What's going on here? Spoilers for part 1.

[Allison]

One of the things that hooked me right away was trying to figure out what was going on in the world. Gorgiabama? Is this Alternate History, or a fractured future? Right of the bat, in addition to the magic system of chalk, precision, and geometry, you have sons of knight-senators and something going on in Nebrask and...

Needless to say, I found it to be a good hook.

Also, I found the main character engaging, right off the bat. Here was a kid who loved knowing more about something he couldn't do. That's something that hit me personally. There are somethings I'm just not good at (like singing) that I still love to learn about, and appreciate when other people do well. It's never been quite so focused as Joel's was, but I empathize with the vision. Made me wonder where the book would go.

[Bon]

I'm a decent way into the book now and it's definitely growing on me. I love alternate realities/hints of our world, so as soon as I see things like Nebrask, I get pretty excited!

[Fawn]

I finished The Rithmatist this morning...as a non-math person who loves to learn for the sake of learning, I found Joel charming and admirable. And my little sister's name is Melody, so how could we lose?

I look forward to more discussions of this one!

[Allison]

Mmm, alternate history. I think it's the draw of the uncanny, the familiar yet strange. "Where did things go different? What happened?" Keeps me guessing.

Yes, I'm looking forward to talking about it too. It was a quick read, but with a lot of depth. I keep finding myself coming back to it.

[Nathaniel]

I *LOVED* the slow unveiling of the world, even if I would have enjoyed knowing it all at once too.

East Carolina? The United Isles? German food is exotic? ...What do you mean you have clockwork crabs cutting the grass?

This is a world where I absolutely want to know more. :-)

And yes, Joel was different and engaging right away. I think it helped that he was enthusiastic about learning what WE were interested in learning about!

Also, the drawings. Did any else love having not so random sketches showing up as you read?

[Fawn]

I totally agree! The sketches made me feel like I was right there, looking over the artist's shoulder. I love worlds that have enough hints of our own to not be alien, yet are different enough to make me wonder what happened to get to that space.