Note on Hallowed Hunt

[ase]

This nearly wound up the Bujold I Didn't Actually Care About, Thanks Much. I genuinely did not like Hallana. So I was a much happier reader by the end of chapter six. Later I came to forgive her, um, extraordinary achievements *cough*Sueness*cough*, as they are much easier to take when her overly cheerful self isn't bustling about onstage and when other characters are treating her with reluctant respect - from as far away from her as they can get. Also, for some reason thinking "double PhD" (near the top) works better in my mind. Blame too many nasty overpowered fantasy Sues. And the mid-chapter seven introduction (she says vaugely) made me all sorts of happy. I like my characters ambiguous at best, and two pages into chapter nineteen I am loving the battles of wits. Who's-got-the-real-information stories make me a happy, happy reader.

Summation: it gets better after chapter four. If you're tempted to bail before then, hang in until chapter eight. Then reconsider bailing.

Comments

[ase.livejournal.com]

No problem. I think the publisher would have been much better served if they had put up a few more sample chapters, to get people truly hooked. If you like your character interactions twisty you'll like it better when you get further in.

I know what you mean about sharing paperbacks - I try not to abuse my books beyond cramming them in overstuffed backpacks, but I learned the hard way that one of my favorite aunts dogears pages and sometimes leaves books facedown on tables and breaks their spines. After that, I decided all books going from me to her were gifts, to save me from pointless handwringing.