"Warchild" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Tell us your broad feelings about the opening scenes of our "Space Pirate" pick!

Please leave all discussion of specifics including character growth, plot points, and conclusions for the full discussion thread open on the 7th!

And now, a few content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ sexual abuse/rape. Rampant child abuse. Severe homophobia. Lots of victim-blaming and sex negativity. Loss of loved ones. (hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I thought the first few chapters, while dark, were taut and eerie. I am curious about the use of second person in them.

[Mela]

I read it in 2011 and am tempted to do a re-read. But there are so many unread books on my TBR list! decisions, decisions.
Anyway, I'm curious what everyone will think about it. :)

[Kaa]

This book really throws you right into the action. So far that's making it a very fast read for me - I started last night and I just finished part 2 (~35%).

Allison, I agree with your assessment of the first few chapters. The use of second person was an interesting choice - I'm glad the whole book wasn't written that way, but it does give the reader a different perspective on Jos's experiences.

[Andy]

I gave up after getting the impression that the whole book was in second person (I skipped ahead a bit to see). But it sounds like that's not true. About how much of it is?

Sometimes I can get through a second person short story, but a novel? Oy.

Where first and third person feel to me like storytelling around the campfire, second keeps me from falling into a story. I keep thinking, "Wait...are you talking about me? No, I'm pretty sure I didn't do that. You must be thinking of somebody else."

[Mela]

Just took a look at my edition. The second person only lasts till page 36. (out of 450)

[Andy]

Nephthys wrote: "Just took a look at my edition. The second person only lasts till page 36. (out of 450)"

Thanks, good to know. I'll give it another try. I could have sworn I flipped way ahead and saw it continuing—must have been a brain glitch.

[Anna]

I agree it seems to be a very fast read. I flew through the first two parts.

I tend to like second person POVs, so I wasn't bothered by that. There are things here that bother me a lot, but I'm managing to enjoy it for the most part. I'm hoping parts three and four will maybe focus a little more on less difficult things, but I'm also prepared for the complete opposite.

[Michael]

I'm a little familiar with second person, having read The Fifth Season, which was maybe 30% in second person, and having enjoyed it immensely, but I will admit also looking ahead in Warchild to see if the whole thing was written that way. Having only the introduction in second person seems just right - it puts you into the situation faster and more intimately, but then breaks off so it is not too overwhelming.

Although to be honest that does not mean it was pleasant - just the opposite. I really did not want to be the one having those experiences. But now I am invested in the character and the story in a big way.

[Kaa]

Part 4 appears to be written first person, but now in present tense. I'm intrigued by these switches - I'm much more accustomed to seeing different perspective/tense used when switching back and forth between narrative threads, as in The Fifth Season.

[Anna]

I noticed that too. I was too lazy to go back and check, but was the last chapter/sentence in each part written in the same person/tense as the next part? At least from part 1->2, and 3->4 was I think, I'm not sure about 2->3.

I have some thoughts on this, but it's spoiler material.

[Kaa]

Anna wrote: "I noticed that too. I was too lazy to go back and check, but was the last chapter/sentence in each part written in the same person/tense as the next part? At least from part 1->2, and 3->4 was I th..."

There wasn't a POV/tense change between 2 and 3, I think. But yeah, the last line of 3 is in present tense.

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

Only a few chapters in and I'm finding it acceptably dark. Bad things are happening but the second person perspective is keeping it from being unbearably vivid in my mind. Eager to find out where the story goes so I can justify liking it.

[Ryan]

Made it to Part II, it's okay so far. The second person was just annoying at first for its unfamiliarity, but after a while I adapted and didn't really notice it. I looked up some articles on the use of second person in novels but I think the goals of using it are lost on me.

[J.W.]

Well I hope this one is good! Have had a heckuva time tracking it down at a price I can afford. Interlibrary loan failed me on it because the few libraries in the state that had it wouldn’t send it. eBay finally got me a relatively inexpensive copy. But the premise really has me excited—space pirates FTW.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I hope it lives up to your hopes, J.w.!!

[Bonnie]

I do not like second person POV so I was relieved to see here that it doesn't keep going. At least it wasn't in present tense on top of it.
I wonder why author chose to write from a boy's, not a girl's, point of view. Maybe just variety.

The Ender's Game mention in the blurb and looking over the GR reviews suggested I would like this.

I sure feel sorry for this kid.

[Ryan]

I really don't see gender, in most books, as something really noteworthy. Aside from a few biological differences that generally don't come into play very often in a novel, men and women are functionally identical. The different expectations society places on men and women and how a character responds to these is more relevant. However, in this book, I could detect no differences in the way the society treats men and women. Jos could just as easily been written as female, with basically only pronoun changes necessary.

[Jessica]

Ryan I totally agree! I think that's why I was less shocked or I guess possibly less bothered by a lot of the things that happened because I wasn't really focusing on it being male and female base but more just a character with a name Jos.

[Jessica]

and I really enjoyed the beginning and how it was different from the rest of the book. I thought it really brought home the severity of the situation and the connection to what he was going through in the beginning versus later in the book

[Dawn F]

I can’t find this book anywhere so I sadly won’t be able to join.

[Ryan]

It's fairly easy to find online, both in physical and electronic versions.

[Dawn F]

Sorry I meant electronic as I try to cut down on physical books due to lack of space. I can find neither an audio or ebook available for me in Denmark.

[Ryan]

Ah, I've heard the EU's ebook licensing can get a bit wonky. That's a shame. I hope you don't run into other trouble getting access to books. I'd guess the more popular books would be available, at least. This one is on the indie side.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

So frustrating! We check 2 countries to make sure it's available before we suggest it, but we just can't account for everywhere (or every nomination). It looks like The Outside might be free on Danish Audible though, so maybe it balances out?

Dear Publisher Marketing Moles, Hello! Please note that our wonderful, international community likes to buy ebooks or audiobooks of group reads. Anything you can do to help (you can see what we're reading from our Poll!) would be vastly appreciated and likely somewhat compensated.

[Dawn F]

Haha, you’re right, The Outside is on Storytel, yay!