16 Comments
User's avatar
Katya M's avatar

Wow, my favorite chapter yet. Can't wait for the next one!

ChristineB's avatar

I read Philoctetes this week and was thinking the bow was perhaps a bow of the "gods" but am now thinking maybe it's the archer, not the bow...

If I am remembering the first encounter with the "old man" the smell of oranges seeps through where the veil between the worlds is thin, right? Louis L'amour did something like that in one of his fantasy westerns. Something to pay attention for when I re-read this story.

Hilary Layne's avatar

I don't want to say much, but that was the intent with the smell of oranges, yes.

Geodesic's avatar

Yayyyyy

thea's avatar

I am eagerly reading this but making myself wait a few weeks at a time, so I can have more of the story in one go. I love the divine element you have been weaving in and this foray into another plane. Looking forward to discovering just who/what is behind all the mayhem in the world and how our heros are going to overcome!

Jhaerlyn's avatar

Great fulfillment of foreshadowing… very satisfying 🤗

Meya's avatar

The action in here is crazy good!! Fav chapter so far

Also I'm not sure if it's a typo or what but starting from “A company of riders thundered into the valley.” near the end of the paragraph “Even though the riders managed to fell some of them"

Hilary Layne's avatar

Thank you!

(That one is intentional. I was attempting a felling-of-trees imagery. Not entirely sure it worked, but I'm sticking with it for now.)

Jeff's avatar

Wonderful reveal of the orange grove

DeeKay Reader of stuffs.'s avatar

Love the shift into the mystical. Also, finally some real bonding between Min La and So Ga. Great action this chapter.

Isabel's avatar

The abrupt transition from last chapter was very exciting. The description of the eerie dusty in was very arresting. I felt like I was there.

The fight scene with the horseback riders got a little confusing, however. There was so much action being passed back and forth between entirely new characters that I really had to work to keep track of which side was which. It might help if you picked one short descriptive term to use consistently. Since the action is happening so fast, the reader needs to be able to identify characters instantly or their brain gets left behind thinking and they miss what’s happening.

Dawn Glanz's avatar

so NOT a knock out drug but the herbs required to hide the rot of the bandaged men. I have so many more questions now.

Reaper Hound's avatar

At which chapter would you say the arc or book actually ends? I want a complete story before I commit to reading.

Hilary Layne's avatar

There's quite a ways to go yet, I'm afraid.

Reaper Hound's avatar

I'll save this story up for a rainy day, I have a gut feeling I'll really enjoy this.

Empyrean Night's avatar

The more the merrier!