Please post general responses to the book here--things you think might spark discussion, and therefore (hopefully) help me make a better book out of the novel.
In answer to a question Ookla asked on the other thread, Yes, I've read Lemony Snicket.
I've recently been reading a lot of YA and middle-grade, something I had always wanted to do, but never really had a good excuse for. As I read, Lemony Snicket stood out to me as probably the best line-by-line written of the works (aside from Harry Potter.)
I had a problem with it, though. I have a lot of trouble latching onto the characters in the LS books. I think that's because the level of absurdity is SO high. Also, there doesn't seem to be character progression, or even really progression through plotting. In other words, the books are amazingly good little comedic essays, but they just aren't as good in the 'storytelling' department.
I also read Artemis Fowl. This had better storytelling, but the writing just wasn't (in my mind) up to the caliber that it could have reached. There was some very nice character development, but the plotting was just a tad weak.
So, my thought was "Why don't I plot something like Artemis Fowl, then try and make it a little bit zany, a little more like Lemony Snicket." Then, to try and make certain it wasn't TOO derivative, I put the Brandon stamp on it--i.e. a cleverish magic system, some fun characters, and some puzzle-style plot twists.
So, that was my philosophy for this book. I realize that it's going to be rough in parts still. I wrote and edited it in eighteen days! Also, I worry that in places it sounds a little TOO much like Lemony Snicket. (Personally, I think this is a bigger problem in the beginning--for instance, the author introduction to chapter two--than it is in later chapters.)
Advice, comments, and identification of problem spots would be appreciated.