I have a sneaky feeling the pics are totally unrelated to the book. Say you Aren't a random picture poster upper snapper.fridtjof nansen is an unusual choice: how did you come by him?

sadly, they are totally unrelated to the book. if only Fridtjof had a part to play in it, that would be worth an additional star. as far as how i came by him... i'm not really sure. as a kid i was really into explorers, so i assume that's how he came into my life.

that moustache! those burning eyes, looking right through you!

This would have been a great book if it wasn't so slow and tedious.

and that son! that infernal son!

I loved it, personally.

Her son is a teenager, after all - that tedious age in which one knows that they have no longer the forgiveness, ease, and innocent misunderstandings of childhood, yet they are still so very far from the knowledge and security of adulthood - and with the whole world around them and all its mysteries and dangers waiting, it feels like taking control of one's fate is the only way to successfully seize maturity. Of course he seems self-absorbed and rebellious! He doesn't know what else to do but to prove his way into being taken seriously as an independent adult.

And as for the overall narrative - Cherie Priest very deliberately paced it exactly as she, its composer and its conductor, knew it had to be. If she had wanted it to be a rollicking, cracking steam-filled shootup and zombiefest, she would have written it that way; but this is what she set out to write, and this is what we have. I for one am a fan of such pacing and rich, honest, logical characterization - and as such, I was greatly taken with the results.

Finally, if "that infernal son" is really such a bother to you, well--don't we all run into people we dislike all the time? They all have/had mothers and fathers, and they all have their faults and their choices in life which lead to them. Just like the jerk on the street, if reading about her son is such a bother, keep in mind...he will pass, and you will move on.

Bravo, Mrs. Priest.

thanks for your comments, Barry! i think i just grew very weary with all of the son's poor decisions and poorer attitude. they drove me right up the wall. but you're right, he is a teenager. you make some very good points.

did you enjoy the rest of the series as much as you did this one?

Nice pics, obviously more entertaining than a 2 star book!

Are those baby red pandas?? So cute. I must find a way to smuggle those into one of my reviews.

thanks Petra!

Kay, i have no idea. but whatever they may be, their utter cuteness means i can watch that gif over and over and over and over and over again, for the rest of my life.

LOL. If I wasn't about to leave my PC and go off into the ether of RL, i would pad out this so-called comment with an image or two. >:D

when you return, go for it! the comment thread awaits your padding.

Barry wrote: "I for one am a fan of such pacing and rich, honest, logical characterization - and as such, I was greatly taken with the results."

not trying to be a jerk, but can you explain what was logical about the mother character's mindset throughout the book?

maybe the bad guy is my husband. even though i know for a fact that i murdered him.

the only reason the plot wasn't spoiled before the climax and big reveal was she refused to think about what she knew had already happened. and that was when i entirely checked out of a book i was barely enjoying anyway.

i didn't have a problem with the pacing, by the way. i thought the action scenes were boring too.

hmm, maybe i am trying to be a jerk.

red pandas in a box!!!

AAAAWWWWW CUUUTE!!! <3

loved the pandas and loved that Nordic bloke. You are right about those eyes, amazing. Who is he ? or maybe I will google and find out

Gosh, a Nobel Prize winner in 1922. Noble and striking looking

and a fascinating life!