Arc of the Scythe Series [October 24, 2022]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

You’re all awesome, I’ve enjoyed reading comments on this thread. I would like to join for book 3, as it happens to be the book I picked towards a goal this month. Did anyone see that there’s a collection of stories set after the third book coming out this month sometime?!

[Lil]

Pop quiz/book check
book 2 up to ch. 15

(view spoiler)[ what is Rowan undercover name?
What is the name of citra little brother?
What car does curie own?
What color is citra robe?
What is Rowan’s old friend name?
What scythe did Rowan kill in a publicar?
(hide spoiler)]

🙏you may now begin

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Lillia, this is why the best way to read is with buddies:))) The different emotions people experience, the small details that you might have missed, but the other person has noticed, all of those t..."

Ditto on that! I love seeing everyone's perspectives on everything.

@Lillia--Ha! I better get to chapter 15. :) Looking forward to it!

@Nikki! Yay! It feels like a while since I've caught a BR with you! And I did see that book--Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe, yes? But I didn't realize it comes out next Tues! I thought it was already out there, like the rest of the series. Didn't realize how recent this all is...

@Choko--re: Book 2 Chapter 1!! OMG!! Right?? When was the last time leaving a bad guy alive in mercy NOT come back around to bite behinds?? I mean, maybe Matthew Ellis in St. Mary's, but he wasn't evil to begin with, just with bad management.

[Choko]

Pop quiz book 2, up to Ch 15

(view spoiler)[ 1) Scythe Lucifer
2) Ben Terranova
3) Some type of sports car, but I can't remember if it was a Jag or a Porsche... Or Mustang...
4) Turquoise:))) They made a big deal about it:)))
5) Tiger
6) I don't remember.... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Yay! Made it to the pop quiz! Book 2 Chapter 15:

(view spoiler)[
What is Rowan's undercover name? Ronald Daniels
What is the name of Citra's little brother? Ben
What car does Curie own? a Porsche
What color is Citra's robe? Turquoise
What is Rowan’s old friend's name? Tyger Salazar
What scythe did Rowan kill in a publicar? Scythe Renoir
(hide spoiler)]

Adding my own questions. Through Chapter 16 though:
(view spoiler)[
What color are Scythe Constantine's robes?
What is the name of Scythe Curie's home?
Which clause of the Separation of Scythe and State did Greyson violate?
Which Charter Region outlaws employment of all kinds?
What is the name of Greyson's parole officer?
What tattoo did the first Unsavory to contact Greyson have on her head?
How many people did Scythe Anastasia have set up for gleaning in the next month?
(hide spoiler)]

XD Quizzes are a fun idea.

Thought so far... (view spoiler)[As expected, most of my earlier questions were answered in chapter 2 or so.

I like Greyson. Poor kid. I totally get the feeling--wanting to give back to someone who has given so much to you--but so all powerful, how can you even begin? I get that feeling towards Harmony in Mistborn too. In Thunderhead's diaries, it almost seems like it wants a friend... but it can't really. What it can have is people it actually trusts, who will do what it can't. It's kind of funny though, to think that Greyson is essentially being set up as Thunderhead black ops. ;p I especially liked when he accepted his role, leaned back in his chair, and said "Go screw yourself." I wonder if he'll get a mowhawk and emo eye makeup?

I really like Citra's style of gleaning as well. Both her logic (diseases did this), and her beliefs (choice is the most important), and how it is "stirs the pot." Likewise, I was extremely outraged at Constantine &al's decision to glean the people in her care without any consideration for that choice. It seems like a supreme violation. (hide spoiler)]

Also thinking about @Choko all your questions about the Tones cult, and about the cover of the 3rd book and the title--(view spoiler)[There's two scythes framing a third person, who looks like he is in a monk's robe, framed by a tuning fork, that forms a religious looking stole. Sound waves travel up and down the stole. The two Scythes both have shades-of-green robes--but one is darker than the other (male) and the female (distinguishable by her eyelashes, same as the previous covers), has glittering jewels on her robe. I wonder if they are still Citra & Rowan, or maybe New Order? And I am curious to see what Tones cult we meet important enough to center the image.

