Sue Child’s Reviews > The Mistral > Status Update

I'm loving the change to first person for this new POV! I'm liking the deep POV here (which I've been missing) and hoping we get more of this character depth in the next book and more of this character.

Swann a bit unheroic here too

Omniscient viewpoint again. Lots of they did this, they did that.

This last 100 pages has the inherent tension which was missing from earlier chapters.

Swan is unheroic here. Not for the first time. I think this is the first of a series so her character arc may not need much forward momentum yet, but it's another time I can't warm to her.

Unclear whose POV I'm in until 3 pages in to the chapter & find out it's Swan's. Maybe? It doesn't sound like her. I skipped ahead to orient myself, but although we dip into Swan's thoughts for a sentence maybe, we don't stay there. It's like a film camera landing on several characters to show their state of mind but we also dip briefly into Constantine's thoughts. I can see this as a film as it's very visual.

I'm feeling the tension now and waiting for key POV characters to catch on and show some agency.

All the omniscient POV/authorial intrusion definitely has to be a choice as it's being used to add tension, but it's at the expense of pulling me out of the charzcter's POV each time.

I'm still waiting. for POV characters to use their agency to impact storyline and plot. They definitely make some choices, but are still being led around with plot getting them to where they need to be, information spooned to them and being in the right place at the right/wrong time. They are interesting but I'd definitely like more depth and agency.

We're in Thom's POV but Thom doesn't notice a pair of figures arrive. Authorial intrusion/omniscient POV definitely a choice.

I am really enjoying the story now. The fight scene was excellent. Action and dialogue are well written. The political intrigue is keeping me intrigued and turning the pages. I like how the characters are coming together There are some characters I'd like to go back and reread bits about as they become increasingly significant. Looks like the last 100 pages are going to be good.