The Sundered Book Club discussion
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Empire of Exiles
Empire of Exiles
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EoE: Chapters 3 & 4
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I always love detectives, this one is no exception. I'm surprised though, no one else seems to knows about the poison mark.
Chapter 3 had me thinking it was a (too)well rehearsed cover story, now with the needle mark on at least 1 person, it seems likely the others also have been influenced. Obviously you can't preform a strip search on all very influential people, but if the poison is known outside of royal circles, someone should make a connection.
Also, now we can't really trust any character's perspective. How much of Amadea's past is a lie? Does she even know? Everyone has the possibility of having false memories so even hearing their thoughts doesn't make them reliable narrator.
Some advice to Quill, a quick glance over the notes is a whole lot less noticable than stealing the entire book... You have 3 books detailing everyone's movements, anyone who finds that out puts a huge target on ya. Both for looking guilty and just plain leverage. I know it's a panic situation and most people don't expect to be thrown into a murder mystery, but your bringing a lot of heat both on yourself and the people sheltering you.
Random comment, sometimes wishing I ordered this on a kindle instead of a paperback. There are a few parts where I go "Shrike... Where have I heard that before? Who mentioned it again?" Then start backtracking to find the line. Although from the other perspective, a "find word" button might lead me to things that would be better kept on the edge of my memory, instead of going back and trying to figure things out quicker.
(o, and just to be clear I'm more working through my questions more than anything. I have no idea who knows about the poison, if anyone else. And I think Quill's reaction is pretty believable as he is questioning everyone to prove his friends innocence.)
Mod
Interesting, he's very useful being a voice from someone from outside the Archives. How far along were you when you added his perspective into the mix?
Mod
I do tend to make some big changes between drafts. In that initial draft, uh, there was also no Karimo!
Michael, that's a great point about how everyone may be unreliable narrators. It reminds me of other works that play around with the fallibility of memory. Momento (film) springs to mind, although that's obviously very different approach. The scene with Amadea checking the mirror for the star-shaped bruise at the end of chapter 4 was chilling. It seems you can never know for sure what you have or haven't done!
Erin, neat stuff about both Richa and the original absence of Karimo!
The changelings seem like a pretty interesting background villain. I'm so used to the sinister force from beyond the wall, ready to bring death and wage war, a la Tolkein or GRR Martin. But here we have a much more subtle, but seemingly just as destructive of a force. They'd bring down your entire society, your family, all that you hold dear. We had doppelgangers in D&D, but they always seemed to work for the Big Bad in stories where I've encountered them (Baldur's Gate?). These changelings seem more demonic in their apparent goal just to sow chaos and destruction?
I wonder what salt and iron do to protect against changelings? Seems like such a creature would be able to work its way around those kinds of defenses. Although...who's to say they haven't?
So begins chapters 3 and 4. Discuss!