Also, the title of "The Toll"--a very interesting word, because it can have both musical connotations--tolling of a bell--and also scythehood connotations--the toll of mankind that they glean, and the toll the job takes on them. (hide spoiler)]

[Lil]

yallllllllll im done with the book and im crying *Punches wall and runs around room*

[Choko]

Book #2, up to Ch 16 (view spoiler)[
1) scythe Constantine's robe is Red
2) Scythe Curie' home is Fallingwater
3) Grayson violated the rule of non engaging with Scythe activities
4) I want to move to Nepal!!! I would have all the time in the world to read!!!
5) I am pretty sure it was Trexler...
6) The letter U
7) 3... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I think a lot of those questions are answered through the book, Nirkatze, and I can't guess anymore, because like Lillia, I am almost done with the book... I am at Ch. 45 and things are going horribly wrong!!! I can understand Lillia's emotions despite not being at the end yet... However, I am extremely angry! And I am guessing that the female scythe with the jewels on is (view spoiler)[ Scythe Ayn Rand! What she did is absolutely unexcusable and for whom she did it?!!!! Just so angry with her!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

LOL I hear you about being almost done so you can't answer. :) It is fun to ruminate though.

Just got to Chapter 26--a very nifty trap there... (view spoiler)[Rowan could escape... but he won't leave Tyger. And Tyger is dumb as nails. Very well done.

I'm feeling kinda of "meh" on Rand's explanation for still being alive... and if she is, so must Goddard be... and I guess Rowan didn't go back inside and like, triple check they were burnt to crisps--but Rand must have not only escaped while incapacitated, but also dragged Goddard out too (beheaded) and also managed to stage other bodies with her gear so it looks like she had died there. Shusterman seems like he prefers to take the easier explanations rather than the interesting ones for twists--but I'm not sold on this. There'd better be more.

Also--I loved the little Thunderhead diary pre-chapter 26. The little "if I am God, then man created God, and I created Man."

Makes me think of the quote from Jurassic Park--
Dr. Ian Malcom: "God creates Dinosaurs. God destroys Dinosaurs. God creates Man. Man destroys God. Man creates Dinosaurs."
Dr. Ellie Satler: "Dinosaurs eat Man. Woman inherits the Earth."

And man, I am feeling for Greyson! And I'm very curious on how he got from A to B. Did he actually join a Tonist cult? Or did he just dress up as one to get access? I'll probably find out in the next chapter, I just think it's fun to see our characters from other character's eyes, when they don't realize who it is. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I remember being SOOO frustrated when I finished book 2... 6 months before the release of book 3 :D

(but I no longer quite remember why)...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

This is the one with the (view spoiler)[sharks (hide spoiler)]... I loved that sequence and the concept... I think this means I DO remember the 2nd book ending... (view spoiler)[the evil scythe kills the whole scythe council, right, and basically takes over the world? (hide spoiler)]

[Lil]

This second book has put me in my feelings I feel like I have seen a x men movie I think it was the first one

[Choko]

Time Lord Iain:) Yes! That is exactly what happened... And it pissed me off so much! I just hate (view spoiler)[ The Evil Scythe and he is truly evil and feeling very righteous about his beliefs... He, even more than the AI Thunderhead, feels he is always right and infallible. I absolutely hate that type of characters and he is a prime example of all that is wrong with humanity...

I hope that someone finds the now entombed by the ocean Citra and Rowan, sooner rather than later. That was touching, the way they chose to spend their last moments... Scythe Curie was awesome and I am going to truly miss her. The dude with the golden robes and the rest of the Scythe Council, it kind of broke my heart... And all those other regular folks who also had to die by the whim of Goddard, just horribly sad! And I have to give him props for planning the whole thing though. Since the systems connected with the Scythom are divorced from the Thunderhead over site, this was a great no-fail sabotage. And he had thought of an unusual way to make sure they are truly dead and irretrievably lost - getting eaten would do it...

It is a very good observation of the human condition, as how we tend to take things for granted and we start having blind spots for dangers we can't believe that could befall us... Definitely the people of this world are very complacent, being darn near invincible, and having technology think for them and guide them. Something major needs to change, but I don't want it to be Goddard's new regime!

