Jayson’s Reviews > The Golem's Eye > Status Update
Jayson
is finished
Notes:
(1) I sort of wish the eventual culprit, the mystery traitor, was more fleshed out.
- He ended up being the character most hostile to the protagonist throughout the book, and as such was entirely predictable.
- Scooby Doo villains show more personality.
(2) The main threat isn't the titular golem, it's a possessed skeleton.
- It may be the narration, but he's just too goofy to elevate this book above middling.
— Aug 20, 2023 10:25PM
(1) I sort of wish the eventual culprit, the mystery traitor, was more fleshed out.
- He ended up being the character most hostile to the protagonist throughout the book, and as such was entirely predictable.
- Scooby Doo villains show more personality.
(2) The main threat isn't the titular golem, it's a possessed skeleton.
- It may be the narration, but he's just too goofy to elevate this book above middling.
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is 80% done
Notes:
(1) Whether by conscious repetition or just lazy formula, Nathaniel and Kitty's circumstances seem to mirror each others.
- They both have no or negligible relationships with their still living parents, and instead rely on kind of makeshift families/professional partnerships.
- In both cases, a traumatic event happens where they're "orphaned" once more. In both cases, it results in them being wanted by police.
— Aug 19, 2023 10:30PM
(1) Whether by conscious repetition or just lazy formula, Nathaniel and Kitty's circumstances seem to mirror each others.
- They both have no or negligible relationships with their still living parents, and instead rely on kind of makeshift families/professional partnerships.
- In both cases, a traumatic event happens where they're "orphaned" once more. In both cases, it results in them being wanted by police.
Jayson
is 65% done
Notes:
(1) Jane seduces Nathaniel, which he assumes must be some sort of magic charm or glamor playing with his emotions.
- Alternatively, it could just be teenage hormones doing that. No magic necessary.
(2) A few changes in this alternate history:
- The American Revolution happens in 2004.
- Britain and Bohemia are rival superpowers.
- William Gladstone overthrows parliament to found the present magician oligarchy.
— Aug 18, 2023 10:35PM
(1) Jane seduces Nathaniel, which he assumes must be some sort of magic charm or glamor playing with his emotions.
- Alternatively, it could just be teenage hormones doing that. No magic necessary.
(2) A few changes in this alternate history:
- The American Revolution happens in 2004.
- Britain and Bohemia are rival superpowers.
- William Gladstone overthrows parliament to found the present magician oligarchy.
Jayson
is 36% done
Notes:
(1) Nathaniel is still sort of unpleasant in an arrogant elitist sort of way, but he has some personality now, and isn't just a generic kid protagonist. He's a career-focused dandy now, which is an intriguing shift.
(2) Also an improvement is the addition of a genuinely sympathetic character in Kitty. She has the typical tragic backstory of most kid protagonists, including Nathaniel, but hers is fairly unique.
— Aug 17, 2023 11:30PM
(1) Nathaniel is still sort of unpleasant in an arrogant elitist sort of way, but he has some personality now, and isn't just a generic kid protagonist. He's a career-focused dandy now, which is an intriguing shift.
(2) Also an improvement is the addition of a genuinely sympathetic character in Kitty. She has the typical tragic backstory of most kid protagonists, including Nathaniel, but hers is fairly unique.
Jayson
is starting
Notes:
(1) So, I don't remember much about this book. I recall it introduces a girl named Kitty, but that's about it.
- The "His Dark Materials" series did the same thing, but the inverse: starting with a girl and adding a boy in the sequel.
- I wonder if this copied that formula? There's probably a bunch but I can't think of another example.
- Usually series are either solo adventures or start with a core group/duo.
— Aug 17, 2023 01:10AM
(1) So, I don't remember much about this book. I recall it introduces a girl named Kitty, but that's about it.
- The "His Dark Materials" series did the same thing, but the inverse: starting with a girl and adding a boy in the sequel.
- I wonder if this copied that formula? There's probably a bunch but I can't think of another example.
- Usually series are either solo adventures or start with a core group/duo.
