way. But if push to comes to show, I'd probably go crazy and do baaad things. The type of character that's "calm in most circumstances but when provoked, explodes". I think Maggie is the same. Maybe... most women are like this.

Hmmm... something tells me IA disapproves of the traditional YA training montage with swoon moments that transform a complete civilian into dagger-ous maniac in record time. Something... =D

OMG, Solentine is Augustine. It's not a perfect likeness because IA are good at making things just different enough but now that I called Everard Rogan, I can't help thinking...

Oh my, Everard is getting the Mad Rogan treatment. I suppose Curran had the same one but it was more drawn out and I didn't notice the precise moment it started. I thought this one was less about romance but it actually feels consistent with IA - a dangerous man, hot and competent and smart but with some bad reputation. The MC lists his good attributes, then explains he will never love her. And then... =D

Chapter 26... UFF. That was a hard scene. I wasn't sure how graphic it was going to get so I switched to reading. It wasn't that bad. Bad it did teach us a lesson and "made good" on what we knew - Maggie's gift can become a terrible curse. There are, indeed, fates worse than death.

I think this book is really relying on pacing the information. It has to, obviously, not only for our benefit and because info dumping is not cool but because in theory, Maggie knows everything about the world and the plot so seeing things from that perspective would be boring. Even with some new revelations. Feeding us information at the right time in the right way is an art central to this type of story.

Knights, eh? I recently saw this explanation (on chivalry) that kind of explains the concept of knighthood and how the real thing developed and existed so differently from our romantic ideals of it. Basically, knights started as raping butchers that needed to be reformed (took a long time) but only briefly landed in the vicinity of all those knightly virtues and in that time, they didn't even fight much. So...

PLOT TWIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't know how much Maggie/the original book missed but it seems this world wants to surprise us/her. What a revelation. So that first important scene when she... whoa.

Well, actually, it's supposed to be "took an arrow to the knee" =D. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Really? We're giving her personal motivation to make changes so soon? Maybe it will take more tragedy for her to realise - acknowledge and use the power she has.

That was beautiful!! You gave too much away, but then, how else could she believe you...?

Aaah, an internal conflict: to play it safe or to shape the future of her favourite world into something she could live in, live... for? To take risks and experience the magic or to focus on surviving such a harsh place. I already know which way I am leaning...

Eeeeh, we're going to prevent that, right? This sounds like a bad thing and since you know it will happen...

A fantasy with indoor plumbing. Knew Ilona wouldn't disappoint. it's such a small detail but the book seems determined to prove itself to be different from other books (usually books like that just become too different and ridiculous) but doing isekai and fantasy in their own way instead of medieval chosen one way? Good.

It's such a neat video-game mechanic to use here - dying won't kill you but there has ato be a price to pay. I was surprised she got to keep the bag... but not the blanket. That doesn't make sense. Either you get to keep your inventory or not, no? Losing only a portion usually works for money/resource, there is no good way to divide actual possessions. IA is good enough it has to make sense eventually.

Now this really is some encyclopedic knowledge. I would say IA is one of my most beloved if not the most favourite author and I don't have the same level of info about any of their works despite many years of re-reads.

KNEW IT. Knew he was going to suprise us. Did we just met the love interest? I mean, this book should have even less romance than we're used to from IA but he must be at least one of the main characters.

So the last book had the "cats are actually demons" and this one has "Kitty has special seeds". I do wonder if there will be some... follow-up? Reprecusions? They should be either given to some neutral party who can grow them and protect themselves, or distributed widely so no one can make a monopoly of it.

Right, so this "nice" idiot is to take credit for solving the murders, apprehending the bad guy and thus keep Kit's identity as a cat lady intact. Good. Annoying but good.

There is something darkly poetic about her good deed turning out to be the de facto source of the problems. If she didn't...

As useful as a cat flap on a submarine!!! =D LOL

Men and kittens indeed. A man with a baby? Hmm... But a man holding a kitten or a cat? Now we're talking.

Weeeell, if it comes to it, Kit now has a way to go catty. Interesting.

Personally, I prefer intelligent individual side characters who act like they actually have their own lives and opinions instead of... this. The police officers are just ridiculous. The ME was good, even the receptionist, but these two?

A cup of brew... 10 minutes... tell me we're in UK without telling me you're British. Well, Scottish.

Janie's wedding? Yawn... Same old, same old. And I did mention I am not as invested in Jane+Bruiser ship as I should have been.

Once is a mistake but twice? Are you sure you were good at your job =D? First you reveal way too much to the secret-broker, and I mean I knew you were making a mistake even as you said it. Now you're telling the guy you kissed (for complicated reasons) you're going on a date with another werewolf. Damn, girl.

Thane: "Please, not another kitten!"
Pause
Also Thane: "Would she like a friend? Should I get her one?"

The girls are growing up!! Insert crying emoji. I also really like Nell's and Jane's parts of the world colliding. Usually, cross-overs can feel a bit awkward, try-hard, but Jane is the one who initiated Nell and it feels appropriate Mud is going to play an important role on the "world" stage.