Ch. 47... The scream of the Thunderhead, his expression of grief, fury and despair, was a very powerful moment. And the Toneists are the only ones rejoicing, because it is the Resonance they were expecting... And now everyone is deemed Unsavory, which means Thunderhead is not going to be speaking to anyone... except apparently Grayson! That was very surprising. How and why was his status changed back to not unsavory??? We didn't get this answer here, but I hope we find out eventually... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

When do you guys want to read the next book? We will wait for you, Nirkatze, for sure:)))

[Nirkatze]

I've still got about 150 pages to go, so probably another day or two and I'll be done...

I also just realized, around Chapter 31 now... (view spoiler)[that the Tonist who knocked on C&A's door was not Greyson--very sneaky of Shusterman, to describe him with bumps on his temples and black hair, but not be Greyson. Still, I guess it was foreshadowing. I liked that the Brother who came to talk to him told him to fake it 'til he makes it, and then told him that that was basically what he had been doing. Almost makes you wonder--what if they are all faking it, and no one is talking about it? LOL But now the Tonists are well and truly in the midst.

The Tonists also make me think of the Land of Nod, because they too did not exist in the Mortal Age. Was their religion also seeded by the Scythe founders, as keepers of their secret? should Faraday be looking for the Grand Resonance?

Thunderhead's journals keep pointing me more and more towards Space. And its sort of... dancing around the subject, not saying anything straight out, suggests Scythe sabotage to me. Like Thunderhead was trying to go to space, and get people to space, and the Scythes stopped it so that option #3 would have to be enacted--more Scythes. Or rather, not no Scythes. Also makes it seem like the New Order Scythes might be actively working against the Thunderhead, maybe to take it down...

Well, Goddard's back. Bastard. Tyger was an idiot but he didn't deserve to be treated that way... Rand's letting Rowan know that she treated him with dignity in the end doesn't really make it better....
(hide spoiler)]

It's probably not safe for me to click Iain's spoilers yet, right...?

[Choko]

Nope! They are end of book spoilers:) And once again, you are so good at catching things as you read:)

[Nirkatze]

LOL thanks for the confirmation, @Choko!

Chapter 33 "High School with Murder"--anyone getting a feeling of Carrie here? Ominous... (view spoiler)[Have a feeling Curie is going to end up dead in this series... one couple divided, to make Rowan & Citra's eventual success (probably last chapter of book 3) more poignant. And of course Goddard is going to come out of the woodworks for this High Scythe vote... perfect dramatic timing for the slimeball... wonder how he'll explain his disappearance away? Will he tell people about Rowan, or play him down? (hide spoiler)]

Edit. Finished chapter. Yup. And ow.

I love the pre-Chapter 34 Thunderhead entry though. (view spoiler)[I hadn't really been thinking of Thunderhead like a God (despite the earlier entries discussing it) but its talk of seeing and only being able to act in roundabout ways is very similar to depictions of God(s) in fantasy etc. Also, just read Mistborn Era 2--so Harmony on the brain. It is very interesting how it is the laws of people and that it made for itself that put it in this corner, and how these shackles on its omnipotence create a benign God instead of a Tyrant. (hide spoiler)]

Okay, the Inauguration speech of one candidate. I've been seeing the parallels throughout these books, but I just checked the dates and they are GLARING.
November 2016 (presidential election year) Scythe comes out.
January 2018 (1 year in) Thunderhead comes out...--definite parallels in actions, word choice, and election process...
November 2019 (2 1/2 years in) The Toll comes out..
"...we shall make our Scythedom great once more." *shiver*

Even more parallels... (view spoiler)[Scythe Curie has "signature white/silver hair" cut short... proponent of the Old Guard politics, and made some questionable decisions in her youth.

Not sure if Goddard's new body/head and return from the dead can be seen as parallels for anything...

But the mass of unaligned Scythes who will make the vote definitely does.

Now, where's Russia in all this? (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I totally caught the "We shall make our Scythedom great once more!" and had the same reaction!!! Majority opinions are important, but populists are never a true majority, only a very loud and big minority... However, they always do a ton of damage to actual human progress and usually bring the worst of humanity out... Such sad, usually counterproductive periods of time...:(((

[Nirkatze]

Finished! And opened spoilers!

