"I still think I generally captured the mood I was going for — one of those endless Midwest summer days with three children lounging about enjoying their last days without adult supervision, and the fading years of their pre-teen innocence."
I agree. I had no problem getting hooked onto this story.
shoplifting--granted there is one line about it. However, it shows that Brian can think for himself and has moral character. It also shows than Alex hasn't learned much self control. (partly because she is impulsive and maybe because her parents haven't been that vigilant about her behavior). In the 2nd book, you have her stopping Bonnie from doing the same thing. I see it as her channelling her inner Lilith.
"But you'll notice some of his murder attempts are... kind of stupid, and not very well explained. How did he plant a kappa in Old Larkin Pond? Let alone Redcaps?...Or maybe I just hand-waved a lot. I figured Ben Journey had connections to the Dark Convention and he could just... I dunno, order a crate of Redcaps?"
I never thought of this as a plot hole and I have read this chapter at least 3 times. Unless elsewhere in the book, you are going to talk of transporting magical creatures, it probably isn't relevant. In one sense, it seemed perfectly natural to have redcaps in Larkin Pond. No weirder than alligators in the New York sewer system.
reread chap1
I agree. I had no problem getting hooked onto this story.
shoplifting--granted there is one line about it. However, it shows that Brian can think for himself and has moral character. It also shows than Alex hasn't learned much self control. (partly because she is impulsive and maybe because her parents haven't been that vigilant about her behavior). In the 2nd book, you have her stopping Bonnie from doing the same thing. I see it as her channelling her inner Lilith.
"But you'll notice some of his murder attempts are... kind of stupid, and not very well explained. How did he plant a kappa in Old Larkin Pond? Let alone Redcaps?...Or maybe I just hand-waved a lot. I figured Ben Journey had connections to the Dark Convention and he could just... I dunno, order a crate of Redcaps?"
I never thought of this as a plot hole and I have read this chapter at least 3 times. Unless elsewhere in the book, you are going to talk of transporting magical creatures, it probably isn't relevant. In one sense, it seemed perfectly natural to have redcaps in Larkin Pond. No weirder than alligators in the New York sewer system.
rambkowalczyk