I too was moved by the ending--(view spoiler)[Curie's "Are we rats? Or are we Scythes?" and the woman thanking her... Xenocrates throwing himself to the water before the sharks... the poor folk in the bouyancy center...

And the Thunderhead's scream! It also made me think of when he sent a power outage through the city just for Greyson, but Greyson didn't notice--except this time, the whole world couldn't but notice.

Without the Thunderhead, without mama/papa--will the world have to grow up?

Will Greyson, in the company of the Tonists, mean that the Tonists, who have gotten used to living without the Thunderhead, be leaders to help the lost populace?

I'm also thinking about all the diamonds. The failsafe has got to be in the rings, right? The tech that even the Thunderhead doesn't know how to replicate. The rings that a Scythe would never remove. But explosive, or nanite?

I'm also curious to see how space travel ends up in all of this. I'd love to see a secret laboratory in Nod, hidden from newer Scythes... but then hidden from Thunderhead too... (hide spoiler)]

Set your date for whenever, I'll catch up! I may or may not have already read the first chapter of book 3....

[Choko]

Hahaha!!! OK, I am ready to read book 3 as well. When do you want to read it, Lillia and Iain:)?

I was thinking the rings as well... Nanites, in my opinion, since this world is so heavily reliant on them... That dark center in the rings that takes and records information about all who come in contact with them, must have Scythe specific nanites in them, right?

I am sure we will get answers in book 3:)

[Lil]

I can start monday or Tuesday

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm just lurking, not reading... and vaguely remembering details from my readthrough, a few years ago... like the shark thing...

[Choko]

Monday sounds good to me:)

[Nirkatze]

Mmmm... I might have already finished book 3 in one day... >.<

[Lil]

lol you finished book 3 already lol

[Lil]

the shark think lol

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I started book 3 already and am reading slowly. I remember about six of the characters but can’t tell if we’ve seen some of these people before. It’s what I get for waiting so long to continue. I really like hiss writing voice though - so unique.

[Nirkatze]

I really loved the between chapter cuts--so juicy.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I started book 3 already and am reading slowly. I remember about six of the characters but can’t tell if we’ve seen some of these people before. It’s what I get for waiting so long to continue. I r..."

I just did a google search for Scythe & Thunderhead recap and found this 15 minute youtube video... some young looking/sounding kid recaps the first 2 books while doodling on a whiteboard... maybe it'll help?... some of the comments imply so...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQoqs...

Can always try some other google results, if not...

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 3, book#3... Goddard is exactly the type of Scythe we expected him to be. I am happy some of the independent Scythoms are still choosing to stand against him, although I don't think he will take that laying down...

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 14, book #3... So, those snippets before the chapters seem to be from a time in the future, when they have no memory of the Scythes, nor are they immortal, and where, most shockingly, the Toneists have prevailed... Those speculations of theirs about what it might have been like in the time the main story is actually happening, are pretty hilarious!!!

[Lil]

I’m reading your spoilers lol how you get from chapter 3 to 14 so fast. Lol it’s so good. Im on chapter 20

[Choko]

Lillia, haha! I don't have a life, so I just work and read:) This is why I can get through books pretty quickly. The exception is on Sundays, because I watch football all day:).

I am enjoying the book quite a bit. Grayson is having an interesting time of it, isn't he? I agree with the speculations of Nirkatze's, that the Thunderhead is (view spoiler)[ starting to order those parts from the different locations of Earth, in order to build spaceships again. I think he is also trying to create another one like himself, so he can send it in space as well. I guess we will see as we go... (hide spoiler)]

Also, I find the fluid gender character interesting - a female under the sun and a male when cloudy or dark... Very, as they said, meteorological conditions for gender identity:)))

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Up to Ch. 3, book#3... Goddard is exactly the type of Scythe we expected him to be. I am happy some of the independent Scythoms are still choosing to stand against him, although I don't think he wi..."

It's really interesting, isn't it, how (view spoiler)[Tyger's body has affected Goddard, both in attitude and in the perception of those around him? I like seeing Rand react to the souring of her expectations... (hide spoiler)]

re: Chapter 14--I loved those little Testament tidbits! Hilarious indeed--but it really begged a lot of questions, didn't it? For one--(view spoiler)[it suggests a world where "natural" death is back--so what does that mean for the state of the current world? Or does the space program succeed--but none of the technology survives? Or some moral decision--which is most likely, because Tonists. (hide spoiler)] Super fun to see how "history" treats its legends.

re: Thunderhead--that's why I love the interchapter bits!! So juicy! Shusterman does a really good job I feel, of showing and not telling. The conversation inter-chapter bits (for those folks doing audio, in the text version, they are done in two columns, which is kinda cool) definitely suggests what you said Choko--(view spoiler)[and I love both seeing the evolution of a baby Thunderhead--like a series of interviews!--and what it suggests about how unique the Thunderhead's evolution is itself. At first, I was wondering if maybe these were actually old iterations of the Thunderhead buried in the backbrain, but by the second one I had the same idea you did Choko--that Thunderhead was trying to copy itself, so it could sent a version of itself with the colonists.

And the chapters preceding it also suggested that by copying itself, it could remove some of the constraints it had--Thunderhead might have set up rules for itself regarding Unsavory & Scythe interaction, but its children have not sworn the same oaths... XD (hide spoiler)]

re: gender fluid--and I was totally wondering the whole time--does their physiology also change with their feelings? How does their physiology reflect their non-binary status? It seems like something post-mortal tech could do. It kind of makes me think of the Vorkosigan saga and the Betan hermaphodite social experiment. Also, just finished reading Assassin's Quest, and am realizing how the Fool is essentially a gender-fluid character, who poses similar questions on the separation of plumbing, identity, and orientation. Go Hobb!

[Choko]

I thought the same thing about The Fool! I love his/her character!

About the one in this world, I am sure the nanite technology helps and mutates them however they feel... Gives a whole new meaning to gender fluidity, doesn't it?! Pretty cool idea:)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Thunderhead was definitely another reason I loved getting into this series... gave me serious Person of Interest vibes... anyone watch that show?... was a great show with a great cast, especially as it slowly committed to the larger AI vs AI narrative, in later seasons...

[Nirkatze]

I think I watched a few episodes or a whole season, but petered out... I'm fairly rubbish at watching TV shows, I'm noticing. I run out of steam very easily, even when I'm enjoying it. I do remember liking the premise, but I think I stopped well before the AI bit got into it...

[Choko]

That was one of my favorite shows ever! Loved everything about it and I can see how it could bring the Thunderhead vibes...

Up to Ch. 21... (view spoiler)[ I kind of feel for Scythe Morison. Here is a very good looking dude, but nobody seems to respect him or like him... Goddard sent him on a suicide mission, hoping to kill two birds with one stone, and Grayson actually did the best he could under the circumstances. I hope the Toneists and he treat Morison a bit better! (hide spoiler)]

Also, on one of the snippets from the future, the person analyzing the works of the Toneists prophet said "maybe that was true in the places left behind" , which even more leads me to believe that those people are on another planet...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Person of Interest evolves alot over time... the first season is a homeless veteran and an eccentric billionaire helping people... with a police investigation and mysterious federal agents floating around to make things interesting and cause complications...

Much of the first season is the veteran figuring out who his boss is, and slowly learning about the AI giving the numbers of people they help...

Later seasons slowly add (view spoiler)[ more details about the corrupt cop factions, and their interactions with local crime elements, who becomes a frenemy of the main characters... a sociopath hacker who finds out about the AI and accesses is, and becomes a secondary interface to the AI and starts helping it release itself from it's constraints (for good reasons, not evil), as viewers learn of the corrupt government agents in control of the AI, linking back to the veteran's backstory...

Sometime around now, in season 2-3, the machinations of a Russian group to build their own AI starts to bear fruit, and leads to Samaritan replacing the original AI, and the main characters going into hiding... this gets complicated, and leads to a shadow war while trying to still help people... also, sometime in here, the main characters recruit another agent of the government, finally filling out the cast with an even gender spread...

But, things don't go well in the war of the AIs, and the final season sees the good AI nearly destroyed and on a suitcase backup, as the good guys set off on a final showdown with the 1984 AI (the whole thing gets pretty Big Brother Is Watching You)... the finale is suitably dramatic, not everyone survives, but at the last minute the good AI is uploaded onto a satellite and kills most of itself and all of Samaritan... the show ends with the kernal left behind rebooting, and the missions continuing... also, at some point, there was an episode that showed the AI had adopted the MC's model and trained other trios of helpers to continue with the MC's original work from seasons 1-3/4... nice sendoff... (hide spoiler)]

That summarizes the show, somewhat intelligibly... it gets pretty confusing and serialized, in later seasons... but I loved it...

[Choko]

You did an amazing job on the summary! You should do this for living! Now I want to watch it again!

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Thank you for the resource, Iain! It helped.

I did the thing where I read the whole book before commenting. That means it was a pretty average read for me because I didn’t have anything overt to praise or rant about lol. (view spoiler)[ I couldnt figure out how it was going to wrap up, but I liked the off-planet solution. And if I’m reading it right, Goddard got what was coming to him. There’s so much more to explore, so I’m glad there’s that new short story collection out. I want to see if the Tonist made it to her planet lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Lil]

Lol y'all are going crazy in this discussion.

So I want to say I wish this had a unique map. I am going to search to see if I can get some images.
Ch. 14
(view spoiler)[ I am sorry they have so much unnecessary hate for Rowan its ridiculous

(view spoiler)[I low-key like possuelo
Mendoza was pimping out Greyson and is a hypocrite
so should we look at the AI as feminine
I like the fluid gender character is different and I like different I think their name is Jericho
Should we take note of Ezra interaction with Greyson. Is the AI allowing people to rebel now. My prediction is that the AI will go crazy reck havoc and terminate its own self and it will take Greyson, goddard, citra, and rowan to save the day. (hide spoiler)]

Im going back to note some things
(This is for my notes)

Ch.15:
(view spoiler)[
I am sorry this is so weird how Rand is talking to tyger. I literally can see it in my head how she is talking to tyger. This is is upscale technology type of stuff. The fact that she can reset it and tyger says the same things. He did not deserve that. Also I know rand did that because she had a speckle of hope that if she would talk to Goddard that he needs to slow down that he would listen. I mean she could approach it a different way if you asked me. (hide spoiler)]

Deleted files from the thunderhead

(view spoiler)[
I know it will make another copy of itself based on these deleted Iterations. I call it I call it I call it (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Lil]

y'all don't read the spoilers yet pleaseeee lol

[Choko]

Lillia, I totally follow your thoughts. That scene with Rend and T's upload was very poignant. She is starting to mature as a person a bit, and now she is starting to realize that she has done wrong... However, it is a bit too little too late...

[Choko]

I just finished Ch. 38... book #3... Man, so many things have gone wrong! I actually became very sad when (view spoiler)[ the Toneists killed all those Scythes... I understand wanting revenge for what Goddard and his people did at the stadium, but go kill Goddard, not the nice Scythes and the people who work for them!
And the way those fringe sects translate the words of the Toll pisses me off! Maybe because I imagine the religions all over our world have done exactly the same through the ages... I feel like Grayson and the Thunderhead are fighting a losing battle for the souls of humanity... (hide spoiler)]

[Lil]

Choko I shouln't have read that spoiler lol for ch. 38

[Choko]

Lillia, I am so sorry! I hope it didn't spoil it for you too badly!!

I just finished and really enjoyed it! I thought the ending was absolutely perfect and have some theories, but will wait until you finish as well:)))

[Lil]

Lord Jesus. Sorry I am a little slow. I just been under the weather because one of my kids was sick. im almost done. I do have to reread some chapters for the notes on my blog.

(view spoiler)[I love me some Jericho like ughhhh (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I hope you both are getting better!!!

Yeah, Jericho is a very good character!!! I like the dynamics every time he is involved:)))

[Nirkatze]

Hear hear! I wish y'all good health and speedy recovery Lillia! I loved your guesses in your spoiler tags. :) Cheering for you!

@Choko--re: 38--(view spoiler)[So true! I hated that the Texans were basically looking at Rowan as a way to do their dirty work--they are just as bad as Goddard in that, if not as crazy. I read that bit and just had to hope that Rowan would find a way out of it. Dirty too, bringing his family in like that. (hide spoiler)]

re: ending--I also thought it was super satisfying! But at the same time, it made me *very* interested in what short stories Gleanings might have--I really really hope it's not all prequel stories, that we get some post-epilogues too.